RCIA questions

[chewchoo]

i signed up to be an RCIA catechist this year, but we don’t have any catechumens/candidates. how often does this happen when a parish has a year with no one in RCIA?

i realize the church calls them seekers, but is it always that the seekers come to the church on their own, the parish just waits for them to come knocking on the door, or is it permissible for a church or vicariate to “advertise” in the local paper that RCIA classes will be starting soon call X if you’re interested. when i suggested this to the RCIA coordinator she sounded shocked that i would even make the suggestion.

 

[damooster]

I don’t know about the appropriateness to advertising RCIA…all of the church websites in my area have bulletins regarding start dates and contact information. Not sure that answers your question. In my search, I never saw any advertisements for RCIA outside of church websites.

You’re the only one in your RCIA this year?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

i signed up to be an RCIA catechist this year, but we don’t have any catechumens/candidates. how often does this happen when a parish has a year with no one in RCIA?

i realize the church calls them seekers, but is it always that the seekers come to the church on their own, the parish just waits for them to come knocking on the door, or is it permissible for a church or vicariate to “advertise” in the local paper that RCIA classes will be starting soon call X if you’re interested. when i suggested this to the RCIA coordinator she sounded shocked that i would even make the suggestion.

Appearently your parish has never heard of the Mission of the Church to Evangelize, or of Ecumenism in it’s correct sense. Try reading Christifideles Laici and Go Make Disciples from the USCCB. It probably missed Vatican II also. Does your community even know that a Catholic Church exists within it? Do you advertize Midnight Mass, Easter Vigil and invite non-Catholic to “Come and See”. Does your parish have an “Open House” a few times a year inviting non-Catholics to come and see the Church and ask questions, find out about RCIA, the Returning Catholics program, Etc.

Is it appropriate to advertise Church programs and functions in the local news paper, on the radio, and TV, YES! The best means however are Catholics that can’t stop talking about their Catholic faith. We have held Catholic Bible Studies and Catechism discussions out in the open at local restaurants. Put up a sign on the table inviting others to stop by and ask a question.

 

[chewchoo]

Appearently your parish has never heard of the Mission of the Church to Evangelize, or of Ecumenism in it’s correct sense. Try reading Christifideles Laici and Go Make Disciples from the USCCB. It probably missed Vatican II also. Does your community even know that a Catholic Church exists within it? Do you advertize Midnight Mass, Easter Vigil and invite non-Catholic to “Come and See”. Does your parish have an “Open House” a few times a year inviting non-Catholics to come and see the Church and ask questions, find out about RCIA, the Returning Catholics program, Etc.

Is it appropriate to advertise Church programs and functions in the local news paper, on the radio, and TV, YES! The best means however are Catholics that can’t stop talking about their Catholic faith. We have held Catholic Bible Studies and Catechism discussions out in the open at local restaurants. Put up a sign on the table inviting others to stop by and ask a question.

thank you! - i will put these at the top of my reading schedule.

 

[chewchoo]

Does your community even know that a Catholic Church exists within it? .

please explain

Do you advertize Midnight Mass, Easter Vigil and invite non-Catholic to “Come and See”. Does your parish have an “Open House” a few times a year inviting non-Catholics to come and see the Church and ask questions, find out about RCIA, the Returning Catholics program, Etc…

i have not seen anything like this for my church. there is only one local catholic church that even has its address/phone info in the saturday religion column in the local paper.

Is it appropriate to advertise Church programs and functions in the local news paper, on the radio, and TV, YES! The best means however are Catholics that can’t stop talking about their Catholic faith. We have held Catholic Bible Studies and Catechism discussions out in the open at local restaurants. Put up a sign on the table inviting others to stop by and ask a question.

the only outreach that i am aware of is the selling of festival raffle tickets at the various events in town during the summer. but there is no additional catholic literature present on the table.

granted, there are many things that i am not aware of in my parish, but calling out to the community i don’t see. there is participation in the ecumentical community, but nothing to evangelize.

 

[Prague]

We advertise here.