Starting RCIA course

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snavemarc

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I have a start date for the RCIA course, I’m really looking forward to starting my journey to formally join the Church. Does anyone have any tips or anything I should be reading outside the classes?

Starting this coming Friday.
 
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As every parish constructs their own instruction in the Faith, wait and see what text/program they use.

If they use something like Symbalon and if they have copies of the Catechism for you to reference, you know it is going to be a solid program. Heck, I’d buy a copy of the Catechism to bring with you!
 
Get a good Catholic bible if you haven’t already and also The Concise Catechism of the Catholic Church for starters. I also found Catholicism for Dummies helpful and for a light but informative read from a convert check out Waking Up Catholic.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. 🙂
 
I started mine about a month ago but we have only had one meeting. I am the only one in the class. The guy said we’d pick up after New year’s. Anyway, he gave me The Idiot’s Guide to Catholicism. I’ve read much of it, but I have many more books of my own that I am preferring to read.
 
Yeah I don’t like it that much. However, I have over 20 other books at the house to help. I think this RCIA will be very lax. I plan on keeping the teacher on his toes.
 
One friend of mine calls it “The Idiot’s Guide to Cafeteria Catholicism” 🙂
 
That’s wonderful. So glad you are beginning your RCIA journey.

But keep in mind, RCIA is not a course.

RCIA stands for the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults-- it is a series of rites in the Church during the stages of the catechumenate (for unbaptized) or through the various stages towards confirmation and full communion for the already baptized.

The catechumenate is ordered towards leading catechumens and candidates into living a Catholic life through liturgy, prayer, worship, and the sacramental life. There are also pastoral dimensions fulfilled by the pastor/clergy, lay ministers, sponsors, catechists, and others.

Catechesis (which may take the form of classes) is one part of RCIA, but it is not RCIA.
 
Hmmm I think that depends on the programme. Mine is death by PowerPoint for an hour a week 😂😂😂

To be fair the people that run it are lovely and are giving up their time so I am very grateful.

In answer to the OP’s question - The Catechism is a good book to read. I’m also reading a lot of St Augustine and attempting a go at Aquinas’s Summa Theologiae. Some of the easiest and most useful reads are the various encyclicals on the Vatican website, I enjoy those.
 
Nik said:
Hmmm I think that depends on the programme. Mine is death by PowerPoint for an hour a week 😂😂😂
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That is the catechesis only. And catechesis may be well done or it may not.

But RCIA is not the catechesis. It doesn’t depend on the program, RCIA is defined by the Church.

Implementation of the RCIA, OTOH, may be lacking in some locales.
 
@snavemarc Also someone on here sent me some links to some pretty good podcasts/talks. Ill try and post a link below. Not too sure how that works.
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Is anything more important than the fate of your immortal soul? Moral Theology
Heres a good series on the four last things by a priest we had until he was moved across the country. Death - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XVWDF2aZJeztAfM2UG-9LS-Tuyis2-6f/view?usp=drive_web Judegement - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1c_I_34UZp-zRErnZOwLJ-BPq5TGY4wKq/view?usp=drive_web Hell - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WBQNMNcDUSdcByzhvsUqdg6wFktULCGY/view?usp=drive_web Heaven - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DksVHhm-RpeJCpfVcSiXRYYcyliHd2hT/view?usp=drive_web
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Congratulations!

I finished RCIA and was brought into the Church last Easter - great things, and many graces, are ahead for you!

Things that helped me through the process:
The Catechism
Laudate App
This forum!
Praying the Rosary
Going to Adoration
 
Like many of the preparations for major life changes, what you get out of it depends a great deal on what you put into it. Spend time looking for the things you are going to have a hard time with and talk with your sponsor and a priest about them. Very often the things you have the hardest time are going to reveal the most to you once you work your way through them.

Are you going to be a catechumenate or a candidate? It’s a different experience depending on if this is your first time hearing the material or if you are going to have to unlearn things from other traditions.
 
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I am so thankful our Bishop has stopped the process of “throw everyone in RCIA prep” and now baptized Christians come into full communion on a separate track in our Diocese!
 
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