Rite of Acceptance

[George_C]

Catechumens.

Alright.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

If someone just went through the rite of Acceptance this week they really should not be going to the Rite of Election this Lent but the following Lent. The catechumenate is not meant to be a three month process. Our cats went though the Rite of Acceptance last year.

I agree that they should spend at least one full liturgical year in the Catechumenate. Candidates (already Baptized) can be received in a shorter time.

 

[jmcrae]

If someone just went through the rite of Acceptance this week they really should not be going to the Rite of Election this Lent but the following Lent. The catechumenate is not meant to be a three month process. Our cats went though the Rite of Acceptance last year.

I agree. Three months is far too short a time to really absorb everything well. Everyone is in such a great rush, though.

 

[tapiocapudding]

I did my Rite of Welcome 2 weeks ago and I was the only candidate entering the church (no catechumens either!) so it was just me and a baby in front of everyone! Oh man it was scary . We lived though. And now my picture is on the church bulletin. And I was having a bad hair day, too.
But the Rite itself was lovely, my priest is wonderful.

 

[jnofs]

My wife’s Rite of Acceptance was last weekend, as well, but I am concerned, because she was already baptized in the “name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.” There were two people present, and the other woman has not been previously baptized and the same rite was used for both of them. Should she instead have had a Rite of Welcoming? Should I bring this concern up to my pastor and/or a member of the RCIA team?

 

[jmcrae]

My wife’s Rite of Acceptance was last weekend, as well, but I am concerned, because she was already baptized in the “name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.” There were two people present, and the other woman has not been previously baptized and the same rite was used for both of them. Should she instead have had a Rite of Welcoming?

Yes. (I assume she has already turned in her Baptismal certificate to the team member in charge of record keeping, and that they were well aware of her status at the time of the Rite.)

Should I bring this concern up to my pastor and/or a member of the RCIA team?

Yes, bring it to the attention of the pastor. (The team has to do whatever the pastor tells them to do, even when they know better.)

 

[Texas_Roofer]

My wife’s Rite of Acceptance was last weekend, as well, but I am concerned, because she was already baptized in the “name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.” There were two people present, and the other woman has not been previously baptized and the same rite was used for both of them. Should she instead have had a Rite of Welcoming? Should I bring this concern up to my pastor and/or a member of the RCIA team?

Remember the Catholic Church was founded on “Faith and Works “ and clearly opposed to following the law as a means of salvation.

 

[Texas_Roofer]

In the Bible 40 days is a reoccurring theme.

 

[jmcrae]

Remember the Catholic Church was founded on “Faith and Works “ and clearly opposed to following the law as a means of salvation.

Which doesn’t mean that Rites don’t have meaning, or that we shouldn’t do things properly whenever we can.

 

[Texas_Roofer]

Works without faith simply does not cut it; that is a fundamental of catholism. It seems the threads are overly emphasizing works (or more specifically law). Very sad, very sad indeed, that we are not happy for their progress. Instead we have them in revolt against their priest for not acting like a lawyer or judge. very sad, very sad indeed.

 

[eleutheria]

I’m supposed to go through what I hope is to be the Rite of Welcoming on Sunday, except that they’re calling it the Rite of Acceptance. My RCIA class is a combined group of both baptized and unbaptized, and my husband and I are both baptized and are going through it.

Those in charge of RCIA keep calling it the Rite of Acceptance though and including everyone in it, and have made no mention of there being anything separate or any separate questions or that the baptized and unbaptized would be going through two different rites, or any hint of anything separate. In fact, the words “Rite of Welcoming” have not once been said in any class. In fact, I didn’t even know there were two separate rites until I stumbled upon this thread.

Should I be concerned? Or is it likely that they’ll separate it while asking us the questions on Sunday and they have just misspoke this whole time?

Also… before we started classes, we filled out forms and wrote whether or not we were baptized on them. They mentioned that they would eventually need proof, but they have yet to ask for any. Should I be concerned about this as well??

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

My wife’s Rite of Acceptance was last weekend, as well, but I am concerned, because she was already baptized in the “name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.” There were two people present, and the other woman has not been previously baptized and the same rite was used for both of them. Should she instead have had a Rite of Welcoming? Should I bring this concern up to my pastor and/or a member of the RCIA team?

Just make sure that they have your Baptism certificate/letter and agree that her Baptism is valid. The fact that she went through a Rite that she didn’t need to is not big deal. It’s sad that this confusion exists.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I’m supposed to go through what I hope is to be the Rite of Welcoming on Sunday, except that they’re calling it the Rite of Acceptance. My RCIA class is a combined group of both baptized and unbaptized, and my husband and I are both baptized and are going through it.

Those in charge of RCIA keep calling it the Rite of Acceptance though and including everyone in it, and have made no mention of there being anything separate or any separate questions or that the baptized and unbaptized would be going through two different rites, or any hint of anything separate. In fact, the words “Rite of Welcoming” have not once been said in any class. In fact, I didn’t even know there were two separate rites until I stumbled upon this thread.

Should I be concerned? Or is it likely that they’ll separate it while asking us the questions on Sunday and they have just misspoke this whole time?

Also… before we started classes, we filled out forms and wrote whether or not we were baptized on them. They mentioned that they would eventually need proof, but they have yet to ask for any. Should I be concerned about this as well??

Proof of Baptism and Marriage status should be taken care of during the Inquiry phase, before either the RIte of Acceptance or Welcome. I would call the parish today and drop off a copy of your Baptism certificates and ask specifically when the Rite of Welcome will be for those already Baptized??

 

[Lurgid]

Just make sure that they have your Baptism certificate/letter and agree that her Baptism is valid. The fact that she went through a Rite that she didn’t need to is not big deal. It’s sad that this confusion exists.

Our pastor does now know that there is one Catechumen and one Candidate. He led the RCIA class last night after mass and asked to make sure when calling them up for dismissal on Sundays that he is calling up both Candidates and Catechumens.

PS I changed my username for a little bit more anonymity. (I was jnofs)

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Our pastor does now know that there is one Catechumen and one Candidate. He led the RCIA class last night after mass and asked to make sure when calling them up for dismissal on Sundays that he is calling up both Candidates and Catechumens.

PS I changed my username for a little bit more anonymity. (I was jnofs)

Somebody should put together a FAQ list for RCIA. One of the questions on it should be:

Q: Are both candidates and catechumens dismissed from Mass?

A: No. Catechumens are dismissed to take part in breaking open the word. Candidates stay through the entire Mass and are not dismissed.

Edited to add that I just started a thread called FAQs about RCIA in the Evangelization forum.

 

[Lurgid]

Somebody should put together a FAQ list for RCIA. One of the questions on it should be:

Q: Are both candidates and catechumens dismissed from Mass?

A: No. Catechumens are dismissed to take part in breaking open the word. Candidates stay through the entire Mass and are not dismissed.

Oh. Hmm. Something else to talk to Father about, then. Where can I find the official documentation outlying the process and procedure for RCIA?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Our pastor does now know that there is one Catechumen and one Candidate. He led the RCIA class last night after mass and asked to make sure when calling them up for dismissal on Sundays that he is calling up both Candidates and Catechumens.

PS I changed my username for a little bit more anonymity. (I was jnofs)

I see why he would like to have both dismissed. However it would be the Baptized Candidates right to remain for the second half of the Mass by virtue of their Baptism if they choose.

 

[jmcrae]

Oh. Hmm. Something else to talk to Father about, then. Where can I find the official documentation outlying the process and procedure for RCIA?

Your Diocescan library should have a copy that you can borrow. The title is simply The Rite of Christian Initation for Adults. The first section deals with Catechumens, and the section in the back deals with procedures for Candidates and for returning Catholics who need to complete their Sacraments of Initiation.

Some things aren’t actually spelled out, so do a compare and contrast between the Candidate stuff and the Catechechumen stuff, to see what the differences are supposed to be.

 

[eleutheria]

Proof of Baptism and Marriage status should be taken care of during the Inquiry phase, before either the RIte of Acceptance or Welcome. I would call the parish today and drop off a copy of your Baptism certificates and ask specifically when the Rite of Welcome will be for those already Baptized??

Hmm. The majority of our class is already baptized, and we’re ALL supposed to be taking place in whatever it is we’re going through on Sunday, that they keep calling the Rite of Acceptance. Gosh, I really hope they’re just forgetting to say Rite of Welcome, heh.

Is there usually proof asked for marital status as well? I mean, we told them we were married, obviously, but they never once mentioned proof for that.

I would just drop off our copies our our baptism certificates, which I can do in my case, but my husband doesn’t have a baptism certificate, and we never finished getting proof for his because they never asked for it. (Which, duh, is our fault, but I kinda forgot about it until now, since it hasn’t been mentioned since we went to sign up for RCIA back in August.)

Ugh.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Hmm. The majority of our class is already baptized, and we’re ALL supposed to be taking place in whatever it is we’re going through on Sunday, that they keep calling the Rite of Acceptance. Gosh, I really hope they’re just forgetting to say Rite of Welcome, heh.

Is there usually proof asked for marital status as well? I mean, we told them we were married, obviously, but they never once mentioned proof for that.

I would just drop off our copies our our baptism certificates, which I can do in my case, but my husband doesn’t have a baptism certificate, and we never finished getting proof for his because they never asked for it. (Which, duh, is our fault, but I kinda forgot about it until now, since it hasn’t been mentioned since we went to sign up for RCIA back in August.)

Ugh.

Yes, each person during the Inquiry phase is interviewed. Where this information is discussed, including previous Divorces and Marriages, Baptism, Christian background, etc.

Also I meant copies not the originals of the Baptism certificates or letters.