RCIA Questions

[cccw2009]

Does and shouldn’t every parish offer RCIA? I just looked at websites from three parishes near me and none of them listed RCIA as a service. Two of them had Religious Education, would RCIA fall under this category? I could just call the churches of course, but decide to ask you all first.

Second, I would like my husband as my sponsor, but I’m afraid they won’t see him as a practicing Catholic. He doesn’t attend Church every Sunday, which he could and should easily start doing.
Another issue is that we are married civilly. My husband was told because of this, that he’s not allowed to receive Communion, which means that I wouldn’t be allowed to receive my first communion as well. So should I hold off on RCIA until we are married in the Church? What can we do to be married in the Church without a wedding? Can we just renew our vows in the church or is a wedding a must?

Thank you!

 

[bnbkaine]

Does and shouldn’t every parish offer RCIA? I just looked at websites from three parishes near me and none of them listed RCIA as a service. Two of them had Religious Education, would RCIA fall under this category? I could just call the churches of course, but decide to ask you all first.

Second, I would like my husband as my sponsor, but I’m afraid they won’t see him as a practicing Catholic. He doesn’t attend Church every Sunday, which he could and should easily start doing.
Another issue is that we are married civilly. My husband was told because of this, that he’s not allowed to receive Communion, which means that I wouldn’t be allowed to receive my first communion as well. So should I hold off on RCIA until we are married in the Church? What can we do to be married in the Church without a wedding? Can we just renew our vows in the church or is a wedding a must?

Thank you!

Yes, RCIA would fall under Religious Education. I would call the Churches and sign up with one. The classes might not start until September to keep it running at the same time as CCD. That being said, RCIA can be a multi-year process.
Your husband really shouldn’t be your sponsor if he is not a practicing Catholic. When I went through RCIA, my husband attended classes with me as my sponsor. Even though we were both cradle Catholics and he had been Confirmed during high school, we both felt that we learned so much more than we had known previously.

Talk to the priest about having your marriage recognized in the Church. If there are no impediments, like a divorce, then it should be a pretty straightforward blessing. This should not deter you from starting classes. A woman I was going through class with had her marriage recognized by the Church a couple weeks before the Easter Vigil when we entered into full communion with the Church. If there is a divorce from one or both of you, a priest will be better able to direct the next step.

I am so happy to hear that you want to attend RCIA. As I said, I went through it three years ago and have stuck to it ever since. This past Vigil, I was able to be a godmother to one of the two tweens that I taught for RCIC. Our religious formation is never over and I can’t help but love God even more for that. Good luck!

 

[T_Hope]

Does and shouldn’t every parish offer RCIA? I just looked at websites from three parishes near me and none of them listed RCIA as a service. Two of them had Religious Education, would RCIA fall under this category? I could just call the churches of course, but decide to ask you all first.

Second, I would like my husband as my sponsor, but I’m afraid they won’t see him as a practicing Catholic. He doesn’t attend Church every Sunday, which he could and should easily start doing.
Another issue is that we are married civilly. My husband was told because of this, that he’s not allowed to receive Communion, which means that I wouldn’t be allowed to receive my first communion as well. So should I hold off on RCIA until we are married in the Church? What can we do to be married in the Church without a wedding? Can we just renew our vows in the church or is a wedding a must?

Thank you!

Yes, RCIA would fall under Religious Education.

It could be classes won’t begin until fall. But in our parish, we’ve got a class that began a few weeks ago which I am participating in. So check it out. Your director will be able to talk with you about the schedule, your sponsor, and your marriage, or may refer you to a priest. Don’t worry. It’ll all work out!

Hope

 

[puzzleannie]

Does and shouldn’t every parish offer RCIA? I just looked at websites from three parishes near me and none of them listed RCIA as a service. Two of them had Religious Education, would RCIA fall under this category? I could just call the churches of course, but decide to ask you all first.

call the parish nearest you, or where you husband goes, and simply ask for an appointment with the priest, since you have several issues to resolve.
tell him everything you have said here, and he will ask more questions, or he will introduce you to someone like me who helps prepare people to enter the Church through RCIA. For instance he would need to know your own faith background, whether or not you have been baptized, and also the details about your marriage.
Not every parish advertises days and times RCIA sessions meet, since they schedule them to meet the needs of the participants.

Second, I would like my husband as my sponsor, but I’m afraid they won’t see him as a practicing Catholic. He doesn’t attend Church every Sunday, which he could and should easily start doing.
Another issue is that we are married civilly. My husband was told because of this, that he’s not allowed to receive Communion, which means that I wouldn’t be allowed to receive my first communion as well. So should I hold off on RCIA until we are married in the Church? What can we do to be married in the Church without a wedding? Can we just renew our vows in the church or is a wedding a must?

Thank you!

Since your husband is Catholic and did not observe Catholic laws about marriage, no he may not as of now receive communion.

during the time you yourself are preparing for your sacraments, you will begin with a process called “inquiry” in which you are encouraged to ask all the questions you have about the Catholic Church, including teaching on marriage. You and your husband can also be preparing to have your marriage convalidated, that is, to exchange vows properly before the priest or deacon. Assuming neither of you has ever been married before, there should be no problem as long as the relationship is healthy. Once that happens, he returns to confession and communion, and you may make your first confession, be confirmed and make first communion (or be baptized first if this has not been done).
Welcome home!, yes you can do this, there is an answer to every seeming difficulty, and the place to start is your nearest Catholic parish.

In this diocese, spouse or fiance may not be a sponsor or godparent, because they may not be the best person, as in a situation like yours where your husband inself is not at this time in good standing with the Church. It is usually someone from the parish who walks the journey with you, helps you join in parish life, answers your questions, models Catholic living, and is a good faith companion, without the emotional intensity of a closer relationship which at times can be a barrier.

I just got good news that a lovely couple in a situation similar to yours, after a lot of difficulties caused by illness and other things beyond their control, have just had their marriage convalidated, and so will be able to be confirmed by the bishop next Sunday, and one of them will be confirmed and received into the Catholic Church as well. It took more time because of their personal circumstances, but the Holy Spirit worked wonders for them.

 

[cccw2009]

Thanks everyone! You’ve all been of great help. My husband and I are going to get our marriage recognize by the Church. We’re going to talk to the priest about this and RCIA.

Thanks so much!

 

[Poco]

Does and shouldn’t every parish offer RCIA? I just looked at websites from three parishes near me and none of them listed RCIA as a service. Two of them had Religious Education, would RCIA fall under this category? I could just call the churches of course, but decide to ask you all first.
Thank you!

In my case, the closest parish didn’t have much “contact info” on their web site as well. So, I went to the diocese web site, contacted them via email and got put in touch with someone at the local parish via email. Fortunately for me I was able to show proof of a valid Christian baptism, so hopefully I will be able to partake of the Eucharist before next Easter!

Puzzleannie’s advice is very good.

I know there are some who will disagree but I think the Catholic Church is “the place to be!”

 

[cccw2009]

In my case, the closest parish didn’t have much “contact info” on their web site as well. So, I went to the diocese web site, contacted them via email and got put in touch with someone at the local parish via email. Fortunately for me I was able to show proof of a valid Christian baptism, so hopefully I will be able to partake of the Eucharist before next Easter!

Puzzleannie’s advice is very good.

I know there are some who will disagree but I think the Catholic Church is “the place to be!”

Thank you Poco! I think maybe I’ll contact through email as well or just set up a meeting with my husband to talk to the priest. Congrats to you on your upcoming Eucharist! Must be exciting!

 

[Wesley7]

I look forward to RCIA in maybe 2 or 3 years

 

[diggerdomer]

Yes, RCIA would fall under Religious Education.

It could be classes won’t begin until fall. But in our parish, we’ve got a class that began a few weeks ago which I am participating in. So check it out. Your director will be able to talk with you about the schedule, your sponsor, and your marriage, or may refer you to a priest. Don’t worry. It’ll all work out!

Hope

RCIA might fall under religious education, but it doesn’t need to. It’s about a lot more than religious education. It’s more than just “classes.” It’s about a way of life, not just information.

 

[Poco]

Thank you Poco! I think maybe I’ll contact through email as well or just set up a meeting with my husband to talk to the priest. Congrats to you on your upcoming Eucharist! Must be exciting!

You’re welcome! And, yes, it is exciting!

On a side note… Until last Sunday, due to other things going on in the parish, not only could I not participate in the Eucharist, I couldn’t even get a cup of coffee after the Mass! Well, maybe I was just being “tested” to see how serious I am. I hope I passed!

God bless!

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Does and shouldn’t every parish offer RCIA? . . . !

One of the reasons for RCIA, vs the old conversion process of private meetings with the priest, is to integrate the catechumen into the Catholic community. This is difficult if one has only one or two catechumens. In such a circumstance, two or three neighboring parishes might best have a combined program. However there should be a program within easy distance of you.

We have had numerous catechumens each year in our parish in recent times [we have 3500 families]; so this has not been a problem. However, I often had only two or three candidates for my adult confirmation class; so I welcomed one or two from the neighboring parishes.

 

[AnneElliot]

Sponsors must be practicing Catholics who are not impeded by any canonical penalties. Code of Canon Law, No. 874.1 or thereabouts. Also, while not explicitly prohibited by Canon Law, most parishes discourage spouses acting as sponsors (and some Bishops forbid it).

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Sponsors must be practicing Catholics who are not impeded by any canonical penalties. Code of Canon Law, No. 874.1 or thereabouts. Also, while not explicitly prohibited by Canon Law, most parishes discourage spouses acting as sponsors (and some Bishops forbid it).

I always encouraged spouses and fiances to attend the sessions as often as they could. However, discouraged them from being sponsors. The sponsor should be able to focus on the catechumen’s spiritual growth without a hangover argument on their personal relationship. Also, the sponsor has an important role in linking the catechumen to the congregation.

Occasionally, I had to accept a spouse or fiance as sponsor rather than reject the catechumen entirely. I never judged that they got as much from the process as they could have. They tended to form a twosome rather than become a part of the community. Of course that may have been their basic orientation and the reason for insisting on their choice of sponsor.

 

[cccw2009]

I look forward to RCIA in maybe 2 or 3 years

It’s to my understanding that the inquiry process can take months or years. The Church, along with myself, can decide if I’m ready to move forward.

One of the reasons for RCIA, vs the old conversion process of private meetings with the priest, is to integrate the catechumen into the Catholic community. This is difficult if one has only one or two catechumens. In such a circumstance, two or three neighboring parishes might best have a combined program. However there should be a program within easy distance of you.

We have had numerous catechumens each year in our parish in recent times [we have 3500 families]; so this has not been a problem. However, I often had only two or three candidates for my adult confirmation class; so I welcomed one or two from the neighboring parishes.

I never knew that about the old conversion process.

Sponsors must be practicing Catholics who are not impeded by any canonical penalties. Code of Canon Law, No. 874.1 or thereabouts. Also, while not explicitly prohibited by Canon Law, most parishes discourage spouses acting as sponsors (and some Bishops forbid it).

I always encouraged spouses and fiances to attend the sessions as often as they could. However, discouraged them from being sponsors. The sponsor should be able to focus on the catechumen’s spiritual growth without a hangover argument on their personal relationship. Also, the sponsor has an important role in linking the catechumen to the congregation.

Occasionally, I had to accept a spouse or fiance as sponsor rather than reject the catechumen entirely. I never judged that they got as much from the process as they could have. They tended to form a twosome rather than become a part of the community. Of course that may have been their basic orientation and the reason for insisting on their choice of sponsor.

I’m disappointed that my husband won’t be able to sponsor me. But I guess it’s all for the best.
I’m looking forward to RCIA, learning, growing in faith, being apart of the Church.

 

[jmcrae]

It’s to my understanding that the inquiry process can take months or years. The Church, along with myself, can decide if I’m ready to move forward.

This is true.

I’m disappointed that my husband won’t be able to sponsor me. But I guess it’s all for the best.

There have been couples who did this, and then later, when they were having kids, they had no one to sponsor their children for Baptism, because parents can’t sponsor their own children for Baptism - but you can always ask your own god parent to sponsor your children, as well.

I

'm looking forward to RCIA, learning, growing in faith, being apart of the Church.

We’re looking forward to having you, too! Welcome to the greatest adventure of your life!

 

[cccw2009]

I

We’re looking forward to having you, too! Welcome to the greatest adventure of your life!

Thank you!

 

[LindaSK]

I am on our RCIA team. We often have people attend who are practicing Catholics who just want to learn more about their Faith. (Trust me, we all have much to learn!) This year we had a gentleman who had been confirmed “a hundred years ago!”, who was asked to be a Godparent for 3 siblings attending RCIC. (On Mother’s Day, all 3 were baptized. This past Sunday, the 2 oldest received their First Holy Communion. It was wonderful!!) He felt that to be a better help for them, he needed a “refresher course”. So, perhaps, even if your husband isn’t your sponsor, he would attend RCIA with you.

RCIA doesn’t begin again until the fall. Our church bulletin doesn’t even mention it now, but will again, probably in August, to invite those who are interested, and provide basic information and a schedule of upcoming meetings.

Welcome!! Contact your parish. They will be glad to help with all your needs and concerns.

God bless,
Linda

 

[Joe_Kelley]

. . .
There have been couples who did this, and then later, when they were having kids, they had no one to sponsor their children for Baptism, because parents can’t sponsor their own children for Baptism - but you can always ask your own god parent to sponsor your children, as well. . .

We had a Jewish couple come through RCIA and become active in the parish. A couple of years later the wife became sponsor for a Vietnamese lady, who was pregnant at the time. She then became god-mother for the daughter. ]I wonder how many Vietnamese children have a Jewish god-mother. ]