RCIA Question

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GB_Cherry

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As I’ve stated in a previous tread, this coming Sunday will make the fourth Mass that my wife and I will have attended. We are extremely excited about finding church that is meeting the needs that we have been searching for. We both have been researching and reading all that we can on Catholicism and feel that this is the direction we want to go in our spiritual life. We are not want rush into this and we want to take our time in learning about Catholicism, but at what point would it be appropriate to talk with the priest about attending RCIA classes?
 
I think it would be appropriate at the time when you feel ready.

I believe different programs work in different ways. In my program we accept people year round. In some places everyone starts at the same time. Depending on how your parish does it, you may be able to start now. If not, perhaps the priest can suggest what you can do to prepare to start later.
 
Our Parish’s RCIA starts at specific times, about the middle of summer, but every RCIA is preceeded by the ‘Inquiry’ period (I believe all of them are, or are supposed to be). Ours was about 8-10 weeks if I recall correctly, and it’s specific job is to give a very general overview of the Catholic Faith. At the end of those weeks if you want to wait, or quit altogether, or go forward into the catechumenate, it’s up to you. That’s the purpose of the Inquiry, to help you decide, so the time to approach the priest may be now if you can start Inquiry.
 
GB_Cherry said:
We are extremely excited about finding church that is meeting the needs that we have been searching for.
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The Church is either true or it is based on a lie.
Churches do try to meet the needs of their congregations - we’re getting a hall so we can have beer after Mass and the old ladies can have bingo, we’ve got a youth group and a credit union, and a monthly Latin Mass, and a men’s group is just starting up. So we’re doing too badly at all. But it is not possible to meet everyone’s emotional, social, and physical needs, and yours might the ones that have to go unmet.
 
I am an RCIA instructor. The wonderful thing about RCIA is that it is a time of inquiry. You can start the process and up until Easter Vigil, stop when you need to or if you feel that you are not ready. We don’t serve beer after Mass, but we do serve Christ. And Christ was ever one who wanted people to come willingly. You should come to Mass and in to the Church because you feel that you can believe what the Church teaches. Thank God the Catholic Church is a Church based on Reason. You can go to www.peterkreeft.com for some great in depth answers and philosophical answers and you can go to www.biblechristiansociety.com for some basic infomation… all downloadable on mp3 format. This is a great place to get more info!
 
uh…ok
getting back to your question about starting RCIA -

It sounds to me that you and your wife are ready to begin the Inquiry stage now. This would be an excellent time to begin to learn some of the basics of The Faith and The Church. I would contact the parish office and ask to make an appointment with the Director of Religious Education (DRE) or the person who specifically helps with RCIA.

I am excited for you - and I am so glad that your journey of faith is bringing you Home to Rome!
 
Some good comments here, all I can add that has not been said is by all means pray about this! I am confident the Holy Spirit will guide you on the timing.
 
GB_Cherry said:
As I’ve stated in a previous tread, this coming Sunday will make the fourth Mass that my wife and I will have attended. We are extremely excited about finding church that is meeting the needs that we have been searching for. We both have been researching and reading all that we can on Catholicism and feel that this is the direction we want to go in our spiritual life. We are not want rush into this and we want to take our time in learning about Catholicism, but at what point would it be appropriate to talk with the priest about attending RCIA classes?
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The first part of RCIA is the inquiry period, and this can last as long as you’d like, while at the same time, you are having the benefit of hearing more about Catholic beliefs, and in our parish, you would be dismissed just after the homily, to go and discuss that Sunday’s Liturgy of the Word readings with an RCIA team member and fellow candidates and cathecumens. I’d say, if you’re already attending mass, then enroll for RCIA. There’s no pressure, (at least in our parish), and it really helps with the discernment process. If you stay a while, you get teamed with a Sponsor as well, to help you with your journey. We accept all year round. Some parishes just bring people in once a year, sometime between Pentecost and Advent. Either way, there’s no harm in enrolling anytime. Inquiry is self paced.

Peace be with you, and may the Holy Spirit guide you in your journey,

Steven
 
Malcolm_McLean said:
We’re getting a parish hall, with bar installed. So after Mass we can have beer.
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In the U.S. we usually do coffee and donuts or sweet buns after Mass, but it is obviously a different culture here than that in the U.K. I say, enjoy your pint.
 
Malcolm_McLean said:
We’re getting a parish hall, with bar installed. So after Mass we can have beer.
Click to expand...
You know? the 1st.time around, I thought it was a joke! But now, don’t you think that was a very STUPID & RUDE statement to make?!?! Especially in light of the OP being a non-Catholic inquiring about the One Holy Catholic Religion! DON’T /DID YOU THINK?!?:mad:
 
Malcolm_McLean said:
The Church is either true or it is based on a lie.
Churches do try to meet the needs of their congregations - we’re getting a hall so we can have beer after Mass and the old ladies can have bingo, we’ve got a youth group and a credit union, and a monthly Latin Mass, and a men’s group is just starting up. So we’re doing too badly at all. But it is not possible to meet everyone’s emotional, social, and physical needs, and yours might the ones that have to go unmet.
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GB_Cherry said:
Do what?
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Sorry GB! I could be wrong, and I hope that I am, but I do not believe that in the United States, there be a Roman Rite Catholic Church with such a practice.

Good advise from all other posts so far. God bless you and your wife in your journey of the One Holy Church!
 
You know? the 1st.time around, I thought it was a joke! But now, don’t you think that was a very STUPID & RUDE statement to make?!?! Especially in light of the OP being a non-Catholic inquiring about the One Holy Catholic Religion! DON’T /DID YOU THINK?!?
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I do think your comment was quite rude.

We’re Catholic, not puritans. Drunkeness is a sin, but to enjoy a beer now and then is not (neither is smoking for that matter). If this is something that the OP is going to have a problem with, well, it is part of our belief system so he’d have found it out sooner or later.
 
Rawb said:
I do think your comment was quite rude.

We’re Catholic, not puritans. Drunkeness is a sin, but to enjoy a beer now and then is not (neither is smoking for that matter). If this is something that the OP is going to have a problem with, well, it is part of our belief system so he’d have found it out sooner or later.
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FYI, I like beer and I smoke, but what does that have to do with the tread title?🤷
Malcolm_McLean said:
We’re getting a parish hall, with bar installed. So after Mass we can have beer.
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And you missed the point!
 
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