So I have been informally investigating

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Sunstone

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Catholicism for a couple of years now and I am ready to get serious. A Catholic friend texted me that I’ll need to be received as a catechumen, and that I’ll be taking a class.

My wife is coming along on the ride, so that’s a good thing as far as family relations goes.

What are the bumps in the road I should watch for? How do I get into the class?

Thanks for your help!
 
You can inquire at your local parish (nearest catholic church) about the “RCIA” Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults. Just so you know the jargon, the program is usually a year called “Inquiry”, which is just that, you will not have to make a decision to join at the end of the year, followed by a year of RCIA. Unbaptised particpants in RCIA are called catechumens, baptised are called candidates. At the end of RCIA catechumens are baptised and confirmed and received into the church. Candidates are confirmed. this happens at Easter time.

There are no real “bumps” to entering the program. I don’t think LDS baptism meets the church’s requirements for valid baptismal formula (Somebody correct me if I am wrong!), so you would start as a catechumen. Inquiry is really aobut exploring the faith, answering initial questions, and in my case it was very helpful. My wife also came along (she was already catholic).
 
Woo Hoo! It will be worth it.
I will write more when I have time later today hopefully.

Steph
former - LDS
 
Congradulations on your choice.

To get into RCIA (Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults) speak to a Priest. You can do this by speaking to them in person after attending mass; or by telephoning them; you could also email them and / or write. I assume you know where your local Parish is – Parishes are individual areas for the Priest; and many contain a few Churches.

The class is free; of course – although I heard some of them might ask for donations to cover textbooks etc. but that was not the case in my Diocese (area).

If you join a RCIA class now; it is probable you will be fully recieved into the Church next Easter.

The Process is as follows; you will have meetings with other RCIA candidates; if you are the only candidate you will probably have one-to-one talks with a Priest. This will explain Catholic teaching; understanding of the Scriptures etc. and most importantly the Sacraments. Particularily the Sacraments of initiation; Baptism, Holy Communion (Eucharist) and Confirmation.

The first Sacrament of initiation is Baptism. – If a person has not been baptised “in the name of the Father; Son and Holy Spirit” then they will be baptised in this manner in the Church. If you are not sure about your baptism status; they can do a “conditional baptism”; so do not worry.

If you are not Baptised your Baptism will wash away all your sins; both mortal and venial and original, if you are Baptised you will be able to make a confession to a Priest; the Sacrament of Reconcilliation (Confession) allows us to repent and be forgiven for every sin we commit; and, naturally is done under complete confidentiality; on pain of excommunication for the Priest - nothing may be revealed.

The other Sacrament of initiations are Eucharist and Confirmation.

Confirmation is where the gifts of Baptism are sealed within you by anointing. Many candidates for Confirmation will take a “confirmation name”; that of a Saint, Blessed or Biblical Figure; to act as their patron. This is usually added to their middle name – Mine was Bl. Duns Scotus.

Confirmation is normally administered by a Bishop; but may be administered by a priest if he has permission.

Eucharist is the bread and wine; understood in Catholic teaching as the body and blood of Christ. We partake in the Eucharist every mass; unless we are in an unworthy state of mortal (serious) sin.

All this will be explained in the class; and of course you may ask questions there; and / or here.

I also assume you are already going to mass; if not then you should attend. If you have any questions about the mass feel free to aks them here; or indeed to ask your Priest / RCIA teacher.
 
JHow said:
I don’t think LDS baptism meets the church’s requirements for valid baptismal formula (Somebody correct me if I am wrong!), so you would start as a catechumen.
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This is correct. LDS baptisms are not accepted by the Catholic Church, so Sunstone will be baptized as part of his reception into the Church.
 
Sunstone said:
Catholicism for a couple of years now and I am ready to get serious. A Catholic friend texted me that I’ll need to be received as a catechumen, and that I’ll be taking a class.

My wife is coming along on the ride, so that’s a good thing as far as family relations goes.

What are the bumps in the road I should watch for? How do I get into the class?

Thanks for your help!
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Just contact your local parish office about RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults), this will get you into class and officially make you an inquirerer. After a few months study and lessons you become a catechumen (or candidate if you are validily baptised.

As far as road bumbs, honestly that’s a hard one to answer I think it is inherently different for each individual. Typically coming from protestantism Mary would seem to be a big issue, perhaps the communion of saints and purgatory.

For more secatarian protestants obedence to “a Pope” is an issue, but I think LDS has a similar structure if I’m not mistaken, so perhaps that’s not a conceptual problem for you

All I can say is this, whatever road bump happens to be yours, just pray and always be fully open to the reveled truth of Jesus Christ.
 
I always liked the Sunstone. 😃 Congratulations on your decision. Many prayers.
 
Sunstone said:
How do I get into the class?
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Get an interview with your nearest Catholic priest, and he will set you up. 🙂

Bumps in the road will vary according to your personality and circumstances. Your family’s reaction to your conversion will be one, most likely - and don’t hide it from them; they will find out soon enough, and earlier is better - you don’t want them thinking that you’re hiding it from them.

Change is always stressful, and this is a huge change. You’ll probably be more sensitive and more emotional than normal, at least some of the time. Be gentle with yourself. The other people in your RCIA class will be going through the same thing, so do your best to be kind to them, as well. 🙂
 
jmcrae said:
You’ll probably be more sensitive and more emotional than normal, at least some of the time. Be gentle with yourself. The other people in your RCIA class will be going through the same thing, so do your best to be kind to them, as well. 🙂
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I feel like I’ve already gone through a highly-emotional phase. I’ve been moving slowly in this direction for some time now and don’t even feel bitter about the LDS Church anymore. The Mormons are sort of the Montanists of our day, and will eventually go the way of the Montanists.

Thank you for your kind words.
 
Sunstone said:
Catholicism for a couple of years now and I am ready to get serious. A Catholic friend texted me that I’ll need to be received as a catechumen, and that I’ll be taking a class.

My wife is coming along on the ride, so that’s a good thing as far as family relations goes.

What are the bumps in the road I should watch for? How do I get into the class?

Thanks for your help!
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Beware of lukewarm or worse Catholics. As Father Groeschel said, “the problem with Catholicism in America today is the Catholics!”

My wife was a lifelong Catholic who attended Catholic schools for her entire life, but at age 40 she claims that she didn’t even know her faith until the last 4-5 years. When I converted we learned the faith together.(and are still learning!) There are many Catholics in this situation, unfortunately, so don’t expect too much from every Catholic you meet.
 
I’m technically LDS but want to join the Catholic church. No, my baptism in the LDS church is not considered a real baptism in the Catholic church. I even talked with an episcopalian priest and supposedly one and all get to take their Holy Body and Blood. But when I asked the priest if was OK for me to take it he said he prefer I not. He said my LDS baptism was just too far out there.

I think I may attend two different RCIA classes. I’m in one but it goes, so I’m told, at least two years! The other one which starts in a week is one nine month or so class.
 
Sunstone said:
So what are RCIA classes like?
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They’re run by volunteers from the parish, so they will vary according to the personality and level of knowledge of the volunteers.

Normally, there will be a theme for each meeting, based on a teaching of the Church. How they structure it will be different in different places.

In the one I went to, the volunteers were quite well-educated, so for the first hour, we had readings from the Early Fathers, from the Catechism, and from the Scriptures.

Then we took a fifteen minute break, and then had a discussion period for about half an hour or so. This was followed by Night Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours, and then people would hang around for a little while afterwards to socialize.

The first few meetings, during the Inquiry Period, will focus a lot more on the participants and on where they are at in their journey of faith, so there will be a lot of interaction between the participants and a lot of talk about feelings - don’t let that scare you off.

The lectures don’t start until the Period of Catechesis. 🙂
 
Hi Sunstone,

RCIA will vary depending on the parish and person in charge. In my case, I had been studying Catholicism for almost five years prior to beginning RCIA, and I was also Bible College trained, grew up in church, wanted to be a missionary kind of girl. There were no surprises for me because of all of that… I came from a strange background as far as RCIA went. Unfortunately, there were other people in RCIA at that time that didn’t get much out of it because there was a huge emphasis on applying the gospel of the week to our lives (which of course is a good thing) but not enough doctrine was taught. For example, one lady was surprised the Trinity was not just three but also one (and this was two weeks before she was confirmed). She had never heard such a thing as “three Persons in one God” before. :eek: I found that a little scary. My first grader just learned that in his St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism, first lesson after God made me to love Him. A little information goes a long way, so ask lots of questions.

As far as bumps in the road… Keep your nose in the Catechism until you figure out what kind of catechist you get. I was initially a little scared of RCIA because of the stories I read of renegade nuns wasting an hour of everyone’s time pining over the fact that she should be a priest. Again, in my personal experience, we had a bit of a myriad of levels of spirituality among the RCIA “team.” One week we heard the rosary was Our Lady’s greatest weapon, the next week we heard it was an antiquated prayer for illiterate peasants that wasn’t necessary any more. Just for the record, I pray the rosary almost every day…😉

Just study, study, study. There is so much good stuff out there (a lot of junk, too). Ignatius Press seems to put out lots of great books that are safe when it comes to learning the real Catholic Faith.

You mentioned your wife… it was my greatest joy that my entire family came into the Church together, my husband and me and our six kids. We are not all in the same place, but we are all going in the same direction. I’ll say a prayer for you.

God bless you. :)****
 
People have to pray for direction in RCIA, and to also pray for the priest. People who do not know their faith and are allowed to come…some times it can be delicate and just let a comment pass, but the priest or the knowledgeable should come forward.

The other important thing is to not get overwhelmed, and to be honest with yourself and them on the RCIA team. Bring forward any questions or doubts you have. Chances are that there are those in the same group who also think the same or are in process of articulating it.

You will not be forced and if you do not want to enter the Church at Easter, that will also be accepted as God’s guidance for this time in your life.

I pray the Lord bless and anoint you during this time of inquiry…
 
KathleenGee said:
People have to pray for direction in RCIA, and to also pray for the priest. People who do not know their faith and are allowed to come…some times it can be delicate and just let a comment pass, but the priest or the knowledgeable should come forward.

The other important thing is to not get overwhelmed, and to be honest with yourself and them on the RCIA team. Bring forward any questions or doubts you have. Chances are that there are those in the same group who also think the same or are in process of articulating it.

You will not be forced and if you do not want to enter the Church at Easter, that will also be accepted as God’s guidance for this time in your life.

I pray the Lord bless and anoint you during this time of inquiry…
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Thank you for your prayers and encouragment. In many aspects I have reasoned my way to Catholicism, but I have also felt the tuggings of God. As an academic, that’s not something I say easily, but I guess that’s why it’s all the more convincing for me.

A number of people and things have combined to help me, step by step, on the path. An Episcopalian pastor who quietly avows Catholic doctrine, a couple of Catholic faculty members where I work, an active Catholic college group (NCSC), Father Corapi on EWTN, Raymond Brown’s Introduction to the New Testament…I could go on and on.

I feel like I’m coming home, and like I’ve been coming home slowly for years. It feels good.
 
Sunstone said:
Catholicism for a couple of years now and I am ready to get serious. A Catholic friend texted me that I’ll need to be received as a catechumen, and that I’ll be taking a class.
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Yep. It’s called RCIA, starts usually around this time of year and continues past Easter, though the official conversion events (initiation rites of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist) occur during Easter Vigil.
My wife is coming along on the ride, so that’s a good thing as far as family relations goes.
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I’m very glad to hear that. In hindsight I’m lucky that my engagement was broken off when it was (while I was still a practicing LDS engaged to an even more devout LDS woman) otherwise I’d probably find myself in a mixed marriage now.
What are the bumps in the road I should watch for? How do I get into the class?
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The fact that you say you’ve been “investigating Catholicism for a couple of years now”, besides informing me that you must’ve been a missionary before for using a term like “investigating” 😉 , leads me to believe that you likely won’t learn much in RCIA that you don’t already know. I was honestly a little disappointed as I was expected some profound theological instruction, not the basics that I had already inculcated myself with for a number of years, just like you. Given this, you might even be in the privileged position of being able to catch your RCIA instructor teaching something incorrectly or inefficiently. When this happens, don’t be afraid to point it out (charitably, of course) and set the record straight. Sometimes us converts know much more about the faith than the cradle Catholics as we aren’t necessarily following along for a passive ride.

Another proverbial bump in the road might come from discouraging words from LDS family members and friends who mean well but can be quite brutal. I hope yours are the exception and not the rule, but I’ve seen it happen time and time again, and regrettably I’ve participated in this behavior as a Mormon: A person “apostatizes” from the LDS Church and before you know it the entire Ward is speculating as to which egregious sin that person must have allowed to dictate his pride into having him leave the church which is “so obviously true”. I got a nasty taste of my own medicine when I left the LDS Church for the Catholic Church and this experience has made me vow to never again speculate on the intentions of others’ spirituality. If this does happen, remind yourself that it’s their own insecure coping mechanism, say a prayer for them, and leave it with God. Continue living a virtuous life and show them that there are indeed good people who leave the LDS Church not due to sin but due to truth.
Thanks for your help!
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Any time. Good luck with your journey!
 
Sunstone said:
So what are RCIA classes like?
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It depends on the parish, but all will cover the teachings of the Church in depth, their scriptural roots, and associated Catholic practices. The texts they will use are the Bible, Catechism and some will use an additional text that is aimed at teaching new Catholics.

Discussion and questions in the class are encouraged. It is a time for learning and for understanding.

May God bless you on your continuing journey home. 🙂
 
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