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Shamrock
Guest
Hi, I’m baptized in the church and have recieved first Communion and Reconciliation (at the normal ages). I’m now 31, my question is, would I have to go the the whole RCIA to get confirmed?
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mercygate
Guest
Short answer: yes.
Your statement indicates that you have not been catechized. Talk to your Pastor.
Your statement indicates that you have not been catechized. Talk to your Pastor.
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puzzleannie
Guest
no, you do not go through all the “Rites” of Christian Initiation, except for the Sacrament of Confirmation, but your pastor must be in a position to assure the bishop that you are ready and well-disposed to receive the sacrament, and understand the profession of faith you will be making. If you have not received any religious education since first communion you are essentially uncatechized.
As a practical matter, given time, volunteers and resources of your parish, you will probably attend a class along with others in your position, some who are baptized in other Christian denominations wishing to join the Catholic church, and some unbaptized persons seeking all the sacraments of initiation. The rites, or celebrations, they undergo along the way are designed for their specific situation. The unbaptized are undergoing a process of initial conversion and the rites recognize this. You who are baptized are undergoing a continuing conversion, as we all are, and all of you are undergoing instruction in the basic beliefs and practices of the Faith.
The baptized persons in the class also support and bolster the unbaptized (and each other).
How long does it take? As long as it takes for you to reach an adult understanding of the faith (not a theology degree, just what you need to accept and practice the faith) and understand the effects of the sacrament and request it.
if you have areas of your life that require conversion from sinful choices, or a marriage situation that needs resolution, these are pastoral matters handled by the priest, not for RCIA or confirmation class. After speaking to the priest, going to confession and receiving absolution you can return to the Eucharist, but must wait for Confirmation until the pastor and the persons he designates (and you) agree you are ready.
As a practical matter, given time, volunteers and resources of your parish, you will probably attend a class along with others in your position, some who are baptized in other Christian denominations wishing to join the Catholic church, and some unbaptized persons seeking all the sacraments of initiation. The rites, or celebrations, they undergo along the way are designed for their specific situation. The unbaptized are undergoing a process of initial conversion and the rites recognize this. You who are baptized are undergoing a continuing conversion, as we all are, and all of you are undergoing instruction in the basic beliefs and practices of the Faith.
The baptized persons in the class also support and bolster the unbaptized (and each other).
How long does it take? As long as it takes for you to reach an adult understanding of the faith (not a theology degree, just what you need to accept and practice the faith) and understand the effects of the sacrament and request it.
if you have areas of your life that require conversion from sinful choices, or a marriage situation that needs resolution, these are pastoral matters handled by the priest, not for RCIA or confirmation class. After speaking to the priest, going to confession and receiving absolution you can return to the Eucharist, but must wait for Confirmation until the pastor and the persons he designates (and you) agree you are ready.
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rcn
Guest
I disagree.
As I understand it, RCIA is really supposed to be ONLY for the unbaptized. Baptized non-Catholic Christians are not supposed to have to go through it, although in many parishes they are forced to. But I don’t think any parish will ask Catholics who’ve received First Communion to do so.
On this we agree. What Shamrock needs is an “adult education” class. Good luck finding one though, I’ve been looking for years. Hopefully the pastor will prepare him privately for Confirmation, or find him a class appropriate to his background. That might be part of the parish’s RCIA program, but certainly not the whole thing!
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SouthCoast
Guest
My parish has an Adult Confirmation class. However, I think during certain parts of the year, they attend many (most) of the same classes as RCIA. Which is, IMO, appropriate. If someone was baptized Catholic, but never learned the faith, they are no more ready to join than someone never baptized or someone baptized in another denomination of Christianity.
-Michael
-Michael
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credo
Guest
I am 42 and will be confirmed at Easter Vigil Mass. I was baptized and made first Communion at proper ages. Due to parent not agreeing with sacraments of Penance or Confirmation, I was not allowed to partake in either. I made my first Confession at 27.
When I got married at 31 my pastor said I did not need Confirmation because when you get married in the Catholic Church, you are confirmed.
I have rededicated my life to Christ through his True Church during Lent of 2004. It has been an amazing journey. I have gone to communal penance twice and sacramental confession twice. Amazing, especially sacramental confession. I need to go more. Also, I wanted to complete my sacraments. I was told to go through the RCIA process. My brother-in-law went with me. He nedded Confirmation also. We have converts, reverts, people needing First Communion, Confirmation, everything. We go every Thursday night since September. We have learned a lot and Easter Vigil is finally here. I thought the whole process was going to be a pain but it has been a great experience for everyone in the class. And my wife is my sponser.
I, my wife, my sister-in-law and my brother-in-law have dedicated ourselves to being active members of our parish. It has been a true blessing in our lives.
Just go through RCIA and enjoy it. It will give you something to look forward to one night a week. credo
When I got married at 31 my pastor said I did not need Confirmation because when you get married in the Catholic Church, you are confirmed.
I have rededicated my life to Christ through his True Church during Lent of 2004. It has been an amazing journey. I have gone to communal penance twice and sacramental confession twice. Amazing, especially sacramental confession. I need to go more. Also, I wanted to complete my sacraments. I was told to go through the RCIA process. My brother-in-law went with me. He nedded Confirmation also. We have converts, reverts, people needing First Communion, Confirmation, everything. We go every Thursday night since September. We have learned a lot and Easter Vigil is finally here. I thought the whole process was going to be a pain but it has been a great experience for everyone in the class. And my wife is my sponser.
I, my wife, my sister-in-law and my brother-in-law have dedicated ourselves to being active members of our parish. It has been a true blessing in our lives.
Just go through RCIA and enjoy it. It will give you something to look forward to one night a week. credo
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puzzleannie
Guest
I sincerely hope you misunderstood what your pastor said, because the statement is wrong. It is not absolutely required, but strongly encouraged that a Catholic be confirmed before attempting marriage, because the demands of marriage are so great that the gifts and strength of the Holy Spirit are so important. Marriage rite does not confer confirmation, that is a separate sacrament, the ordinary minister is the bishop (or a priest he appoints for the occassion) and is confered by the laying on of hands, anointing with Chrism and invocation of the Holy Spirit. It is received once, like baptism, and imprints and indelible seal upon the soul.
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toothdigger
Guest
I agree with you. This is my understanding from the Catechism of the church… thanks…
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Margaret33
Guest
Yes it is supposed to be for the unbaptized, however… in many parishes (such as my own) everything puzzleannie said is true and may very well be what the OP may need to do if their parish does not have the amount of resources needed for a separate Confirmation program for adults. (speaking from experience, I went through 1.5 years of RCIA before receiving confirmation at this last Easter Vigil).
Short answer… depends on your parish.
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puzzleannie
Guest
I may add that many here who criticize the way RCIA and adult Confirmation preparation is done in your parish are strongly adviced to volunteer as catechists, sponsors and team members in your parish. If we had you we would be better able to customize the process based on the individual needs of the candidates. Without exception every adult who has participated in RCIA, whether baptized Catholic or non-CAtholic, and made profession of faith and been confirmed, has been enthusiastic about the class, the catechists (we are blest) and the process. Their witness to the unbaptized members of the class is invaluable.
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John_Lilburne
Guest
It depends what is meant by “RCIA”.
The book “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults” includes sections on the preparation for Catholics and non-Catholics who have been baptised. They are not too different to what happens for the unbaptised. Some extracts:
“4 PREPARATION OF UNCATECHIZED ADULTS FOR CONFIRMATION AND EUCHARIST
376 The following pastoral guidelines concern adults who were baptised as infants but did not receive further catechetical formation nor, consequently, the sacraments of confirmation and eucharist. …”.
This is open to debate. If someone has not received confirmation, then they have not received “confirmation and eucharist”. So arguable the guideline that follow apply to them.
“377. … A programme of training, catechesis suited to their needs, contact with the community of the faithful, and participation in certain liturgical rites are needed in order to strengthen them in the Christian life.
378 For the most part the plan of catechesis corresponds to the one laid down for catechumens (see no. 75,1). But in the process of catechesis the priest, deacon, or catechist should take into account that these adults have a special status because they are already baptised. …
381 The period of preparation is made holy by means of liturgical celebrations. The first of these is a rite by which the adults are welcomed into the community and acknowledge themselves to be part of it because they have already been marked with the seal of baptism. …
385 The high point of their entire formation will normally be the Easter Vigil. At that time they will make a profession of the faith in which they were baptised, receive the sacrament of confirmation, and take part in the eucharist. If, because neither the bishop nor another authorized minister is present, confirmation cannot be given at the Easter Vigil, it is to be celebrated as soon as possible and, if this can be arranged, during the Easter season.”
For baptised non-Catholics:
“391 The baptised Christian is to receive both doctrinal and spiritual preparation, adapted to individual pastoral requirements, for reception into the full communion of the Catholic Church. The candidate should learn to deepen an inner adherence to the Church, where he or she will find the fulness of his or her baptism. During the period of preparation the candidate may share in worship in conformity witli the provisions of the Ecumenical Directory. Anything that would equate candidates for reception with those who are catechumens is to be absolutely avoided.”
The RCIA book approved for Australia, England and the USA makes allowances for the ceremony of Reception to take place at the Easter Vigil.
The above extracts are from RCIA introductions for England and Wales, which can be downloaded from catholic-ew.org.uk/liturgy/Resources/Rites/RiteRitual.html#RCIA . The paragraph numbers for the USA edition are different.
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puzzleannie
Guest
do not confuse RCIA - the rites intended for the unbaptized – with the Class or preparation sessions. We tend to use this acronym for both, and apply it to any process by which adults, baptized or unbaptized, are prepared for any of the 3 sacraments of initiation. The rites for the unbaptized – rite of acceptance, rite of election, scrutinies etc. are ONLY for the unbaptized. There are in some cases parallel rites for baptized non-Catholics seeking full communion with the Catholic church, but all of these clearly distinguish between the status of the baptized and the unbaptized.
The “class” as opposed to the rites themselves, may include youth or adults who are unbaptized, or baptized non-Catholics, or non-catechized CAtholics for the very practical reason that most of these people need the same preparation, and even those in the group with good background in some areas can benefit from reviewing their knowledge alongside those hearing it for the first time.
The “class” as opposed to the rites themselves, may include youth or adults who are unbaptized, or baptized non-Catholics, or non-catechized CAtholics for the very practical reason that most of these people need the same preparation, and even those in the group with good background in some areas can benefit from reviewing their knowledge alongside those hearing it for the first time.
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CatholismRox
Guest
Yes, talk to your parish priest or CCD coordinator.
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toothdigger
Guest
I am just a little confused - the Catechism seems to me to state that both baptism and confirmation should occur only once; once baptized and confirmed in Christian faith, the last step is conversion to Roman Catholicism and once one accepts the true Christian Church to be the RC, then all that is left is receiving the Eucharist.
I think many converts to Catholicism *have converted through *catechesis - at least I did.
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Margaret33
Guest
My apologies if any confusion was caused on my part, by RCIA I meant the RCIA program/instruction - I should have specified, but have become so accustomed to saying RCIA when referring to class!
To add to what puzzleannie was saying, we have many people who come back to the RCIA classes year after year, as it is possible to gain new knowledge and deeper meaning each year.
In reference to what you were saying, I was baptized, was fully catechized, and received holy communion, but by the time confirmation day came it didn’t occur due to circumstances within the family, which is what happens unfortunately to some Catholics if their families don’t follow through in guiding them.
Hope this has alleviated some confusion…
To add to what puzzleannie was saying, we have many people who come back to the RCIA classes year after year, as it is possible to gain new knowledge and deeper meaning each year.
In reference to what you were saying, I was baptized, was fully catechized, and received holy communion, but by the time confirmation day came it didn’t occur due to circumstances within the family, which is what happens unfortunately to some Catholics if their families don’t follow through in guiding them.
Hope this has alleviated some confusion…
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puzzleannie
Guest
the baptized Catholic adult who needs first communion and/or confirmation should make an appointment with the priest, or whoever he delegates, to assess their needs for sacramental preparation. It they are well-catechized, practising the faith, regular Mass attendance, living in harmony with Catholic teaching, their preparation is much less than the full RCIA or Confirmation prep program. If they are essentially uncatechized, little or no knowledge of the faith they may go through the same instruction as the unbaptized. As to time of confirmation, that depends on the bishop.
In this diocese, for instance, the priest has not been given the faculty to confirm Catholics at the Easter Vigil. The bishop has reserved this to himself and confirms Catholic adults either when he visits the parish to confirm the youth, or at a diocesan-wide celebration on Pentecost Sunday. The candidates are prepared in the parish. So a person such as OP might need only a relatively brief preparation on the nature of the sacrament, action of the Holy Spirit and review of the creed for the profession of faith, but have to wait a few months for the next time the bishop confirms.
Our bishop, in conjunction with the new diocesan evangelization program, Disciples in Mission, introduced a special initiative to invite adult Catholics in need of completing their Christian initiation to prepare for first communion and confirmation during the Lent. A series of 11 half-hour programs covering Creed, Baptism, Penance, Eucharist and Confirmation was broadcast on public TV in Lent, with one-hour follow-up sessions on each video in the parishes.
This is intended for adults such as OP who know and practice the faith, but for whatever reason, such as migrant work, parents in the military etc., moved or did not receive the sacraments at the usual time. We had 24 sign up for the class, 14 finished, 12 will be confirmed tomorrow night by the bishop. They made first confession and first communion at Easter in the parish. This was a one-time program, the regular adult confirmation class is a year and covers doctrine as well. Don’t know if it will be repeated.
In this diocese, for instance, the priest has not been given the faculty to confirm Catholics at the Easter Vigil. The bishop has reserved this to himself and confirms Catholic adults either when he visits the parish to confirm the youth, or at a diocesan-wide celebration on Pentecost Sunday. The candidates are prepared in the parish. So a person such as OP might need only a relatively brief preparation on the nature of the sacrament, action of the Holy Spirit and review of the creed for the profession of faith, but have to wait a few months for the next time the bishop confirms.
Our bishop, in conjunction with the new diocesan evangelization program, Disciples in Mission, introduced a special initiative to invite adult Catholics in need of completing their Christian initiation to prepare for first communion and confirmation during the Lent. A series of 11 half-hour programs covering Creed, Baptism, Penance, Eucharist and Confirmation was broadcast on public TV in Lent, with one-hour follow-up sessions on each video in the parishes.
This is intended for adults such as OP who know and practice the faith, but for whatever reason, such as migrant work, parents in the military etc., moved or did not receive the sacraments at the usual time. We had 24 sign up for the class, 14 finished, 12 will be confirmed tomorrow night by the bishop. They made first confession and first communion at Easter in the parish. This was a one-time program, the regular adult confirmation class is a year and covers doctrine as well. Don’t know if it will be repeated.
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