Starting RCIA

[w2bp88]

I am disappointed by RCIA at my parish and here is a good example why. We were in small groups and one of the points I brought up is that I think everyone should have to go to confession before receiving Eucharist. Some of the groups members disagreed with me and the catechist said it was just a convention, not a rule. I didn’t think this was correct so tonight I looked it up in the Catechism and number 1415 says,

“Anyone who desires to receive Christ in Eucharistic communion must be in the state of grace. Anyone aware of having sinned mortally must not receive communion without having received absolution in the sacrament of penance.”

How are we supposed to learn the correct information if the ones teaching us don’t even know it?

 

[anjoh66]

I am disappointed by RCIA at my parish and here is a good example why. We were in small groups and one of the points I brought up is that I think everyone should have to go to confession before receiving Eucharist. Some of the groups members disagreed with me and the catechist said it was just a convention, not a rule. I didn’t think this was correct so tonight I looked it up in the Catechism and number 1415 says,

“Anyone who desires to receive Christ in Eucharistic communion must be in the state of grace. Anyone aware of having sinned mortally must not receive communion without having received absolution in the sacrament of penance.”

How are we supposed to learn the correct information if the ones teaching us don’t even know it?

Is it a mixed group of candidates and catechuemns?

Candidates should go to confession but catechumens should not go.

 

[BenjaminLumen]

This is so sad that it’s hard to say anything about it. In my last R.C.I.A. class, the priest said that the people who will get the worst places in Hell will be the ones who knew the most truth and had the most responsibility to teach it to others (priests, bishops, etc), but did not do so, or perverted the truth in spite of knowing it, thus leading others into sin.

This is NOT happening to the whole of the Catholic Church, however! I have not seen anything like this in the parishes I have been to.

I think the Priest is speaking from a broader point of view, just in General , But Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil… See innocence is a very wonderful thing, you are doing nothing wrong, and your unconscious of any wrong that you are doing. You only learn more as you mess up more, and from a certain point of view the level of your knowledge about things in the World, is directly indicative of how much you have sinned in your life.
But that presupposed no confession given.

Why was Satan around the tree of knowledge of Good and Evil? See its all in Genesis.

Adam and Eve ate of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, Hence what the Priest says is a truism.

And also, he was talking about a duty to teach others what not to do , and lieing about it is wrong also.

Hope this helps, The Priest wasn’t being Mean. He was stating an observation based upon the Book of Genesis.
Benjamin

 

[fdesales]

Is it a mixed group of candidates and catechuemns?

Candidates should go to confession but catechumens should not go.

Catechumens CANNOT go to confession. They must be baptized first.

Regards

 

[fdesales]

I am disappointed by RCIA at my parish and here is a good example why. We were in small groups and one of the points I brought up is that I think everyone should have to go to confession before receiving Eucharist. Some of the groups members disagreed with me and the catechist said it was just a convention, not a rule. I didn’t think this was correct so tonight I looked it up in the Catechism and number 1415 says,

“Anyone who desires to receive Christ in Eucharistic communion must be in the state of grace. Anyone aware of having sinned mortally must not receive communion without having received absolution in the sacrament of penance.”

How are we supposed to learn the correct information if the ones teaching us don’t even know it?

Does your RCIA coordinator know of this??? If I had a team member state this, I think I would have to reconsider whether she should remain in a teaching capacity. I would move her to sponsor coordination or the welcome committee.

My friend, it is difficult to find good and orthodox teachers of the faith. We Coordinators have a hard time finding help, so try to bear that in mind. “We” can’t do everything! We want to teach the faith in its fullest orthodox form, help others to experience Christ. However, God allows such imperfections to exist, no doubt, for our own discipline and instruction in virtue.

Regards

 

[anjoh66]

Catechumens CANNOT go to confession. They must be baptized first.

Regards

Excuse my wrong choice of word!

I am very aware of that and there is no need for confession for a catechumen as the baptism wash away all sins.

 

[fdesales]

Excuse my wrong choice of word!

I am very aware of that and there is no need for confession for a catechumen as the baptism wash away all sins.

No problem, just making sure others reading this were not misled.

Regards

 

[Student09]

I t
Hope this helps, The Priest wasn’t being Mean. He was stating an observation based upon the Book of Genesis.
Benjamin

Oh, I didn’t intend to say that the priest was being mean or that I disagreed with him - I believe him, which is why I was so saddened by ambrosegirl’s posts about her experience with an unorthodox priest who may be leading others into sin.

I should have quoted ambrosegirl in my last post to make it more clear. When I said “This is so sad” I meant, not what the priest in my RCIA class said, but the behavior of the priest she was talking about. Sorry for the lack of clarity!

 

[w2bp88]

Is it a mixed group of candidates and catechuemns?

Candidates should go to confession but catechumens should not go.

Yes, it is mixed. I am a candidate but I didn’t know that I can go to confession…?

Does your RCIA coordinator know of this??? If I had a team member state this, I think I would have to reconsider whether she should remain in a teaching capacity. I would move her to sponsor coordination or the welcome committee.

Yes, I brought it up to the coordinator but nothing was done. This same catechist also taught centering prayer which the coordinator and head priest see nothing wrong with either. :banghead:

 

[anjoh66]

Yes, it is mixed. I am a candidate but I didn’t know that I can go to confession…?

closely before you are brought into full union with the church you will have to go to confession,.

 

[jmcrae]

Yes, it is mixed. I am a candidate but I didn’t know that I can go to confession…?

Going strictly by the book, you would normally go to First Confession on the morning of the same day that you are being brought into the Church.

Once you have received the Rite of Calling Candidates to Lenten Renewal, which should take place on or around the first Sunday of Lent, you can start going to Confession any time. If your RCIA process doesn’t include a scheduled time for you to go to First Confession during Lent or else on the same day as your reception into the Church, you would arrange to do this yourself, with any priest who has faculties in your Diocese. You would normally do this during Lent. An appropriate time to do it would be when the whole parish is having their Lenten Reconciliation service (as long as individual Confessions are offered either during or after the Service), which is an opportunity for anyone who needs a refresher on how to go to Confession.

 

[fdesales]

I am disappointed by RCIA at my parish and here is a good example why. We were in small groups and one of the points I brought up is that I think everyone should have to go to confession before receiving Eucharist. Some of the groups members disagreed with me and the catechist said it was just a convention, not a rule. I didn’t think this was correct so tonight I looked it up in the Catechism and number 1415 says,

“Anyone who desires to receive Christ in Eucharistic communion must be in the state of grace. Anyone aware of having sinned mortally must not receive communion without having received absolution in the sacrament of penance.”

How are we supposed to learn the correct information if the ones teaching us don’t even know it?

Slow down…

A state of grace means one does not have an unconfessed mortal sin on his soul. If I sin, but it is not mortal, I am not REQUIRED to go to the sacrament of Reconciliation. I must be in a state of grace. This does not mean sinless. The catechist could have better explained it, however, he MAY have been thinking of venial sins. It is “convention” that we go to confession for venial sins, but not required. We are often counseled to go to Confession for re-occuring venial sins, sins of habit, so as to develop our spirituality, but this is not a “rule”, but rather, “convention”. Seems to be a misunderstanding.

Everyone does not have to go to confession before receiving the Eucharist. They must have not committed an unrepented mortal sin.

Regards

 

[mswood]

I am surprised that an RCIA class would not have a Penance Service for first confessions. When we received our RCIA schedule it included a special Penance Service just for the RCIA group on the Wednesday before Easter. As a Catechumen I will not be having my first confession, however the 6 candidates will be having their first confession then. It was explained to us that this was a requirement before they would be confirmed or receive communion. The sponsors will also be going to confession that night.

 

[AlexandriaNW]

Hi, I’m new to this site; I thought about starting RCIA this September but law school craziness kind of kept me from fitting it into my schedule. Now I think I’ll start next yr, but I’ve been talking to my Catholic friends about their experiences, listening to Catholic radio, etc. The thing is I’m coming from a largely non-religious background; I considered myself agnostic for most of my life and in college most of my interest in faith/the Bible was either more academic in nature or ‘turned off’ by more aggressively evangelical [protestant, born-again types] friends/relatives/acquaintances. Anyways, it would be great to get experiences/advice from anyone, but I think maybe they would be most helpful/resonant coming from someone with a similar background…
Thanks!

 

[jesuspsr]

Hi, I’m new to this site; I thought about starting RCIA this September but law school craziness kind of kept me from fitting it into my schedule. Now I think I’ll start next yr, but I’ve been talking to my Catholic friends about their experiences, listening to Catholic radio, etc. The thing is I’m coming from a largely non-religious background; I considered myself agnostic for most of my life and in college most of my interest in faith/the Bible was either more academic in nature or ‘turned off’ by more aggressively evangelical [protestant, born-again types] friends/relatives/acquaintances. Anyways, it would be great to get experiences/advice from anyone, but I think maybe they would be most helpful/resonant coming from someone with a similar background…
Thanks!

Welcome to CAF:thumbsup:
Let the holy spirirt continue to guide you
God bless

 

[jmcrae]

Hi, I’m new to this site; I thought about starting RCIA this September but law school craziness kind of kept me from fitting it into my schedule. Now I think I’ll start next yr, but I’ve been talking to my Catholic friends about their experiences, listening to Catholic radio, etc. The thing is I’m coming from a largely non-religious background; I considered myself agnostic for most of my life and in college most of my interest in faith/the Bible was either more academic in nature or ‘turned off’ by more aggressively evangelical [protestant, born-again types] friends/relatives/acquaintances. Anyways, it would be great to get experiences/advice from anyone, but I think maybe they would be most helpful/resonant coming from someone with a similar background…
Thanks!

Do a search for posts by “Susan Calvin” and take heart - the Holy Spirit will guide you!

 

[JaredR]

I can’t tell if I’m “in” RCIA. I go to inquiry classes on Sunday after mass and I meet with the RCIA Director every other Monday. She gives me stuff to read, and the rest is basically self-directed study. I am set to be confirmed this Easter, and I have a sponsor picked out and everything, but I have never been to a “class” besides the inquiry sessions.

Does that mean I’m still in RCIA, even if I’m not going to RCIA classes?

 

[jmcrae]

I can’t tell if I’m “in” RCIA. I go to inquiry classes on Sunday after mass and I meet with the RCIA Director every other Monday. She gives me stuff to read, and the rest is basically self-directed study. I am set to be confirmed this Easter, and I have a sponsor picked out and everything, but I have never been to a “class” besides the inquiry sessions.

Does that mean I’m still in RCIA, even if I’m not going to RCIA classes?

There are four stages of RCIA. The first is the Period of Inquiry, where you spend time learning about the Church and discerning whether you want to become a Catholic.

The second stage, marked by the Rite of Acceptance (for unbaptized persons) or Rite of Welcome (for people who have been baptized), is the Catechumenate. During this period, you attend formal classes of instruction in doctrine, and begin to develop the habits of life that will mark you as a Catholic, such as attending Mass every Sunday, praying before and after meals, and so on.

The third stage, marked by the Rite of Election (for unbaptized persons) or Calling to Lenten Renewal (for baptized persons) is called the Period of Purification and Enlightenment. During this period, you will enter more deeply into prayer, you will attend various Lenten retreats and missions, and you will prepare yourself spiritually for your Sacraments of Initiation. (If you were baptized before, this is also the period in which you will prepare for your First Confession.)

The fourth stage, which is marked by the Sacraments of Initiation, is Mystagogia. During the period of Mystagogia, you will return to the more informal style of the Period of Inquiry, but this time, you will be breaking open your personal experience of the Sacraments, reinforcing and practicing the good habits learned during the Catechumenate, and enjoying life as a new Catholic.

The Period of Mystagogia is marked by celebrations that are connected to the Sacraments. How this plays out varies from place to place - when I was involved, we used to have a special Mass for the participants, with a dinner party afterwards to celebrate.

 

[Australis]

Just wondering, do you sit an exam at the end of RCIA? I’m not looking forward to being told I failed because to me there seemsto be a lot of theology etc to remember in Cathlocism.

 

[SC_Peach]

No. There’s no exam, no quizzes, no tests.