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maltmom
Guest
Start one!
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DarkLight
Guest
That…seems like a totally different issue. In any case I can attend in the spring. I can rearrange my schedule on occasion for holy days; I can’t rearrange it for the entire semester.Wait. You can’t attend classes? This is a problem. What will happen when you have a schedule conflict on a holy day?
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iloveangels
Guest
Not at all. A huge part of RCIA is showing up because a huge part of being Catholic is showing up for the rest of your life.
Knowing things is part of being Catholic, yes. But it’s not the major part. The really big part is exactly showing up whether you feel like it or not, whether you have a schedule conflict or whatever, etc etc.
Learning to be Catholic is more than learning the rules and knowing the “answers” from the handouts or whatever.
I"m a convert and I’ve been Catholic for more than 25 years. RCIA only lasts a few months but being Catholic lasts the rest of a person’s life. People coming into the Church really need to think long and hard about this because, honestly, there are always “scheduling conflicts” in peoples’ lives. What’s more important? If a person can’t answer that question quickly by saying “the Church,” then they need to think some more before making that commitment.
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CalCatholic
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Most of the people who come into our RCIA program know very little about the Catholic Church or theology. Be humble, contribute to the class, do your own side reading and maybe as the class progresses you will find it a little more interesting!
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CalCatholic
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DarkLight
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Sunday Mass and other Holy days are obligatory. RCIA is the preferred method. Big difference. Classes are not a matter of “doing what I want” - they’re a matter of retaining my job and ability to stay in my field.
In any case I’m pretty sure unavoidable schedule conflicts are considered a reason to miss mass.
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Joannm
Guest
Uh, I don’t think so. Attending Mass is a very serious obligation under the pain of sin. You are to make every effort to attend Mass even if that means going to 6AM Mass (which thankfully I only had to do twice in my life), the anticipated Mass on Saturday, or Sunday night Mass. Going to Mass is the most important thing a Catholic can do.
LaughingBoy1503
Well-known member
I just started rcia myself. Half are baptized Catholics who know nothing about their faith (and I hope are not only taking rcia since all of them say they might be getting married soon) and the other half are unbaptized (myself included) We are starting at the beginner level. I have been studying the Catholic faith on my own for over a year now and I have been reading the bible ever since I was a kid so I DO know the difference between the new and old testament and who the Jews are lol. But, almost everone else in the class does not 
So I must be patient. And also after I was the only person who was answering the questions that the rcia teacher was asking the group (granted that I got 1 of them wrong) I stopped halfway through and just stood silent even if I knew the answer. This is only the beginning. There will be a lot more to learn later on. Pray that the beginner stuff stays in the minds of those who have never even cared to investigate those things on their own.
So I must be patient. And also after I was the only person who was answering the questions that the rcia teacher was asking the group (granted that I got 1 of them wrong) I stopped halfway through and just stood silent even if I knew the answer. This is only the beginning. There will be a lot more to learn later on. Pray that the beginner stuff stays in the minds of those who have never even cared to investigate those things on their own.
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iloveangels
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I don’t blame that RCIA director for questioning this. I would too, if I were in her shoes.
I used to work swing shift. I can’t count the number of times I went to mass early in the morning and at all kinds of weird times because I have an obligation to be there. Just because I worked midnight shift and had to show up at mass dirty and tired wasn’t reason to miss. I went, convenient or not. Becoming Catholic brings with it some grave and very serious obligations.
I didn’t enjoy RCIA much. I have grad degrees in philosophy and I have a lot of background in theology. My grandfather was a minister and I’ve been around churches my whole life. But I went to RCIA EVERY SINGLE WEEK. Making a commitment to show up and BE Catholic is the act of becoming Catholic for real. I wasn’t playing at it, and I still am not playing at it.
What are the kinds of unavoidable conflicts that can cause you to miss mass? In a hospital, in a foxhole, in jail. That’s about it.
Convenience doesn’t even enter into the discussion. It doesn’t matter whether it’s convenient or not to go to Mass. It doesn’t matter if it gets in the way of your other priorities etc etc. All that’s irrelevant in the face of the obligation Catholics have. Mass on Sunday is priority #1.
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iloveangels
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I don’t know, DarkLight, if anyone’s told you this, but the reason RCIA is so long isn’t because they’re going to do a Vulcan mind-meld on you and teach you everything there is to know about Catholicism. People study their whole lives to learn small parts of Catholicism. Any class of any sort, even a graduate class in theology, only touches a tiny part of what the Church knows and teaches.
The reason RCIA is so long is so that:
a) You can take your time and really discern whether you want to be Catholic or not, and even more than that, whether you’re ready to be Catholic or not.
b) So that you can have time to clear any impediments to being Catholic. A lot of people have things of one sort or another they have to work through. Some are marital, some are practical, some are faith-based, some are social. The time is necessary for many people.
Some people are counseled (or decide for themselves) to go through two years of RCIA before committing to be Catholic. It’s not that unusual. It’s a very, very big decision and it will drive the things that happen in your life for the rest of your life.
The reason RCIA is so long is so that:
a) You can take your time and really discern whether you want to be Catholic or not, and even more than that, whether you’re ready to be Catholic or not.
b) So that you can have time to clear any impediments to being Catholic. A lot of people have things of one sort or another they have to work through. Some are marital, some are practical, some are faith-based, some are social. The time is necessary for many people.
Some people are counseled (or decide for themselves) to go through two years of RCIA before committing to be Catholic. It’s not that unusual. It’s a very, very big decision and it will drive the things that happen in your life for the rest of your life.
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maltmom
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Great points!!! Sometimes I don’t think people realize what a lifetime commitment they are making. It’s not like when I was Presbyterian and started going to a Baptist church. We are called as Catholics to obedience. We have to accept the Church’s teachings…no ifs ands or buts
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number2wilkins
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DUDE! thanks for the info! already purchased
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DarkLight
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Like I said - big difference between Mass and RCIA. There’s no sin in missing RCIA. It’s the preferred method, not a grave obligation. I’ve been to mass almost every sunday for the past year - I think I only missed one. I walk there, 45min each way to the closest church, in midsummer, because there’s no bus service on sundays. This is also why so many different masses are offered, including the vigil masses - so people don’t have to miss. It’s very difficult now to get a true conflict, with masses saturday afternoon and evening and all day sunday.
RCIA is not a grave obligation. There is no comparison between a class and the celebration of our Lord’s sacrifice. There are other ways to learn. The import is that we learn, not that we attend a class.
RCIA is not a grave obligation. There is no comparison between a class and the celebration of our Lord’s sacrifice. There are other ways to learn. The import is that we learn, not that we attend a class.
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Joannm
Guest
RCIA is not just about “learning,” but about becoming part of a community of believers. It is discovering how what you have learned makes a difference in your life. It is about being involved in parish life, getting to know the people and sharing your faith.
I have been a Catholic all my life. I have a doctorate from a Catholic seminary, but when I am in those RCIA sessions I deepen my own spirituality and relationship with Christ when I listen to all the catechumens and candidates have to say. When I pray with them I am lifted up. Their stories change me.
Don’t look upon RCIA as an academic exercise, like that required course in college that every one hated but had to take. RCIA changes lives. I have seen it first hand for many years. Even cradle Catholics who attend sessions as sponsors are amazed at how great it is. Many former RCIA candidates come back to help with sessions or to become catechists themselves.
Give it a chance and be positive.
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kkollwitz
Guest
“RCIA is not just about “learning,” but about becoming part of a community of believers. It is discovering how what you have learned makes a difference in your life. It is about being involved in parish life, getting to know the people and sharing your faith.”
Yes. At our parish it’s also a bonding process with the other catechumens/ candidates, the sponsors, the teacher(s), Catholics there just to refresh, etc. “Class” really starts about 15 minutes early with people talking and sharing snacky food they bring. Then after class there’s another 10 minutes of schmoozing.
Yes. At our parish it’s also a bonding process with the other catechumens/ candidates, the sponsors, the teacher(s), Catholics there just to refresh, etc. “Class” really starts about 15 minutes early with people talking and sharing snacky food they bring. Then after class there’s another 10 minutes of schmoozing.
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DarkLight
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Honestly I’d rather avoid sharing type stuff as much as possible. I’m sure it’s helpful to some people, but…well, I generally avoid sharing much of my own journey with people I don’t know particularly well. Not everyone has the kind of neat, tidy story that people want to here; there are plenty of things that I would prefer not become known. Especially as I’m likely to be interacting with students from the college where I teach.
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InternetWoman
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If YouCat is too basic get “The Big Book” - the Catechism of the Catholic Church. And for real enjoyment - get the Companion to the Catechism of the Catholic. This 2nd book provides all the material referenced in the footnotes - which saves you a ton of time looking up material!
And to reiterate what others have said, folks start the RCIA process for a variety of reasons with a variety of backgrounds and understanding. I add my voice to those that have said they have folks in their programs that have never opened a Bible and have no idea who Jesus Christ is (or why the big deal about him). Their interest in the faith generally comes from knowing friends/family members who are Catholic. Their lived faith is the example that spurs their interest.
My younger folks (twenties) are more interested in lived experience than “all that book stuff.” The idea that they would come already having explored theological topics is just not happening.
You may be able to use your own witness during discussions (I assume you have them) to take the level up a notch.
And to reiterate what others have said, folks start the RCIA process for a variety of reasons with a variety of backgrounds and understanding. I add my voice to those that have said they have folks in their programs that have never opened a Bible and have no idea who Jesus Christ is (or why the big deal about him). Their interest in the faith generally comes from knowing friends/family members who are Catholic. Their lived faith is the example that spurs their interest.
My younger folks (twenties) are more interested in lived experience than “all that book stuff.” The idea that they would come already having explored theological topics is just not happening.
You may be able to use your own witness during discussions (I assume you have them) to take the level up a notch.
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Faithdancer
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From my experience, a number of those in RCIA are only there because they want a Catholic wedding. Well…at least they are there!
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coachdennis
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For Catholics, our relationship with Jesus is personal AND communal. Communities ARE messy, imperfect, and WILL include people like your students and those who have great knowledge of theology and those who will have the faith of a child. Yet we are all together in this family of God called Church.
As previous posters said, “Offer it up”, “it is what it is”
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DarkLight
Guest
Christian communities are also often very dangerous places. Especially if your past contains things that people would rather pretend don’t exist.
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