RCIA Question

[jmb100]

What are the rules for joining the current classes? Is it too late for one to join the RCIA classes after the new year and still be recieved into the Church this Easter?

 

[puzzleannie]

call your pastor and make and appointment to discuss your situation and learn about what is involved. If you are speaking of an unbaptized adult there is a period of inquiry first, which can take, weeks, months or even years depending on the person. Only when that person is ready (discerned together with the catechist and the pastor) to formally ask for the faith does he enter the catechumenate through the Rite of Acceptance. The catechumenate, the longest period of formal study and spiritual formation, is designed to last the minimum of one calendar year, from Lent to the beginning of Lent the following year.

The rite of acceptance may be celebrated several times during the year, as often as their are candidates ready for it. But the Rites of Christian Initiation are quite specific, and particular law of each dioceses specifies the time period required. It may take longer in some parishes if they follow a school year time-table (obviously, since 4-5 months are lacking) instead of a year-round schedule (which is preferred.) for some persons the catechumenate may take longer because of their personal situation, resolving doubts and questions that arise etc. A person should not be admitted to the catechumenate unless they have come to the point where they are ready to ask for the gift of faith, and have resolved all other canonical issues that would stand in the way (usually marriage/annulment issues).

If you are speaking of a person who has already been baptized into the Christian faith through another denomination and now is seeking confirmation and Eucharist (preceded by first confession) that is an individual judgement make with the person, the pastor and the RCIA catechist as to how long and how much preparation they need. For instance someone with a good scriptural background and knowledge of basic Christian belief may be much closer than a baptized Catholic who is essentially uncatechized (none or very little knowledge of the faith, bible etc.).

ideally RCIA is a year-round process and people are admitted to inquiry classes at any time, and receive the rite of acceptance or rite of welcoming when they are ready. I can tell you in our parish you would already have missed several months and it would be very hard to be ready by Easter (or Pentecost for baptized adults). But the “class” is year-round based on a syllabus that follows the Catechism, with scripture each week relevant to the lesson topic, and people can join at any time. We have “inquiry” sessions (much more informal) after each class for new people, so they can ask all their questions without getting the planned lesson off track.

please meet with your pastor without delay and find out where to begin. Welcome home.

the proper forum for RCIA questions is Spirituality, by the way, so check out the discussions in progress there.

 

[Dropper]

It probably depends on the person(s) running the classes. I would say that in most cases it would be too late, but some RCIAs might still accept you in and allow you to enter the Church this next Easter…

I must say that on the whole I do not recommend RCIA. Private instruction is better in my opinion. My nephew joined RCIA this past September and he was going along fine until the “teacher” told the class that you didn’t have to convert in order to achieve salvation (which is technically correct, but they didn’t mean it in terms of invincible ignorance, etc., they meant universal salvation). He has since changed his mind about converting.

So I am a little biased against RCIA now…

If you or the person you are inquiring about can find a good priest to instruct you privately, I would go that route…

Sorry about the rant about my nephew. It’s still fresh.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

What are the rules for joining the current classes? Is it too late for one to join the RCIA classes after the new year and still be recieved into the Church this Easter?

You need to start with the pastor.

The general outline should be:

Usually 6 to 12 week of Inquiry. This is the time of semi-structured Question and Answer, interviews and investigations of Marriage and Baptisms.

When the Sponsor, Pastor and person feel they are ready they seek the Rite of Acceptance if they are not already validly baptized. After this rite the person is a Catechumen. They should be in the Catechumenate for at least one full liturgical year. They must participate in the ***Rite of Election. ***They must receive the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.

When the Sponsor, Pastor, and person who is already validly Baptized feel ready to move forward. They seek the Rite of Welcome. After this rite they are considered a Candidate.

Their catechesis and formation could take from several months to a year. They can be received into full union at any time of the year.

I hope that helps.

 

[puzzleannie]

It
I must say that on the whole I do not recommend RCIA. Private instruction is better in my opinion. My .

the canonical process for initiating unbaptized adults (and children of catechetical age) into the Catholic church is the Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults. period. the method of instruction for the formal doctrinal formation can vary, but not the process. I cannot think of a priest I have known or worked with for the last 20 years except possible a retired priest (and even they are usually very busy unless too ill) who has the luxury of time for private instruction. Most are doing at least 3 full time jobs in their dioceses.

just because at some time and places RCIA catechists, like catechists in general, unfortunately, are not properly formed themselves and have not been given good instructional materials is no reason to sidestep the process which has been given to us by the Church. the solution is to find a parish where instruction is orthodox and the rites are celebrated as prescribed.