RCIA without classes?

[Imcatholic7]

I have been practicing the Catholic faith for 7 years. I started when I was pretty young. I know and pray the rosary very much. I enjoy shrines and have even deeply considered a vocation. I know the first step is to fully enter into the Church and I cannot wait to receive Christ in the Holy Eucharist. I have attempted twice in the past 2 years to try and start RCIA. Both attempts ended in loss of communication from the Church and lack of interest in contacting me back. I am now moving into a new town/parish and am wondering is it possible to be received into the Catholic Church this coming Easter without classes?Thanks for all responses!

 

[Irish_Polock]

I have been practicing the Catholic faith for 7 years. I started when I was pretty young. I know and pray the rosary very much. I enjoy shrines and have even deeply considered a vocation. I know the first step is to fully enter into the Church and I cannot wait to receive Christ in the Holy Eucharist. I have attempted twice in the past 2 years to try and start RCIA. Both attempts ended in loss of communication from the Church and lack of interest in contacting me back. I am now moving into a new town/parish and am wondering is it possible to be received into the Catholic Church this coming Easter without classes?Thanks for all responses!

Your local priest should be able to work this situation out. But yes, it is possible.

 

[Marie5890]

I have been practicing the Catholic faith for 7 years. I started when I was pretty young. I know and pray the rosary very much. I enjoy shrines and have even deeply considered a vocation. I know the first step is to fully enter into the Church and I cannot wait to receive Christ in the Holy Eucharist. I have attempted twice in the past 2 years to try and start RCIA. Both attempts ended in loss of communication from the Church and lack of interest in contacting me back. I am now moving into a new town/parish and am wondering is it possible to be received into the Catholic Church this coming Easter without classes?Thanks for all responses!

You have to realize that each parish is it’s own community. They decide such questions. You would need to take to the parish priest about such.

 

[Marie5890]

Your local priest should be able to work this situation out. But yes, it is possible.

Yes, it is possible. But each parish community decides how want to handle a new person seeking full communion with not only the universal church, but their individual parish community as well.

 

[Marie5890]

I have been practicing the Catholic faith for 7 years. I started when I was pretty young. I know and pray the rosary very much. I enjoy shrines and have even deeply considered a vocation. I know the first step is to fully enter into the Church and I cannot wait to receive Christ in the Holy Eucharist. I have attempted twice in the past 2 years to try and start RCIA. Both attempts ended in loss of communication from the Church and lack of interest in contacting me back. I am now moving into a new town/parish and am wondering is it possible to be received into the Catholic Church this coming Easter without classes?Thanks for all responses!

I just re-read your journey and I remember you! Hello again!

Because you are coming from the Mormon faith, and your age (you said you were a teenager so I am thinking later teen, 18? 19?) I would highly doubt that a priest would have you enter the Church at the Vigil without going thru RCIA. Esp since you need to be baptized as well.

You really do need to go thru RCIA. Like someone recently said, RCIA isnt just about obtaining information, it’s about actual formation and journey.

You really should and need to do the journey of RCIA.
God Bless!

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

I have been practicing the Catholic faith for 7 years. I started when I was pretty young. I know and pray the rosary very much. I enjoy shrines and have even deeply considered a vocation. I know the first step is to fully enter into the Church and I cannot wait to receive Christ in the Holy Eucharist. I have attempted twice in the past 2 years to try and start RCIA. Both attempts ended in loss of communication from the Church and lack of interest in contacting me back. I am now moving into a new town/parish and am wondering is it possible to be received into the Catholic Church this coming Easter without classes?Thanks for all responses!

RCIA is flexible but it depends on your situation. Are you baptized? If so, in what church? What happened in the times you tried to start RCIA? What got in the way of completing it? Those are a couple of initial questions.

If you are not baptized, then the rite calls for at least a year in the catechumenate. Starting now you wouldn’t even come close to that. If you are baptized then there’s flexibility. You may or may not be ready around Easter.

There may also be marriage issues that need to be dealt with and that can take time.

Be aware that RCIA is not just about classes. It’s also about becoming part of a parish, part of a community. That’s important!

So the basic answer to all of this is that you need to talk with the RCIA director at your new parish.

 

[Irish_Polock]

Yes, it is possible. But each parish community decides how want to handle a new person seeking full communion with not only the universal church, but their individual parish community as well.

I know little of the OP’s situation other then what he/she has posted in this thread, that being said, the impression I got from the OP was that he/she was constantly moving to different parishes, If this is indeed the issue, it should be brought up to the pastor of his local parish.

He should not wait any longer to be be baptized and brought into full communion. This is obviously a decision the said priest will need to discern once the facts are known. I am not sure the parish laity should have a word to say in this other then “welcome home”.

 

[Marie5890]

RCIA is flexible but it depends on your situation. Are you baptized? If so, in what church? What happened in the times you tried to start RCIA? What got in the way of completing it? Those are a couple of initial questions.

If you are not baptized, then the rite calls for at least a year in the catechumenate. Starting now you wouldn’t even come close to that. If you are baptized then there’s flexibility. You may or may not be ready around Easter.

There may also be marriage issues that need to be dealt with and that can take time.

Be aware that RCIA is not just about classes. It’s also about becoming part of a parish, part of a community. That’s important!

So the basic answer to all of this is that you need to talk with the RCIA director at your new parish.

I do know he was/Is Mormon, but I dont know if he was baptized as an infant in another denomination.
If not, than he will need to be baptized.

The best guidance any of us can really give him is that he needs to talk to priest of where he is moving too (Im guessing he is of legal age where parental permission isnt needed)

I do understand the desire and hope that some how RCIA can be circumvented. I felt the same way too when I went thru. I had been LDS as well, although baptized Catholic as an infant so I didnt need to be baptized.

Many times, as much as one would like to “skip” RCIA, it’s really not advised.
Speaking to the priest would help him see that I think.

 

[charliedrake]

It depends.

On both your past and present situation.

 

[cheercoach24]

Out of curiosity - why is it that children receive First Holy Communion at a young age 7/8 and are not confirmed until 8/9 years later and Adult RCIA has the adult wait for all the Rites at one time?

 

[Irish_Polock]

Out of curiosity - why is it that children receive First Holy Communion at a young age 7/8 and are not confirmed until 8/9 years later and Adult RCIA has the adult wait for all the Rites at one time?

This is an error that has crept in and it needs to be corrected.

 

[cheercoach24]

This is an error that has crept in and it needs to be corrected.

??? What do you mean?

 

[Irish_Polock]

??? What do you mean?

Well, because bishops didn’t visit their parishes every year very often to confer the sacrament of confirmation, and the younger age for communion (7) allowed the children to keep their momentum throughout their catechesis (my theory). Of course, now that the pastor can confer the sacrament of confirmation, this practice is starting to be replaced by the normal order of baptism/confirmation/communion. The Bishop will normally “ok” this order for any parish that wishes to run their rite of initiation in this way.

That’s the way I understand it anyways.

 

[veilofveronica]

**Welcome!
I’m far from an expert, but I think that your best bet is to call your local Catholic parish and set up a meeting with the pastor. I’m so sorry to hear that the other attempts fizzled out, I hope this one works out better for you!
RCIA is quite, or can be quite, personally tailored. My fiance is in RCIA at the moment with five other fellows who are from diverse backgrounds. My fiance was baptized Anglican as a five-year-old, attended the Anglican church until early childhood, then didn’t attend church until he started attending the RC one with me last year. He entered RCIA in September and is deeply religious and committed to the RC faith. He knows a lot more about doctrine and practice then some, but there’s lots left to learn at any point in the faith journey, I think. As his sponsor, I’ve attended some meetings, too and learned some new things. I would think that they could make a program for you that would help you to journey in faith.
I know you’re likely eager to receive the Sacraments, but the pastor may recommend a period of study and waiting until that time. I would see what he says and pray about it.
God Bless,
Jillian **

 

[veilofveronica]

Out of curiosity - why is it that children receive First Holy Communion at a young age 7/8 and are not confirmed until 8/9 years later and Adult RCIA has the adult wait for all the Rites at one time?

Good question. It actually depends on the local Archdiocese.

Within my Archdiocese, children have First Communion normally at age seven, then Confirmation at around age thirteen. Confirmation is seen as a Sacrament that “completes” the Initiation Sacraments into the Church (being Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist) and that is to mark one as an adult in the Church and as a mature Christian.

However, technically Confirmation can be given to any that have achieved the age of reason, are properly instructed and are baptized. The original order of the Sacraments was: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist and in the Eastern Rite, this is still the norm. Within the Latin rite, some Archdiocese have restored the Order of the Sacraments and this was done in past years. Our neighoring Archdiocese, for example, has made the decision that children are to receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist at once. (as well as Reconciliation) in one year, at a minimum at age seven, but older if they need.

It is given to an adult in this manner as it follows the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, which is different than the catechism for children.

When a child is baptized older, it is at the discretion of the pastor/parish. For example, I was baptized at age thirteen. (long story). The priest decided that I should wait and be truly ready for the Sacrament of Confirmation, so I was Confirmed a year later after instuction with my peers, but had my First Communion at the next Mass after I was Baptized. My sister was seven when she was Baptized and made her First Communion with her peers. Within one parish, I have heard of the “Rite of Christian Initiation for Teens” but am not sure how that works or how widespread it is.

Hope that helped, and God Bless.
Jillian

 

[ExLibris]

I have a similar story when I was trying to be confirmed as an adult. It’s truly frustrating how terrible a lot of parishes are at maintaining websites, calendars, and clerical staff that can be held accountable. Everyone knows what I’m talking about: Mass times that are from 2005, e-mail addresses that are incorrect, ministries listed that are no longer active, etc.

There’s a parish here that updates its calendar after the week has passed. Newsflash: That’s called a timeline and it’s useless for scheduling.

My advice is to show up to a Mass during the day and take it up with His Reverence. He’ll point you in the right direction.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Out of curiosity - why is it that children receive First Holy Communion at a young age 7/8 and are not confirmed until 8/9 years later and Adult RCIA has the adult wait for all the Rites at one time?

I found a nice explanation from the Diocese of Fargo on the history of the sacraments of initiation and how they became separated. See fargodiocese.org/bishop/Chancellor/ConfirmationPDF/confirmation.pdf for the full version.

1. Understanding our past often helps us better understand the needs of the present. From the apostolic times until around the fifth century, the Church celebrated the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation in one continuous rite of initiation, which culminated in a Christian’s admission to the Eucharist. This practice held for persons of all ages, including children. The Baptismal washing and anointing by the priest were followed by an imposition of hands and anointing by the bishop. Confirmation was seen as a natural extension of Baptism, perfecting what the Holy Spirit had accomplished in that initial sacrament. Hence, the celebration was called the double sacrament of initiation, while still two distinct sacraments (Cf. CCC 1290-1291).
2. In the Middle Ages (5th-13th centuries), the distinction between Baptism and Confirmation grew. Due to a growing emphasis on infant Baptism and the territorial enlargement of dioceses, it became increasingly difficult for the bishop to be present to administer Confirmation in a unified rite of initiation. As a result, Baptism and First Eucharist were administered together at infancy, with a later celebration of Confirmation by the Bishop in very early childhood. As the centuries progressed, however, infant Eucharist in the West ceased, with the effect of further neglecting Confirmation. The dominant idea of Confirmation as an intensification of Baptism was supplemented with the notion of strengthening the Christian for the battle of life through the fullness of the gift of the Holy Spirit.
3. From the thirteenth until the nineteenth century, a further change occurred in the celebration of Confirmation. Although infant Baptism continued to be the norm, First Eucharist was delayed until after the age of discretion. Thus, the ancient order of the three sacraments was restored but spread out in time. Confirmation was celebrated at the age of discretion (seven and above), followed by First Eucharist between the ages of ten and fourteen. By the sixteenth century, Confirmation was celebrated between seven and fifteen years of age, followed by First Eucharist. At the close of the nineteenth century, the order of Confirmation before First Eucharist received papal approval.
4. The contemporary sequence of the sacraments was determined in part by Pope Pius X, who encouraged First Eucharist at the age of discretion (seven and above). This decision had the effect of placing the reception of First Eucharist before the reception of Confirmation, which would then generally occur as early as seven and as late as eighteen. This order (infant Baptism, First Eucharist at the age of discretion, and Confirmation any time between seven and eighteen) is the more common pastoral practice of today.
5. At the same time, various Church documents, especially the Vatican II document Sacrosanctum Concilium (SC 71) and the rituals which followed it (Pope Paul VI, Apostolic Constitution on the Sacrament of Confirmation), clearly teach that the purpose of the liturgical reform of Confirmation is to restore the intimate link Confirmation has with the whole of Christian initiation. In order for that link to be clearly established, the proper and desired order of the sacraments is that of the ancient Church: Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist.

 

[Zooman77]

It’s possible but you have to talk to your parish priest. The point of classes is to teach you about the church, if you already know a good amount about the church you could tell the priest that and work it out.

 

[Imcatholic7]

Thanks for all of the answers! Emailed local RCIA director. Entering classes soon.

 

[Marie5890]

It’s possible but you have to talk to your parish priest. The point of classes is to teach you about the church, if you already know a good amount about the church you could tell the priest that and work it out.

Not quite accurate.
Yes, it’s about information. BUT and it’s a big BUT it’s also about becoming part of the parish community.

That cant be stressed enough…