RCIA through College ministry

[JohnnyReb]

The catholic student ministries at my university offers a RCIA program, which may be more compatible with my schedule (its held during the day)

How does one evaluate what a good RCIA program looks like? Has anyone else done RCIA through a college program? I am assuming that a college ministry’s program would be as valid as a local parish’s program (but the local parish meets at night when I am in school). Any advice?

 

[puzzleannie]

we have also convinced the nearby campus ministry to offer RCIA and the director was trained (but now they have a new director), because it works well for the kids’ schedules. They do however have to be received into the church through a parish, either a neighoring one, or their home parish. Instruction only is on campus. Beginning in Lent they must come to the parish.
how to evaluate? are you free to ask questions and are you getting good answers, and being referred to good sources for further study? (if they refer you to this site of course they are rock solid).

 

[jmcrae]

I wrote this quite a while ago - I am thinking that it might be useful to you.

** What sort of things should I look for in a RCIA class?**

Step 1: As far as possible, try not to be a connoisseur, but rather, a student.

Step 2: Having become determined to be a student, realize that a student of the Catholic Faith has certain rights.

These rights include:

1. The right to be taught what the Church teaches, without too many incursions of the teacher’s personal opinions.
2. The right to have your initial questions answered in a thorough and timely way.
3. The right to receive the Rites of Initiation in an orderly and focused manner; these include the Rite of Acceptance/Welcome at the beginning of RCIA Catechesis, the Rite of Election/Call to Full Communion at the beginning of the Period of Purification, and the First Sacraments on the Easter Vigil.
4. The right to a full and complete RCIA process, including all four Periods: Inquiry, Catechesis, Purification, and Mystagogia.
5. The right not to rush through the four periods of RCIA in six months or less, as though we were in a race of some kind. (The Vatican actually recommends that RCIA take at least two years, with at least one full year being focused on Catechesis.)
6. Going along with 5, the right to pace your formation in the Catholic faith according to your own ability to assimilate it into your life, and to conform your life to the expectations of a Catholic life style at your own pace.
7. You have the right to have a sponsor. Some parishes prefer that you find your own sponsor, while others prefer to assign someone to you. Ask about this.

Of course, RCIA leadership teams are made up of human beings, so you will not find a “perfect” RCIA anywhere (and your leaders are going to disappoint you from time to time: this I can guarantee. I also guarantee, though, that they aren’t setting out to do that on purpose.) This leads us to

Step 3: Having found an RCIA that at least mostly respects your rights as a student of the faith, forgive your sponsor, teachers and priests for the crazy things they will sometimes say and do.

Step 4: Pay attention, have excellent attendance, and ask lots of good questions. Also do the assigned reading, and take lots of notes. Take the initiative in class - don’t wait to be spoon-fed everything.

Step 5: Also keep a journal - this is a fantastic time in your life, and you will want to keep a journal of it to look back on, later in life.

Step 6: Also keep a scrapbook everything that has your name on it - bulletin inserts, name tags, etc., and the order of service from all of your special services, such as the Rite of Election/Call to Full Communion. If you can, get someone to take pictures of you with the Bishop at the Call to Full Communion, and also get them to take a picture of you and your sponsor with the priest who brings you into the Church on the Easter Vigil.

 

[THutch04]

The catholic student ministries at my university offers a RCIA program, which may be more compatible with my schedule (its held during the day)

How does one evaluate what a good RCIA program looks like? Has anyone else done RCIA through a college program? I am assuming that a college ministry’s program would be as valid as a local parish’s program (but the local parish meets at night when I am in school). Any advice?

I completed my RCIA through my school’s campus ministry program, partly out of logistics (I wouldn’t have been able to register at a parish in Pittsburgh and RCIA programs back home all took place while I was away) and convenience (I don’t have my car out here, it was much more convenient to be part of the process on campus). I actually think for me it really was the better option, because there were so many other students my age who were making the same decision as myself. It just meant a lot to be able to share that with students; I just didn’t feel that I would be able to connect well with people who were much older than myself. That’s not to say their knowledge and journeys aren’t valuable, because they definitely are! I’ve learned so much from converts of all different age groups! But being able to share in that experience with other college students was just amazing, and it’s certainly something I’ll always appreciate.

As far as content goes, I’d say I got a good RCIA program. The only thing is that if it’s through a college you might not be initiated on Easter Vigil (we were initiated the next week on Divine Mercy Sunday…which again I thought was just a wonderful time for me…). This could be because people tend to go home during the Easter break and for many reasons an Easter Vigil might not be possible. Also, because it’s through a college you might not have a Mystagogia process. I guess that could possibly be resolved by going through that part at a neighboring parish (certainly not ideal, but definitely better than not going through it at all).

 

[puzzleannie]

if your on-campus program does not offer mystagogy after Easter, for instance, you are gone all summer, at least try to attend a bible study or some other formal study after you receive the sacraments. reason is this, new converts can find themselves under attack, because Satan hates this step they have taken, with doubts, uncertainties, questions, and if you are a group where you can continue to ask questions and discuss issues, you have the necessary support.