RCIA Question

[FightingFat]

Hi everyone!

I’m a Catechist in my Parish and have run the Confirmation course for a number of years now. I’m also studying theology. My PP has asked me to be involved in the RCIA programme for the first time this year and last night was the first meeting. I’m worried that he’s planning on receiving these people into the Church at Easter-- surely that’s too soon??? Can anyone tell me if there are any rules about formation?

I would also appreciate any links to good resources for RCIA.

Thanks

Mark.

 

[puzzleannie]

don’t know what you mean by the first meeting
first time ever the candidates have ever come together?
first time of them asking questions and receiving instruction?
your first time?
first time for your team?

RCIA has distinct periods and formal rites of transition between the periods and cannot be rushed to fit an artificial schedule.

who has discerned these individuals and their progress, their conversion, their readiness and desire for the sacraments. Hopefuly the pastor. are you just taking over for a class who has been meeting for some time with someone else?

broad answer, the rites call for and expect a period of preparation, called the catechumenate, of not less than one year AFTER the candidate spends time in an initial inquiry period, called initial evangelization. that year begins immediately after Easter, through the following Lent and Easter, and a minimum of mystagogy meetings until Pentecost. we are speaking of the unbaptized.

are your candidates baptized Christians who are fairly well grounded in basic Christian doctrine and scripture who are already living good Christian lives and now needing only such instruction in Catholic practice to make a profession of Faith and receive confirmation? then yes, it is possible they could be ready by Easter or whenever your Pastor decides they should be received into full communion.

you first priority is fining out their background and progress, hopefull from the pastor or deacon or whoever interviewed them and invited them to RCIA.

yes there are rules
you can read about them on the many threads on this topic on the evangelization forum
they are contained within the Rite–get the ritual book as amended by your country’s bishop immediately it is your guide.
look for a course for RCIA catechists and directors, but get guidance from your pastor every step of the way, you can’t do this without him as he is in charge of the rites, you are in charge of the preparation.
find a course for RCIA catechists, in England contact the Maryvale Institute

if your only responsibility is teaching the class, get the curriculum and study materials from your pastor and follow it. if your responsibility is broader, sit down with him immediately and find out what it consists of.

 

[joamy]

I went through RCIA about 3 years ago. This is pretty common to my diocese - RCIA starts around the end of September and people come in to the church the following Easter. This allows time to complete all the rites that are involved. Like Puzzle Annie said, it’s important to consider where the people are coming from also.

 

[FightingFat]

don’t know what you mean by the first meeting
first time ever the candidates have ever come together?
first time of them asking questions and receiving instruction?
your first time?
first time for your team?

Errr- all of the above Annie?!

RCIA has distinct periods and formal rites of transition between the periods and cannot be rushed to fit an artificial schedule.

I thought that would be the case!

who has discerned these individuals and their progress, their conversion, their readiness and desire for the sacraments. Hopefuly the pastor. are you just taking over for a class who has been meeting for some time with someone else?

Nope, these are people who the PP has discerned.

broad answer, the rites call for and expect a period of preparation, called the catechumenate, of not less than one year AFTER the candidate spends time in an initial inquiry period, called initial evangelization. that year begins immediately after Easter, through the following Lent and Easter, and a minimum of mystagogy meetings until Pentecost. we are speaking of the unbaptized.

are your candidates baptized Christians who are fairly well grounded in basic Christian doctrine and scripture who are already living good Christian lives and now needing only such instruction in Catholic practice to make a profession of Faith and receive confirmation? then yes, it is possible they could be ready by Easter or whenever your Pastor decides they should be received into full communion.

There’s a miX, last night Father started off by getting everyone to introduce themselves, we have a variety of people, one lapsed Catholic, one Anglican and about four “don’t knows”

you first priority is fining out their background and progress, hopefull from the pastor or deacon or whoever interviewed them and invited them to RCIA.

yes there are rules
you can read about them on the many threads on this topic on the evangelization forum
they are contained within the Rite–get the ritual book as amended by your country’s bishop immediately it is your guide.
look for a course for RCIA catechists and directors, but get guidance from your pastor every step of the way, you can’t do this without him as he is in charge of the rites, you are in charge of the preparation.
find a course for RCIA catechists, in England contact the Maryvale Institute

Thanks Annie- I think my main problem is my priest!

 

[puzzleannie]

Thanks Annie- I think my main problem is my priest!

you are probably right, at least he is involved in the process, lucky you, let him handle it. you just teach when and what you are asked to teach and let him make decisions about who will and who will not be received at Easter.

 

[FightingFat]

you are probably right, at least he is involved in the process, lucky you, let him handle it. you just teach when and what you are asked to teach and let him make decisions about who will and who will not be received at Easter.

OK. You don’t think I should speak to anyone about this? Like the priest from our neighbouring parish? My PP is an old ex Anglican and while he is lovely and has a wonderful pastoral vocation his catechetics is a little…Missing?

 

[puzzleannie]

nope I think you should follow the lead of your pastor, but make it your business, asking him first, then the diocesan office, to get the classes and seminars you need to learn to do your job properly, but first, and this is essential, find out exactly what it is the pastor is asking you to do, in writing if possible.

 

[FightingFat]

Gotcha! Good advice (as always!) Thank you!

 

[John_Lilburne]

According to the liturgical book, Rite of Christian Initation of Adults:

“77. It is the responsibility of the bishop to fix the duration and to direct the programme of the catechumenate. The conference of bishops, after considering the conditions of its people and region, [footnote 4: See Vatican Council II, Constitution on the Liturgy Sacrosanctum Concilium, art. 64] may also wish to provide specific guidelines. At the discretion of the bishop, on the basis of the spiritual preparation of the candidate, the period of the catechumenate may in particular cases be shortened (see nos. 307, 308-311); in altogether extraordinary cases the catechumenate may be completed all at once (see nos. 308, 312-345).”

So a bishop can decide he wants at least ten years between the Rite of Acceptance and the Rite of Election. Or he can decide this should be 10 weeks. Or that there be no Rite of Acceptance, in extraordinary circumstances (n. 308).

RCIA n. 76 says the catechumenate should be “several years if necessary”. But it begins by saying that there are lots of factors in determining the length of it, mentioning:

• the programme of instruction,
• number of catechists, deacons, priests
• cooperation of the individual catechumens
• help of the local community.

The above numbers are for the RCIA book used in England. The USA book has different numbers. Lots of the book for England can be downloaded from catholic-ew.org.uk/liturgy/Resources/Rites/RiteRitual.html#RCIA . It has a lot of useful information.