RCIA Sound Off!

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I inquired about RCIA classes at two different parishes. I left my information at the front desk. I was treated coolly both times. I don’t know why I expected excitement at the thought of a protestant expressing interest in “coming home”.🤷

Anyway, I left one request on Ash Wednesday and the other about a week ago.

Does it normally take a while for someone to get back to you?
 
I inquired about RCIA classes at two different parishes. I left my information at the front desk. I was treated coolly both times. I don’t know why I expected excitement at the thought of a protestant expressing interest in “coming home”.🤷

Anyway, I left one request on Ash Wednesday and the other about a week ago.

Does it normally take a while for someone to get back to you?
It depends. Most parishes have a person who’s in charge of the program and they may or may not be in the parish office very often until RCIA starts. If they don’t have current RCIA class, they may not be around.

I would probably call the parish office and ask to speak with someone about RCIA and see what happens. Some parish offices are staffed by just volunteers and have a lot of different people working the phones/desk so a note could get lost in the exchange.

Also, while I would think that most parishes would be excited with anyone interested in possibly joining the Church, they do get quite a few that ask about the classes and never show up.

However, once you get signed up and they’ve seen you a few times you’ll probably be much more warmly welcomed. 👍
 
I am being lead to the Catholic Church and I haven’t a clue why. I was a born again Christian for many years and still consider myself Christian, just not a good one. I have a yearning to walk close to God and am considering signing up for RCIA here for the November 2011 classes. Is there something, a book that anyone can recommend to read to begin preparation ? And what about the Cathechism…any book I should read that is for lay people to prepare me? I appreciate any information you can give to me. I have felt so hopeless with life lately and cannot bring myself to even go to one of the protestant churches. Thank You !

And why such a long process to join the Catholic Church ? I could die before my first communion or baptism. I was baptized Protestant but that was by a church in a swimming pool so I dont have a baptismal record. And I was baptized in the Mormon church when I was 8 years old, not of my own doing. So no record there either…that I want to access anyway.:rolleyes::rolleyes:
If you want to learn a little about the Catholic faith before you start RCIA, there are some good books out there like ‘Catholic and Christian’ by Alan Schreck and of course the ‘Catechism of the Catholic Church’.

A lot of people are talking about finding the right RCIA program to go through, but I did it a little differently, I picked the parish that I wanted to to attend and attended their RCIA program. It is important to start attending Mass every Sunday before starting RCIA, because when you become part of a parish you become part of the Catholic community.
I attended Mass for about 3 months before deciding to attend RCIA.

Kathy, it sounds like you will have to be baptized in the Catholic Church, with no baptismal record from your swimming pool baptism, and the Catholic Church does not recognize Morman baptisms (because they do not believe in the Trinity as defined in Catholic teaching).

Depending upon when you start the RCIA process (and where you are spiritually), the process can average 9 mos. - 1 year + for Candidates (baptized Christians) and 1 year + for Catechumens (unbaptized Christians). Ancient Christian Catechumens could take up to three years before they were accepted into the Church and baptized.

The RCIA process is not just about learning a bunch of facts about the Catholic faith (thought that is part of it), it is about becoming part of the Catholic Church, and that starts on the local level, the parish. The year for Catechumens is to allow that person to experience the life of Jesus in the Catholic Liturgy from Advent and Christmas, through Lent and Easter, to Pentecost and Ordinary time. And also during that time they can become part of the community and discern if they want to become Catholic Christians. The Candidates (baptized Christians) times in RCIA vary depending from what their Christian backgrounds are. If a Candidate or Catechumen feels they are not ready after a period of time, the process can be extended till they are ready.

So my suggestion is find a Catholic parish that you think you would like to attend, go to Mass there and talk to the Pastor and he will get you in touch with the RCIA director to start the process. Good Luck!
 
I have a few questions here…

I just started RCIA classes after attending Mass for over 1 yr. I was baptized, confirmed, and raised a Missouri Synod Lutheran and am interested in becoming in “full communion” with the Catholic Church. My questions are:

(1) I am married; my husband was a baptized Morman but not practicing any religion at this time. He supports my “conversion”, but is not interested himself. We were married by a minister in Las Vegas, and it is the only marriage for both of us…

(2) That being said, we have a 14 yr old son–we did not marry until he was 5 yrs old. Will this be a barrier to my acceptance? The 14 yr old has been baptized and confirmed a Lutheran.

I understand I need to discuss this with the Priest, but just looking for some answers…

Thanks!
 
My wife and I started the RCIA process last Fall, her as a Baptized Catholic and me coming in from another Christian faith. The process as a whole has been very good with a few minor issues here and there. By and large, the RCIA team is great and we have a Deacon who is typically there along with a Priest who makes it most of the time. We are lucky to have very good sponsors who have really been there for us during the process.

Now, that it is Lent we are getting close to coming into the Church at Easter. I actually made my FIRST CONFESSION today and it was an awesome experience. I had over thirty years of bottled up sin and guilt and was really struggling with how I was going to accept God’s mercy through the sacrament. Once I heard the words of absolution, I sobbed like a baby. The Priest later told me it was the longest confession he has heard in his twenty years in the Priesthood. That was fine with me as I wanted to make sure not to leave anything out and I have led a rather interesting life at times.

Bottom line? I feel like a new man and am very much looking forward to coming into the Church at Easter.

Good luck and God Bless to the rest of those going through RCIA!

Also, one of the other members posted that he had inquired and not heard back very recently about joining RCIA. That may also be because of the Lenten season and that most programs actually begin in the fall and are coming close to their culmination at this time. Just a thought…
 
I have a few questions here…

I just started RCIA classes after attending Mass for over 1 yr. I was baptized, confirmed, and raised a Missouri Synod Lutheran and am interested in becoming in “full communion” with the Catholic Church. My questions are:

(1) I am married; my husband was a baptized Morman but not practicing any religion at this time. He supports my “conversion”, but is not interested himself. We were married by a minister in Las Vegas, and it is the only marriage for both of us…

(2) That being said, we have a 14 yr old son–we did not marry until he was 5 yrs old. Will this be a barrier to my acceptance? The 14 yr old has been baptized and confirmed a Lutheran.

I understand I need to discuss this with the Priest, but just looking for some answers…

Thanks!
A barrier to your acceptance into the Catholic Church? Heavens no. 😃

There are no barriers to anyone joining the church, your spouse and kids don’t have to become Catholic for you to join the Church. All you need to do is not deny the Catholic Faith, be baptised and confirmed, all of the three can be had through RCIA, so they are not prerequisites for RCIA.
 
Thanks for the post. I wont start until September…but I have ordered the cathechism, Catholicism for Dummies, A work book for the cathecism, The RCIA book, a book on the eucharist, and rosary. So in a way i am doing my own study along with a Catholic bible. i want to be able to participate without too much confusion going on in my head. Theres so much to learn regarding the catholic church. I will be baptized in the church since my mormon baptism at 8 years of age doesnt count and my other baptism was in a swimming pool by a minister of an upstart church so i did not receive a piece of paper. I think my classes will start in September…we will see.😉
You will be just fine, I am in RCIA now and cant wait to receive the sacraments at Easter. You sound a lot like me, I read my way into the Catholic church before I started RCIA. That helped tremendously when I started, it will make your RCIA experience that much greater.

You will have more questions when you start RCIA and that is great as well! One book I would recommend to you and any other Catholic that matter is a book by Father Oscar Lukefahr…We Believe a survey of the Catholic faith. This is actually the book we study out of in my RCIA class. It has been absolutely invaluable to me and my faith journey. He has several more book as well and they are ALL written very well and easy to understand. There is a home study you can get enrolled in and its all FREE, although I would recommend that you make a donation, they have bills to pay too, but if you just can’t afford to buy a book etc this is a great way to go and the books are wonderful.

Good luck on your journey home and God Bless.
 
I just started last Tuesday with my family! We are so excited. So far it seems to be going very well. 🙂

I had originally planned on starting it this Sept as that was the only time the first church I went to offered it. However, I was too hungry to wait and did some more searching. I was especially happy to find a year-round RCIA program in my area.👍

I would appreciate any prayers and/or advice for my family and I as we take this journey:gopray2:.

Blessings,
JacquelineGrace :curtsey:
 
I just started last Tuesday with my family! We are so excited. So far it seems to be going very well. 🙂

I had originally planned on starting it this Sept as that was the only time the first church I went to offered it. However, I was too hungry to wait and did some more searching. I was especially happy to find a year-round RCIA program in my area.👍

I would appreciate any prayers and/or advice for my family and I as we take this journey:gopray2:.

Blessings,
JacquelineGrace :curtsey:
You and your family are in my prayers, welcome home!!!
 
I just want to give a praise offering . I’m not sure if you guys do this in the Catholic church.

Now I mentioned before how even though I was Baptized in the Baptist church I know that church would not have copies of the certificate and I was reasonably sure that my family would not testify that I was baptized.

Well over the weekend, I told my protestant sister about my wanting to convert to Catholicism and she was very supportive. Furthermore, she said she would serve as a witness of my original Baptism if I needed her.

So I’m not sure yet what my parish will require, but I want to say now, Praise the Lord!
 
I just want to give a praise offering . I’m not sure if you guys do this in the Catholic church.

Now I mentioned before how even though I was Baptized in the Baptist church I know that church would not have copies of the certificate and I was reasonably sure that my family would not testify that I was baptized.

Well over the weekend, I told my protestant sister about my wanting to convert to Catholicism and she was very supportive. Furthermore, she said she would serve as a witness of my original Baptism if I needed her.

So I’m not sure yet what my parish will require, but I want to say now, Praise the Lord!
That is fantastic! Luckily I still have my baptism certificate from the Baptist church where it took place but I understand the frustration as others in my RCIA program have had it.

It is wonderful to have supportive family members. One side of my family is but the other side is not. Best of luck in your journey.

Blessings,
JacquelineGrace :crossrc:
 
That is fantastic! Luckily I still have my baptism certificate from the Baptist church where it took place but I understand the frustration as others in my RCIA program have had it.

It is wonderful to have supportive family members. One side of my family is but the other side is not. Best of luck in your journey.

Blessings,
JacquelineGrace :crossrc:
I contacted the RCIA director and he said, I’ll be fine.

The somewhat disappointing news is that even though there are RCIA classes all year round that even Catholics can attend, the actual program doesn’t start until September.

Yes, God is teaching me patience. 🙂
 
I contacted the RCIA director and he said, I’ll be fine.

The somewhat disappointing news is that even though there are RCIA classes all year round that even Catholics can attend, the actual program doesn’t start until September.

Yes, God is teaching me patience. 🙂
I started the RCIA program in a February and was in the program for 14 months (until the next Easter Vigil Mass). The time goes fast, I used it to read about my faith, attend Mass and to get to know the people in the parish. None of the time you spend spend learning about and experiencing your faith is wasted time.
 
I’m sorry if someone else has already addressed this question (if so, I missed it), but am I under obligation to eventually join the Catholic Church if I begin an RCIA program? If I “drop-out” (which I don’t intend to do), will I be violating a binding agreement with the Church? I’ve already contacted the local parish about their program, I can ask them as well.
 
I’m sorry if someone else has already addressed this question (if so, I missed it), but am I under obligation to eventually join the Catholic Church if I begin an RCIA program? If I “drop-out” (which I don’t intend to do), will I be violating a binding agreement with the Church? I’ve already contacted the local parish about their program, I can ask them as well.
You are no obligation what so ever to join the Catholic Church, during or upon completion of RCIA. It is a discernment, you can leave at any time, and choose to come back at anytime.
 
This was one of things that impressed me about the Catholic Church when I inquired about RCIA, and about joining the Church, nobody put any pressure on me, it was all about if and when I was ready! If after a year I was still not ready, I could continue on till I was, or leave at anytime. One of the things that turned me off to Christianity early on, were people who try to convert you by scare tactics about going to hell, etc, the ‘Chick tracts’ :eek: that so called ‘Christians’ leave on people’s cars in a parking lot, or the people you see at an intersection holding up signs at intersections that say ‘Repent and read the Bible, the end is near’.
 
Roman Catholic Doctrine Vs. The Doctrinal Teaching of the Word of God

Eternal life is a merited reward [1821, 2010]. - Roman Catholicism
Eternal life is the free gift of God (Romans 6:23)

No one can know if he will attain eternal life [1036, 2005] - Roman Catholicism
The believer can know that he has eternal life by the Word of God (1 John 5:13)

The Roman Catholic Church is necessary for salvation [846]. - Roman Catholicism
There is salvation in no one but the Lord Jesus Christ, “for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12)

Purgatory is necessary to atone for sin and clean the soul [1030-1031]. - Roman Catholicism
Purgatory does not exist. Jesus made purification for sins on the cross (Hebrews 1:3)

Mary was preserved from all stain of original sin from the first instant of her conception (the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception) [490-492].
Mary, a descendant of Adam, was born in sin (Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12)

Mary is the Mother of the Church [963, 975]. - Roman Catholicism
Mary was the earthly mother of Jesus ( John 2:1)

The Magisterium is the authoritative teacher of the Church. [85-87]. - Roman Catholicism
The Holy Spirit is the authoritative teacher of the church (John 14:26; John 16:13, I John 2:27)

The pope, as the Bishop of Rome, is the successor of Peter [882, 936] - Roman Catholicism
Peter had no successor, nor was he a pope.

The pope is infallible in his authoritative teaching [891]. - Roman Catholicism
God alone is infallible (Numbers 23:19)

Scripture and Tradition together are the Word of God [81, 85, 97, 182]. - Roman Catholicism
Scripture is the Word of God (John 10:35, 2 Timothy 3:15-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21). Tradition is the words of men (Mark 7:1-13).

The sacrificial work of redemption is continually carried out through the Sacrifice of the Mass. [1364,1405, 1846]. - Roman Catholicism
The sacrificial work of redemption was finished when Christ gave His life for us on the cross (Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 1:3).

God desires that consecrated bread and wine be worshiped as divine. [1378-1381] - Roman Catholicism
God forbids the worship of any object, even t hose intended to represent Him (Exodus 20:4-5, Isaiah 42:8)

Justification is lost through mortal sin [1033, 1855, 1874] - Roman Catholicism
Justification cannot be lost. Those whom God justifies will be saved from the wrath of God (Romans 5:8-9).

Justification is furthered by sacraments and good works [1212, 1392, 2010] - Roman Catholicism
Justification is the imputation of the perfect righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). In Christ the believer has been made complete (Colossians 2:10).

Salvation is attained by cooperating with grace through faith, good works, and participation in the sacraments [183, 1129, 1815, 2002]. - Roman Catholicism
Salvation is attained by grace through faith apart from works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Good works are the result, not the cause, of salvation (Ephesians 2:10).

Mary, “the All-Holy,” lived a perfectly sinless life [411, 493]. - Roman Catholicism
Mary was a sinner; God alone is sinless (Luke 18:19, Romans 3:23, Revelation 15:4).

Mary was a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Christ [496-511]. - Roman Catholicism
Mary remained a virgin until after the birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:25). Later she had other children (Matthew 13:55-56, Psalm 69:8).

Each Sacrifice of the Mass appeases God’s wrath against sin [1371, 1414]. - Roman Catholicism
The once-for-all sacrifice of the cross fully appeased God’s wrath against sin. (Hebrews 10:12-18).

The Bishops, with the Pope, as their head, rule the universal church. [883, 894-896]. - Roman Catholicism
Christ, the head of the body is the Head of the Church. (Colossians 1:18).

The faithful receive the benefits of the cross in fullest measure through the Sacrifice of the Mass [1366, 1407]. - Roman Catholicism
Believers receive the benefits of the cross in fullest measure in Christ through faith (Ephesians 1:3-14).

God has exalted Mary in heavenly glory as Queen of Heaven and Earth [966]. She is to be praised with special devotion [971, 2675]. - Roman Catholicism
The name of the Lord is to be praised, for He alone is exalted above heaven and earth (Psalm 148:13). God commands, “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3).

Mary is the co-mediator to whom we can entrust all our cares and petitions 9 968-970, 2677] - Roman Catholicism
Christ Jesus is the one mediator to whom we can entrust all our cares and petitions (1 Timothy 2:5, John 14:13-14, 1 Peter 5:7).

Mary is the co-redeemer, for she participate with Christ in the painful act of redemption [618, 964, 968, 970]. - Roman Catholicism
Christ alone is the Redeemer, for He alone suffered and died for sin (1 Peter 1:18-19).

The sacrifice of the cross is perpetuated in the Sacrifice of the Mass [1323, 1382] - Roman Catholicism
The Sacrifice of the cross is finished (John 19:30).

Indulgences dispensed by the Church for acts of piety release sinners from temporal punishment [1471-1473]. - Roman Catholicism
Jesus releases believers from their sins by His blood. (Revelation 1:5).

The Magisterium has the right to define truth found only obscurely or implicitly in revelation. [66, 88, 2035, 2051]. - Roman Catholicism
No one has the right to go beyond what is written in Scripture (1 Corinthians 4:6, Proverbs 30:5-6).

Scripture and Tradition together are the Church’s supreme role of faith [80, 82]. - Roman Catholicism
Scripture is the church’s rule of faith (Mark 7:7-13, 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
 
CaCatholic I totally understand where you are coming from with the “scare tactics”:eek: that some people use. Then I met some really wonderful Catholics and they changed my whole perspective.😃
I have been in two RCIA programs, both of them wonderful. The first was through my University (a Jesuit school) so we were all college students. I had to move back home mid way through the program though. My local parish welcomed me into their program. It has a very different feel since most of the group are already married and some have kids. Thus it is a very different audience. The team members are very involved and love helping out. We discuss the readings, have a weekly Saint presentation then one of the team members will present on that week’s topic. I have learned so much!🙂 I’m very excited to be received into the Church this Easter! :extrahappy:
For those of you who are struggling with finding a good RCIA program don’t give up! There are ones out there that are simply awesome.
 
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