Retaking RCIA? What's your take?

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stuartbrianhenlis

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I have a question that I hope someone could help me with:

I converted to the Faith, oh, about thirty years ago and was accepted as a candidate for RCIA and was confirmed at Easter. I loved every session and probably was the only person asking questions. I treated it like a college course! The catechist even gave me the confirmation name of Paul!

I want to go and take it again because there’s so much I want to learn about my Faith, but can’t do it alone. I have plenty of reference material at my home, but I wouldn’t know where to begin.

You are all so much more knowledgeable then I, and I learn much here.

So, can I retake RCIA, or is there something similar available?

Stuart
 
They are simply inquiry classes and some in attendance are only there to learn about the faith - not necessarily to convert. You might also begin daily/habitually listening to Catholic radio, and reading a copy of Catholicism for Dummies if you have one. EWTN should be your cable channel of choice.
 
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Speak with the RCIA instructor. It will be at the RCIA team’s discretion. You won’t be able to be a catechumens or candidate in the formal sense, since you can only be baptized and confirmed once, but you may be able to attend the classes and take part in the education in every other way.

When I taught RCIA, I always encouraged anyone and everyone who wanted to, to attend the classes I agree it is a great way to grow iand learn the faith. You’ll be inspired by the candidates and catechumens. And they’ll be inspired by you. Sometimes an opportunity may arise to sponsor a candidate, or provide witness and testimony to your own faith journey if you want. It’s a great way to build community, and be able to ask questions of the instructor or instructors. It’s s win win. As I said It’ll be at the discretion of the RCIA team, but highly encourage it.
 
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I would say it varies from parish to parish. In the parish I was received in, everyone was encouraged to take part, in the first year, if they wanted to learn more of what the Catholic Church believes and teaches. Everyone was those converting, being baptised, already catholic but with limited CCD and might not have received the Sacrament of Confirmation, already fully initiated Catholics and then those who just have an interest in learning something about the Catholic Church. Second year was only for those being baptised or received into full communion.

In my parish there are no RCIA group classes but done individually instead. Most are sent to the neighbour parish as their RCIA is great. Those wanting to learn more and are already catholic are encouraged to ask the priest or deacon or attend the retreats the carismatic group has. As the priest is new to the parish, we will see what happens if there are going to be Bible studies, retreats, continue with the Catholicism videos (Bishop Robert Barron) or???
 
Instead of redoing RCIA can you see if people would start up a study group, does your parish have Formed? If not maybe that would be worth looking into it’s a great website with many studies on it that you can do at home or as a parish group.
 
That’s not really what RCIA is intended for though in some parishes everyone is welcome to attend. Since you’re already Catholic, why not take classes aimed at people in your position. Check out the Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation at the University of Dayton. They have adult education type classes that they offer online. Many dioceses subsidize the cost so they’re very affordable.
 
I attended my wifes classes with her last year…in fact it was encouraged…talk with the RCIA team. If offered, try to find a more advanced class, though I found the RCIA class often didn’t know what to ask, and benefitted from people who had been involved in the church longer…have you considered joining the RCIA instructors?
 
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Become a catechist! The best way to learn a subject is to teach it. And either way you’ll be involved in the classes.
 
Your parish probably needs some adult education classes or talks. But you could also read some books or watch videos.

If you want to go through the whole faith, there are a lot of folks who have done classes centered on going over the whole Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology has a lot of Bible studies online, including some audio and video studies. They also have talks on other stuff which is very helpful. (I love their “Feasts of Faith” seminar, which points out how a lot of Catholic holy days are directly related to the old Jewish holy days.)

The Institute of Catholic Culture is a group in the VA/DC area that does talks and Bible studies on all sorts of subjects, and puts them up on the Internet. These are meaty. You have to register to use the talks, but it’s free and quick.

Theology on Tap is a group that does adult education in a lot of dioceses.

Good luck!
 
It took me 5 years to get traction, but my parish finally is opening an adult catechesis course for those who entered into the Church last Easter or at birth…this is sorely needed at many parishes.

RCIA only scratches the surface of understanding of the faith, and many people born into the faith have less understanding than people finishing RCIA and coming into full communion in the Church.

So maybe you should start raising the issue at your parish for a separate program.
 
Offer to be a sponsor. In RCIA there are always folks who don’t really know any other Catholics in good standing so the RCIA director keeps a list of those willing to sponsor someone. I’ve done this the last couple of years as I don’t have the time to be on the team any longer.

You to the class every week and get to participate with your candidate or catechumen in the process. I’ve been involved with RCIA for several years and I learn from every year.
 
Why don’t you volunteer to be a Catechist (i.e. RCIA teacher). You’ll actually learn more in that capacity.
 
The quality of RCIA varies. As you probably know, most parishes are able to set up whatever program they want. Sometimes (Nebraska), the diocese steps in and either requires or strongly recommends a specific curriculum. But even then, as with any class, the quality depends on the teachers. Some are good, some are not so good. I attended an RCIA class for several months a couple years ago, and it was appalling. Do some Google searches to find other Catholic forums that have discussions of the subject.

It seems like you had a good experience (which could also be interpreted as the teachers just happened to agree with your opinions!). If so, go back for more. However, as with any subject, you might learn more from a teacher who disagrees with some of your own ideas.

If you read any of these threads, you can see there is a great range of opinion on almost every topic, and yet the commenters are all Catholics. Even among the cardinals there is disagreement over certain issues (cf. the recent Synod of the Family and the subsequent report). There is a considerable difference in emphasis between Benedict XVI and Francis. There is nothing wrong with this, and you should actually embrace it. But my personal advice would be to understand the various points of view. And I’m not sure that having only one teacher, or the same set of teachers, would help you do that.

What I personally do is pick a topic I’m interested in–for example, the Epistles of Paul. There are a lot of books out there, both Catholic and non-Catholic, that deal with Paul’s Epistles. After you’ve read a few different books written from different points of view, you will have a better sense of what you personally believe.
 
Erikaspirit16 said:
But even then, as with any class,
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It’s important to keep in mind what RCIA is and isn’t.

RCIA is a process of conversion. It is not primarily a class or a course, though learning what the Church teaches is one part of RCIA. Other parts of the process include developing a relationship with God and becoming part of a worshiping community. There’s as much spiritual direction occurring as there is instruction.

It’s also important to keep in mind that the participants in RCIA start at very different levels. Some have been praying, learning scripture, and “doing unto others” from an early age. For others, all of these concepts are very new.

RCIA is intended to be the foundation of a lifelong process of conversion and formation.
 
Hi! Nice thread!

Your experience in RCIA sounds a lot like mine was, though I coincidentally was going through a great deal of personal havoc in my life, the product of so many years of sin do doubt.

I think it speaks well of you to want to repeat that experience, but a huge part of being in RCIA are the many rites that take place, which of course you no longer need or are eligible for. Why not instead, become a RCIA sponsor for people coming into the church? That will give you a similar and yet entirely new experience that will change and even grow with each passing year!

Give that some thought and discuss it with your Priest or RCIA director.
 
You could audit some courses at a Catholic University. A good cup of coffee, or wine, and a Catholic book, those can be very good times.
 
I loved RCIA too, but I agree with the ladies and gentlemen here, find a role within the Church that agrees with you!! God bless ❤️
 
In our parish you could simply attend and “audit” RCIA.
You could learn a lot and probably make some food or help set up etc…,
Just do it.
 
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