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mlz
Guest
Can you go through RCIA without becoming Catholic?
Who leads RCIA ? The priest?
Thanks,
mlz
Who leads RCIA ? The priest?
Thanks,
mlz
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KarenElissa
Guest
Well, technically RCIA refers to various Rites in the process to becoming Catholic, so not generally. However, what I image you are asking is if you can attend the RCIA classes without becoming Catholic, and the answer to that is absolutely! Some will go to the classes to learn more about the Catholic faith because of a spouse/fiance/ family member/friend, but have no intention of converting. Others may consider converting, but aren’t sure. Others are planning on becoming Catholic. And sometimes you will even have those who are already Catholic, but just want to learn more about their faith.
That depends on the parish. Sometimes the priest, sometimes a deacon, sometimes a religious, other times a lay person. It just depends on the resources of the parish and the gifts of the various people. I wouldn’t count out a program just because the priest isn’t there all the time, but hopefully, the priest is involved at least a little bit, and even if he isn’t doing the teaching will stop in and say hi everyone once in awhile.
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PiousTemplar
Guest
We are really lucky here, the Priest takes it most of the time!
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AntalKalnoky
Guest
RCIA is Taught by Catholic Clergy, or their authorized temporary representtative: Priest, Deacon, etc. Walkins are available, if not disruptive: curiosity
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Corki
Guest
Yes you can go through RCIA classes without becoming Catholic. It’s a time of discernment. The first phase of RCIA is called Inquiry and it is expected that some will not go on to become Catholic.
RCIA is the responsibility of the pastor but in most parishes is taught by one of the Catechists or a group of trained adult facilitators. They are not “temporary”.
I have never heard of a “walkin” to an RCIA class.
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Catholic1954
Guest
You can certainly go through RCIA and never become Catholic. We had a young man go through three times before he decided he was ready. Ideally, the priest would lead the classes, however, most programs are administered by an RCIA team made up of qualified lay people to assist you in the process. Most of them are converts, who have gone through the program them
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novusCatholic
Guest
As the others have said, yes. I was invited to sign-up for RCIA with no strings attached and no pressuer applied.
Catholic Answers has a good tract, How To Become A Catholic, that provides some good info.
Our RCIA class was led by a nun. The sponsors, mostly very experienced Catholics (one had a doctorate of theology), were involved in all discussions, and they took turns presenting the various topics. Priests gave presentations also, but only a couple.
It is evident from the posts here on CAF that the quality of RCIA programs vary widely from parish to parish. Some go deep while some barely scratch the surface. In any case, if you give it your best effort and devote yourself to personal study, then you will be rewarded.
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jmcrae
Guest
You can attend the classes. You would not participate in any of the Rites, though, if you were not intending to become Catholic.
I did two sequences of RCIA classes without becoming Catholic when I was in my early 20s. When I finally discerned that I wanted to become Catholic, in my late 30s, I was able to bypass those portions of the RCIA process that I had already completed.
It depends on the parish. In my experience, smaller parishes have the priest leading it, but larger parishes have a committee of lay people who take turns leading the classes.
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mcrow
Guest
The first month or so are without any strings. After that, you start the process of joining the church but you can stop at any point if you are not sure.
Our RCIA group was lead by a Franciscan sister., but we had both our Priest and associate Pastor attned pretty often. Each week there was also a lay person who presented part of the class.
Our RCIA group was lead by a Franciscan sister., but we had both our Priest and associate Pastor attned pretty often. Each week there was also a lay person who presented part of the class.
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puzzleannie
Guest
yes it is is process that begins with asking questions and seeking answers, and progresses in stages as one is ready to move on, and there are plenty of people who take a long time, even years to come to a point where they are ready to enter the Church, and some for various reasons never make that move. There is no pressure but there are people ready to help you navigate roadblocks that arise in the journey. The pastor of the parish is always in charge but seldom has time to actually teach formal clases, but will be available to meet individually with any participant who needs to speak to him. He does chose those who will be the actual catechists and he will conduct the various rites that mark transitions from one phase of the journey to the next. He will also be the final one do decide, with the participant and those who have been guiding his preparation, whether or not he or she is ready to proceed to baptism.
welcome home
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AntalKalnoky
Guest
The people chosen by The Pastor are his temporary representatives in Teaching RCIA. It is the Pastor’s responsibility to Teach, most of the time transferred to His selected representaives. There are New Attendee (walkins) like myself occassionally, just to listen to That presentation. No one has to attend Every Class; The Pastor decides who is qualified to become Catholic; some need very little training, to Update the Required Knowledge. True “Walkins” who want to become Catholic, attend after the first classes fill out a form, are evaluated if they Will be ready for Initiation; Each case may be different: Individual evaluation. [SIGN]RCIA is a Great Learning Experience[/SIGN], for anybody: Considering Becoming Catholic to long time Catholic, wishing to update their knowledge; espescially the weak catechesis of the 1970’s-'80’s.
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mlz
Guest
Another question about becoming Catholic…
Do they only allow those to become Catholic to do so at the Easter vigil or can you come into the Church at a different date?
mlz
Do they only allow those to become Catholic to do so at the Easter vigil or can you come into the Church at a different date?
mlz
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KarenElissa
Guest
It depends. For adults who are not baptized, it should happen at the Easter Vigil unless in danger of death. For the already baptized, there is more flexibility. Ideally, people should be received into the Church whenever they are ready, but that doesn’t always happen, so it just depends on your parish.
The best advice is just be patient and enjoy the journey. Don’t get too caught up in when things happen, just go along with the flow.
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asia53
Guest
Yep, we lost one lady after 2 months of RCIA. She absolutely refused to believe/ refused to accept transubstantiation. Several meetings with the 3 volunteer catechists, Adult Religious Director, and our Pastor, and one day, she wasn’t there anymore.
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novusCatholic
Guest
As KarenElissa has said, there is flexibility for baptized Christians who are “ready”.
For practicing Christians who have already researched and accepted the Catholic faith, having to wait several months before being able to join the Church and receive communion can be excrutiating. To be honest, there’s a good chance that you will be more knowledgable than many cradle Catholics. But, I still recommend the experience of RCIA, as there is value in the process. You will continue to mature and grow in your understandings. You will develope relationships. Your participation in class could be of help to your classmates. Also, your witness could be an inspiration to other parishoners.
I felt that I was ready very early in the RCIA process, but I’m glad that I went through it. I had many experiences during those months that helped me to grow spiritually. By Easter Vigil, I could not have been more sure that I was making the right decision.
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AntalKalnoky
Guest
(1) We recommend Praying for Her; Conversion is by the Holy Spirit. (2) Was it the complicated/confusing Word Transustantiation? It simply Means Our LORD is changing Bread/Wine Into His Presence, through the Priest (Delegated Apostolic Powers From Christ, The Apostles) exactly as at The Last Supper. Words can be confusing. (3) Our Lord is the Authority on Real Presence: In 1 Corr 11:21-29, John 6. Does she Doubt The Lord? (4) We Feel the Presence of The Lord on Receiving The Eucharist: even tough Men, kids get Devout; Very visible on the 3 times daily EWTN Chaplet Mass. No Acting; It’s Real.
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mcrow
Guest
Generally speaking it is done at Easter Vigil. You need approval by the Bishop to be confirmed. So, that’s why they have a set time frame. Most diocese will have you go to a “right of election” at some point which is typically going to be at a Cathedral, this about month or two before confirmation. The Bishop will sign off on your readiness so that at easter vigil you’ll be able to be confrmed.
A bishop may change that if he sees fit or if there are unusual circumstnaces.
So the answer is: No, unless there are circumstances. Generally speaking though, you can still be confirmed eitherway. If for some reason you missed the confirmation or rite of election you can still be confirmed, if the priest/bishop see fit.
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KarenElissa
Guest
Actually, the already baptized do not participate in the Rite of Election, the participate in the Call to Continuing Conversion which is similar and often happens at the same time, but is not the same.
As for the bishops permission, manty, if not most, automatically give priests the permission to confirm coverts, both baptized and unbaptized.
In my parish, we have adult confirmation and a shorter class for the already baptized twice a year, one ends at Easter Vigil, the other right before advent on the Feast of Christ the King.
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asia53
Guest
Prayers are being said for her. At class one night, she remarked Our LORD changing Bread/Wine into his presence is only symbolic. I’m paraphrasing, however, it’s more or less what she said.
You can imagine, the huge red flag going up immediately.
It was regrettable. Even though my interaction with her was minimal (I was someone else’s sponsor), I liked her.
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AntalKalnoky
Guest
If she doesn’t believe The Lord, His Words, His teachings Now, we can only Pray for her. Very often, people Find Christ when Very troubled: It’s been said there are no atheists in foxholes. Hopefully your RCIA sowed the seed, that brings her To Christ Fully. Our Legion of Mary Door-to-Door finds Most people are not involved with any form of God; too much into their own things of the moment… Thanks for your helping in RCIA, as was done in The Catacombs 1800 years ago.
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