RCIA Stories?

[jmcrae]

You made me think of one of my favorite quotes:

“Who does not see that knowledge precedes faith? Nobody believes unless he knows what to believe.” – Augustine of Hippo, convert, bishop, theologian, Father and Doctor of the Church, Saint; noting that the assent of faith is a rational act; before it can be made, it must be known for certain that there is a God, that He has spoken, and that what He has spoken is known. (see “Science and the Church”)

And, obviously, there is a fair amount of fact-learning along the way. But becoming a Catholic is not like becoming an engineer. The facts are important, but they are not the only thing. Relationships are also extremely important. We are the body of Christ together - it’s not just a “me and Jesus” experience. It is also very important for you to get to know your fellow travelers, so that you can support each other - especially the person who admitted to having had a difficult childhood.

Furthermore, if I could join the Church via University I would in a heartbeat. I’m not really interested in all this touchy feely nonsense but I suppose if it’s a necessary burden then I will bear it. sigh

It was Jesus Himself who commanded us to love one another.

• It’s important because the things that will get you through your struggles in life are not all the things you know to be factual, but rather, the love of your friends. *

I would argue the love of family. Our Christian brothers and sisters are not merely friends, they are adopted family.

All the more reason to get to know them, and support them in their struggles.

 

[T_Hope]

I cannot WAIT to get to the bone so we can start discussing all this stuff I’ve been learning. I suppose we have to endure this all until we get to the good stuff.

First, Welcome Home!

I hope your RCIA director GETS to the good stuff, nickybr38.

We began RCIA classes in May and have covered A LOT of ground. Last night we began a 3-week discussion on the basics of catholic morality. Our instructor spent the first half of the class discussing original sin, and then we talked about personal sin, and the virtues … my fire is stoked (again and always). Although it’s not our text, I’m hoping to read (and re-read portions) of section III of the CCC before next class.

Our parish has a terrific program. The director teaches probably 50% or more of the classes and he’s an excellent teacher. We also have several other outstanding teachers who take turns on different nights so that, for instance, we discussed different aspects of the Holy Trinity with three different instructors, and the fourth week all of them were present to respond to questions as one of the instructors led the discussion which pulled it all together for us. What is nice about it is that each of us respond to different “types” of teachers. One is philosophical and speaks a language some in the class like best. One is very “spiritual” and has a way of inspiring that is … well, inspiring! She taught two classes on our Blessed Mother. Another is an educator by profession - none of us wanted that night to end. Anyway, most of our classmates are coming from a very non-traditional religious background, so topics like the Holy Trinity, and original sin take awhile to sink in and having different people to ask questions of allows each of us ample opportunity to ask questions and learn. We have a text, which is geared to the least motivated of classmates, but it is an inspiring springboard for others of us to pounce right into the CCC and the Bible. In October, two more teachers will be working with us, including our new priest. I’m looking forward to that!

Most weeks we have class. But we had one movie night - and another night we attended a special mass all together for our Patron Saint and then a parish dinner following. So it’s not all work - work - work.

I am very grateful for our RCIA program. As I read posts on this forum, I realize how fortunate we are.

I wonder if there is another parish close by with an RCIA program that you could visit. Maybe there’s a better fit for you elsewhere.

RCIA is for inquiry. But in order to know what you are inquiring about, you need to be taught the basics of the Catholic faith and you need to be free to ask questions throughout the process. That seems like a given, which you are apparently not receiving. I agree that RCIA should not be any sort of therapy session. There is way too much to learn before baptism.

The CCC says that “faith seeks understanding” and in CCC 158 St. Augustine is quoted “I believe, in order to understand; and I understand, the better to believe.”

Isn’t that PART of the purpose of RCIA? To help those seeking for understanding to learn the gospel in order that faith may increase?? I think it is (together with getting involved in the parish, etc.).

You may want to talk to your RCIA director and/or parish priest to find out what their goals are and how they hope to achieve them, and then if it isn’t what you are needing, another parish may have a more fitting program for you.

Hope

 

[jmcrae]

RCIA is for inquiry. But in order to know what you are inquiring about, you need to be taught the basics of the Catholic faith and you need to be free to ask questions throughout the process. That seems like a given, which you are apparently not receiving. I agree that RCIA should not be any sort of therapy session. There is way too much to learn before baptism.

RCIA has four periods - the Period of Inquiry, which allows the participants to get to know each other; this is characterized by a lot of “touchy-feely” stuff - hopefully not actual therapy, but there is a lot of focus on the lived experiences of the participants, and a lot of socializing.

The second period is the Period of Catechesis, which is characterized by a lot of lectures, hand-outs, and note-taking. In the one-year model, this period normally starts during Advent.

Third is the Period of Enlightenment, which is characterized by a lot of prayer, a lot of contemplation, the Stations of the Cross, the Rosary, and other meditative forms of prayer, and at least one Retreat experience. This is also the period when those who have been baptized will arrange to make their First Confession.

The fourth period is Mystagogia - the breaking open of the mysteries - and takes place after the Sacraments of Initiation. It has a great deal in common with the Period of Inquiry, in that the focus once again returns to the experiences of the participants - with one difference - the participants will now be challenged to leadership and evangelism in their parish - there will be talks given by various volunteers in the parish, encouraging the newly Confirmed to participate actively in the life of their parish through volunteer service.

 

[lutherlic]

Just to offer another data point… I felt that my RCIA classes were fairly good in taking a diverse group and introducing us to the basics of the faith. However, they were insufficient by themselves for me other than to whet my appetite for more.

If I calculate all the time spent in RCIA classes, it was for me too little to really understand the faith as I felt I needed to. The net of this is I spent many times this in study on my own - reading the Catechism and other materials and studying from reliable sources online.

My conclusion is that you need to take the initiative to supplement whatever is learned in RCIA by self-study. That may be a little or a lot depending on what you need and how well RCIA contributes to it.

 

[nickybr38]

And, obviously, there is a fair amount of fact-learning along the way. But becoming a Catholic is not like becoming an engineer. The facts are important, but they are not the only thing. Relationships are also extremely important. We are the body of Christ together - it’s not just a “me and Jesus” experience. It is also very important for you to get to know your fellow travelers, so that you can support each other - especially the person who admitted to having had a difficult childhood.

It was Jesus Himself who commanded us to love one another.

All the more reason to get to know them, and support them in their struggles.

Sorry, I guess I was speaking WAY too vaguely. The ‘companion’, the lady who opened up about her childhood is my cousin. I know her very well and it was me who held her when we went home and she had a good sob.

My complaint wasn’t that they want to get to know us, my complaint is that we WILL get to know each other as we study the truths of the Church. I’m not sure why getting to know you has to be seperated from intellect.

PS: I will continue to go. Nothing will stop me. My frustration is largely due to impatience, I know this. I’m really, really not interested in making friends right now. HAHA. Right now I just want to fill my brain with every little bit of information that I’ve missed out on the last 19 years of my Christian walk. And I suppose that’s something I need to learn to get over.

 

[nickybr38]

First, Welcome Home!

I hope your RCIA director GETS to the good stuff, nickybr38.

We began RCIA classes in May and have covered A LOT of ground. Last night we began a 3-week discussion on the basics of catholic morality. Our instructor spent the first half of the class discussing original sin, and then we talked about personal sin, and the virtues … my fire is stoked (again and always). Although it’s not our text, I’m hoping to read (and re-read portions) of section III of the CCC before next class.

Our parish has a terrific program. The director teaches probably 50% or more of the classes and he’s an excellent teacher. We also have several other outstanding teachers who take turns on different nights so that, for instance, we discussed different aspects of the Holy Trinity with three different instructors, and the fourth week all of them were present to respond to questions as one of the instructors led the discussion which pulled it all together for us. What is nice about it is that each of us respond to different “types” of teachers. One is philosophical and speaks a language some in the class like best. One is very “spiritual” and has a way of inspiring that is … well, inspiring! She taught two classes on our Blessed Mother. Another is an educator by profession - none of us wanted that night to end. Anyway, most of our classmates are coming from a very non-traditional religious background, so topics like the Holy Trinity, and original sin take awhile to sink in and having different people to ask questions of allows each of us ample opportunity to ask questions and learn. We have a text, which is geared to the least motivated of classmates, but it is an inspiring springboard for others of us to pounce right into the CCC and the Bible. In October, two more teachers will be working with us, including our new priest. I’m looking forward to that!

Most weeks we have class. But we had one movie night - and another night we attended a special mass all together for our Patron Saint and then a parish dinner following. So it’s not all work - work - work.

I am very grateful for our RCIA program. As I read posts on this forum, I realize how fortunate we are.

I wonder if there is another parish close by with an RCIA program that you could visit. Maybe there’s a better fit for you elsewhere.

RCIA is for inquiry. But in order to know what you are inquiring about, you need to be taught the basics of the Catholic faith and you need to be free to ask questions throughout the process. That seems like a given, which you are apparently not receiving. I agree that RCIA should not be any sort of therapy session. There is way too much to learn before baptism.

The CCC says that “faith seeks understanding” and in CCC 158 St. Augustine is quoted “I believe, in order to understand; and I understand, the better to believe.”

Isn’t that PART of the purpose of RCIA? To help those seeking for understanding to learn the gospel in order that faith may increase?? I think it is (together with getting involved in the parish, etc.).

You may want to talk to your RCIA director and/or parish priest to find out what their goals are and how they hope to achieve them, and then if it isn’t what you are needing, another parish may have a more fitting program for you.

Hope

Now that sounds more like my cup of tea.

I might ask the RCIA director this coming class what the plan is. I know after the last class my companion/cousin/roommate (the one who opened up about being abused as a child) wanted to try to attend RCIA at another parish but we live so far away from the next nearest parish that I just don’t think that we can afford to change.

I’ve convinced her to stick it out and I’m determined to stick it out too. It’s only been two classes, hopefully things will improve.

Part of the problem might be that they’re trying to egg us into discussion but there’s NOTHING TO DISCUSS. Hahahaha. Oh well.

 

[jmcrae]

Part of the problem might be that they’re trying to egg us into discussion but there’s NOTHING TO DISCUSS. Hahahaha. Oh well.

I’ve sometimes wondered if it might not make sense to reverse the Period of Catechesis, and the Period of Inquiry (and change the name of the Period of Inquiry to The Period of Socialization) because my experience was that when people first arrived, they were expecting to sit down in chairs and listen to lectures, and they weren’t prepared to talk amongst themselves, but then by the time they got to the Period of Catechesis, when it was time for them to sit down and be quiet, we couldn’t shut them up - they just kept on talking.

Just a thought.

 

[DJgang]

Well, my RCIA was a basic Christian education program. So, guess that I can relate … or know how you FEEL

 

[army_girl]

I don’t think I would of made it in your class, I am not the best on talking about how things make me feel. It kind of makes me happy that I went through my course in Afghanistan, I know that it didn’t follow the guidelines that most courses have, but I wasn’t doing it under normal circumstances. But at the same time it would have been nice to be in a social setting to discuss topics with my peers.
Just think of it this way, the touchy feely thing may not be what you need, but prehaps it is exactly what someone else in your class needs

 

[Bob_Crowley]

Well, so far my first two nights at RCIA have been pretty bleak. I need a good vent and I thought maybe hearing some other RCIA stories would help me deal with my disappointment.

The first night we had introductions and were pushed to explain what EVERY little thing made us ‘feel’. “How does this verse make you feel? What does this make you feel?” It felt mildly like a therapy session but I decided it was probably because it was the first night and I shrugged it off.

The second night was an outright disaster. First they attempted to oust my sponsor (she dug in her heels and refused to go - let me tell you I was pretty annoyed with that after I finally gave up my pride and asked this lady to BE my sponsor in the first place). Then they made us sing a song and digest how it made us feel, dissecting every line of the song to try and pull some kind of ‘response’ out of us. I don’t know what they were expecting but all I got from it is that the music was technically sound. Then we spent AN HOUR discussing HOW TO JOURNAL. Complete with constant ‘how does this make you feel?’ questions. Then we had to share our life’s ‘journey’ so far which ended in a breakdown when my companion (in the face of story after story of a wonderful blessed absolutely no hardships to speak of life - really? We’re in a class full of people who’ve had VERY blessed lives and it’s awkward when you’re not in the same position) admitted she’d suffered abuse as a child. Which consequently led to an awkward end to the evening.

Two nights and I haven’t learned a SINGLE thing about the Church.

My companion and I both had only this to say about the experience so far: I didn’t realize I was signing up for therapy sessions.

Now, I am holding out hope that there is some grand plan in place and that things will improve… but for the meantime I am absolutely disappointed. I am so eager to learn and all I’ve been given is tips on how to self examine??? I’ve already done the examining… that’s why I joined up for the classes!

ARGHHHH!



Okay, okay, I’m feeling better now. Feels good to vent!

Anyone else got some stories to share? Good OR bad?

Oh, and if I hear about the JOURNEY one more time I will SCREAM! This is not a 70s pop song, life is NOT a journey. It’s a CLASSROOM. So teach me already…

What makes you feel this way about the Journey??

Just kidding…

I think you’ve been unlucky in your particular RCIA group. If it continues, why not talk to the church administration, tell them your concerns, and ask if there is another RCIA group you can go to from the same church. If there is, it will probably have a different modus operandi.

The RCIA sponsors are lay people, by and large. So they’re going to have all the good and bad points that entails. And they may not have much prior experience, and are flying blind.