RCIA required?

[kalerumi]

Hello all,
Is RCIA required to enter the Church? My fiance and I have been researching and praying about joining, but all of the local parishes are halfway through the RCIA program. We were both raised in ministers’ families, have been baptized, etc. Is there any way to “independent-study”, so to speak, with a priest or minister in a parish?
Thank you so much!

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Hello all,
Is RCIA required to enter the Church? My fiance and I have been researching and praying about joining, but all of the local parishes are halfway through the RCIA program. We were both raised in ministers’ families, have been baptized, etc. Is there any way to “independent-study”, so to speak, with a priest or minister in a parish?
Thank you so much!

You would need to talk to the priest at the parish but most likely you will have to go through RCIA.

RCIA is the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, it is for catechumens, that is those who have not been baptized, you would not be such (that is if the Church views your baptism as valid). You would be a candidate but still would go though RCIA, this is because of lack of resources and such.

Most parishes (if not all) use RCIA in this manner.

If this is how your parish works then it is what you will have to do. Some may try to tell you that you do not have to but they are wrong. There is the matter of obedience to look at in this also.

 

[PJM]

Hello all,
Is RCIA required to enter the Church?

Ck. with you’re local priest to be sure, but don’t be surprised if the answer is yes. RCIA is not a penalty, it’s a benefit

How Does One become a Catholic?

"There are several ways. The Catholic church warmly welcomes new members and tries to provide appropriate spiritual formation according to each person’s needs. In general, though, people who are becoming Catholic fall into three categories:

Though the various rites of the catechumenate, the Church marks a person’s journey to full membership. These rites reflect his or her spiritual growth and the community’s loving concern. The climax of the catechumenate process is the celebration of the sacraments

Baptized People Who Are Active Christians

People who have been active members of other Christian denominations seek membership in the Catholic Church for many reasons. Often they are attracted by the Church’s liturgies or by its stance on issues dealing with life or on issues dealing with justice and peace. Sometimes they are married or engaged to a Catholic. A person who has been an active Christian, who attempts to live in a way congruent with the teachings of Christ, who has actively participated in the worship and life of a Christian community can bring a lot to the (RCIA) Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults program.

This is the program used in most, if not all, Catholic parishes as a starting point for becoming a Catholic. Such a person needs an understanding of Catholic beliefs, the experience of participating in the Church’s liturgical life over an appropriate period of time and an acquaintance with the Catholic community to be able to make a lasting commitment to the Catholic Church. Some, who are already Christians from another Protestant denomination, may feel like they are being treated like new Christians. Why does the Church have a program like this? Because when the Church receives new members who wish to become Catholic Christians, they have no idea what previous religious Christian instruction and education they have, and, moreover, which misperceptions or misunderstandings they have received about the Church and what she teaches from the past. This program, properly administered, ensures that the new convert receives the fullness of the Christian Faith that can only be found in the Church. Each person’s situation should be evaluated and his or her needs met in an appropriate way. When the time is right, such a person may be received into the Catholic Church at any time of the year. This is accomplished by the person making a profession of faith and celebrating the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist, usually at a Sunday parish Mass. (Even if the person has been confirmed in another Christian denomination, the sacrament of Confirmation is almost always celebrated.)

What is the First Step?

Anyone who is thinking about becoming a Catholic Christian or who would like more information can contact the nearest Catholic parish. Meeting with the pastor or another member of the parish’s pastoral staff ordinarily is the first step in the journey toward becoming a Catholic.

Christian initiation: the process and periods

Period of Inquiry. This is a time of introduction to the gospel of Jesus Christ and a time of reflection on one’s own life in the light of the values of the reign of God. It is an unstructured time of no fixed duration for questions and an opportunity of the beginnings of Christian faith to form.

Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens. In this liturgical rite, those who wish to become catechumens publicly express their desire to follow the way of Jesus. The Church accepts their intention and welcomes them into the household of Faith as catechumens.

Period of the Catechumenate. Along with the whole community, catechumens celebrate the liturgy of the word at Mass each Sunday. After the homily, the catechumens and their catechists (teachers) continue to study and ponder the Scriptures and the teachings of the Church. During this time, catechumens receive anointings, participate in prayers of exorcism and blessing, and take part in the mission of the Church to the world. Through prayer, learning and coming to know other Catholic Christians, catechumens discover the love and power of God in their lives and in the Church.

Election or Enrollment of Names. At this liturgical rite, usually celebrated on the First Sunday of Lent in the cathedral of the diocese, the bishop formally acknowledges the readiness of the catechumens and calls them to the sacraments of initiation. The catechumens respond by expressing their desire for these sacraments. From this time, until they are baptized, they are called the elect.

Period of Purification and Enlightenment. This time of intense preparation for initiation usually coincides with Lent. During this period, the elect and the parish community together focus on conversion, scrutinize their lives in light of the gospel and celebrate the presentations of the Creed and Lord’s Prayer.

Sacraments of Initiation. The elect become full members of the Body of Christ, the Church, through the celebration of the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, usually at the Easter Vigil. From this time until the end of the period of mystagogy, they are known as neophytes, “new sprouts.”
**
Period of Mystagogy**. During the fifty-day season of Easter, neophytes ponder the experience and meaning of the sacraments and participate with the faithful in the Eucharistic life of the Church and its mission for justice and peace. Formation and teaching continue for one year to help the neophytes become incorporated into the full life of the Christian community."

 

[kalerumi]

Thank you so much - to clarify, I’m not against attending RCIA - I just don’t want to have to wait until August when RCIA starts up, and then wait until Easter to enter the Church. But if I must, I am more than willing to if that’s what the Church authority requires of me - I just feel a hunger and a desperation that I’ve never felt before.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Thank you so much - to clarify, I’m not against attending RCIA - I just don’t want to have to wait until August when RCIA starts up, and then wait until Easter to enter the Church. But if I must, I am more than willing to if that’s what the Church authority requires of me - I just feel a hunger and a desperation that I’ve never felt before.

If you are already Baptized validly, the Church does not require this of you. You can be received at any time your pastor thinks you are ready and obtains the Bishops permission to receive you. RCIA should be a year round process, a person should be able to enter INQUIRY at any time. However your parishes resources may limit this to some extent.

 

[Dirk_Skene]

While I cannot answer that question for you I will say this. It is commetment for life & eternity. You heart is already there. No need to rush. But talk to the pastor. He will know. Be pacteint (dang! I can’t spell) The day will come.

Now I know you are probably thinking “Dang you Dirk, I HAVE been patceient (sp again)” It will come. Don’t rush it. All in good time.

OK … slap me if you feel the need

I know you are ready to swim the Tiber. I’ll be here ready to hand you a towell to help you dry off.

 

[kalerumi]

No slapping required - don’t rush is a common theme I’m hearing from those already in the Church! I hear the Tiber’s water is a bit cold this time of year, anyway.

 

[fdesales]

Thank you so much - to clarify, I’m not against attending RCIA - I just don’t want to have to wait until August when RCIA starts up, and then wait until Easter to enter the Church. But if I must, I am more than willing to if that’s what the Church authority requires of me - I just feel a hunger and a desperation that I’ve never felt before.

This is a difficult call, for both you and an RCIA team…

RCIA is not about learning Catholic doctrines, but about sacramental formation, learning about experiencing Jesus through sacrament and liturgy, in particular. Many Protestant groups, even if very well-read in Scriptures and walking the walk of Christ, will not have been subjected to experiencing Christ through Divine Liturgy. Thus, your experience of Christ as “CATHOLIC” will be stunted and it will be more difficult to understand and appreciate the Liturgy and sacraments. To be Catholic is to undersand sacramentalism and incarnationalism… You won’t feel like you fit in for quite some time because of that.

Thus, the difficulty in deciding what to do - for you and for “us”, the RCIA team. Yes, you have a “right” to be accepted into the Church privately and by quick ceremony. But you will miss out on an important beginning of your journey as a Catholic, “instruction” that is very important (instruction NOT refering to book instruction, but “learning” through experiencing Christ with a sponsor and in the Liturgy)

Thus, many RCIA teams will suggest that someone as yourself does go through the Rite, some even making you go through the ENTIRE thing. If I were you, I would try to convince the RCIA coordinator to “catch you up” ASAP so you could take part in the Rite of Initiation at Easter Vigil. Explain to them your walk already and you just want the fullness of the sacraments, you don’t need to start from scratch…

This would seem to me to be a good compromise. A person at this stage hasn’t missed too much of “Catholic doctrinal” classes yet, and there is still plenty of time to walk with a sponsor and experience dismissals and Liturgy. If you appear motivated to do what is needed to become Catholic, they should comply and make the effort, esp. when there is time over the holidays (most RCIA processes “slow down” during Christmas holidays)

An Episcopal came to me last week, and so I gave him my handouts and will take him aside for a few “catch up” meetings during the holidays. Got him a sponsor, too. I don’t see why another Coordinator could not do this, RCIA is not about perfect attendance… “We” need to be as flexible as possible, without cutting too many corners.

Regards

 

[fdesales]

If you are already Baptized validly, the Church does not require this of you. You can be received at any time your pastor thinks you are ready and obtains the Bishops permission to receive you. RCIA should be a year round process, a person should be able to enter INQUIRY at any time. However your parishes resources may limit this to some extent.

Brother,

I think the problem here is not resources but lack of flexibility on the part of the Coordinator. I think you would agree there is still plenty of time left before Easter for a non-Catholic to learn about Christ through Divine Liturgy while walking with a sponsor, esp. if a non-Catholic is already walking the walk and knows the Bible very well.

The trick is getting other Coordinators to become a bit more flexible and get out of the mind-set that this is a “class” that is like “Catholic 101” where you have a final entry date, no exceptions… What could be done at the national level to ensure that more were aware of this concept?

Opinion?

Regards

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Brother,

I think the problem here is not resources but lack of flexibility on the part of the Coordinator. I think you would agree there is still plenty of time left before Easter for a non-Catholic to learn about Christ through Divine Liturgy while walking with a sponsor, esp. if a non-Catholic is already walking the walk and knows the Bible very well.

The trick is getting other Coordinators to become a bit more flexible and get out of the mind-set that this is a “class” that is like “Catholic 101” where you have a final entry date, no exceptions… What could be done at the national level to ensure that more were aware of this concept?

Opinion?

Regards

I would agree however we are talking about only a few months. Each individual case is going to be different, including the necessary background issues of Baptisms and Marriages.

 

[lizds]

I would say it depends on the Priest. I was baptized protastant and never went through RCIA. I have an appointment to talk to the Priest at my parish as to whether I can take First Commuion and Comfirmation this Christmas. So far it’s looking good. I’ve been learning about the Church on my own since July.

 

[Mrs_Mac]

As others have already noted, a lot depends upon how RCIA is set up at your parish and the resources they have available. I was a life-long Christian and had been attending Mass for four years when I approached my pastor about being received into the Church. I me with the RCIA coordinator, who decided that I could go through private instruction, not the full RCIA class. I met with a very nice catechist in my own home for about 6 one-hour sessions, and then I was confirmed with the rest of the RCIA group at the Easter Vigil.