Should I complete RCIA classes?

[MadeAnew]

I was baptized Catholic as an infant. But, like many other families in my area, my Mother and Father did not take us to complete the rest of the sacraments that we should have. God was not a part of my life growing up and I did not come to faith until my late twenties. I married a lifelong SDA member and began attending that Church, honestly because I was immature in my faith and wanted to make my spouse happy. I always felt in my heart that something was wrong with that Church and I left it a year ago. I have such a want to get right with God and to dive head first into my Catholic faith. I had spoken with a Priest at a local parish about this right when COVID had hit. He felt that although I did not need RCIA classes because I was already baptized he agreed that it would help me and asked me to call him back when RCIA’s usually begin. Unfortunately, this Priest is now retiring at the end of the year. Another Priest felt I do not need an RCIA class. I feel as if I could benefit from them because I know very little about Catholicism other than what I have been learning from reading the Catechism and Catholicism for Dummies. It is a rather good book by the way. My question is should I just finish the Catechism, go to confession, try to talk my spouse into agreeing to have our marriage recognized and skip the RCIA class and just gain knowledge on my own? I feel like I could benefit greatly from someone teaching me the complete knowledge of the Catholic faith. But, if I do not need to than I do not need to.

 

[Irishmom2]

I think you should attend RCIA. There is more to becoming Catholic than just already being baptized. You will learn many things about the faith that you do not know. I would encourage you to attend to deepen your understanding of what the Church teaches.

Welcome home!

 

[Vico]

talk my spouse into agreeing to have our marriage recognized

An essential with Catholic matrimony is that without Catholic form, the Catholic (from baptism) is not married through civil marriage. Either a simple convalidation or radical sanation is required, which are both a new marriage (one using new consent and the other earlier consent that perdues).

 

[PapyrusDouay]

I highly encourage you to attend RCIA.

I taught RCIA classes for several years, and we always had students who were converting as well as Baptized and Confirmed Catholics taking it to deepen their faith. In fact, I sat in on / attended the classes myself fir an entire year before teaching it, and never regretted it. If you haven’t been confirmed, I encourage you to receive that sacrament as well, which can be facilitated through the RCIA program.

Studying on your own is great. And I encourage you to do that as well. But one thing attending classes does is helps build the Catholic community, and helps build relationships with people in the parish. Christianity is a religion rooted in community, and has been that way since Christ and the Apostles. I always encourage all Catholics to attend the classes for this reason, regardless of their background. Besides, Catholics already well formed in the faith can serve as examples and bring incredible witness to the catechumens and candidates.

 

[Daniel27]

I think it would be a good idea to go and finish off the classes. TBH, I think a lot of already baptised Catholics could benefit from their classes

 

[Anesti33]

In my parish, all Catholics are invited to attend RCIA sessions as it will strengthen and extend their faith as they learn “the basics” and have discussions about the sticking points.

For couples seeking convalidation, our pastor requires the non-Catholic partner to attend RCIA, even with no intention to convert, so that that partner will know exactly what it is like for their beloved to be Catholic. I think it’s a capital idea. We don’t always have a real happy time with this kind of RCIA student, but it will definitely separate the sheep from the goats…