Terrible First RCIA Meeting

[SusanL]

mfundis:

I’m so sorry for your experience. My husband had a similiar experience- and unfortunately- stopped him from entering the church (for now). One of the officiating priests kept calling God “she”- end eluded to the catechumens that communion was the same as the Lutherans’. After we stopped going, I heard that this same priest “presided” over a mini “communion” service were everyone was sitting in the rectory basement at tables, and passing the bread and wine around to each other. I only PRAY that the priest didn’t say the actually words of concecration- if he did, then they were horsing around with the REAL DEAL. UGH!!!

Don’t worry about your husband. Just keep praying for him. I attended an RCIA meeting and found it unsatisfactory. About a year later or so, I met a woman with a child about the same age as mine and we became friends. Through her and a holy priest, I came into the church. Now I can’t get enough of it. God does work wonders.

 

[Buckeyejoe]

I was a sponsor for RCIA last year, Early on we were opening the session with a prayer from the book “The Greatest Salesman in the World” Finally 1/2 way through thee course when we had a meeting, I said "Why are we not reading from the Bible and the Cathecism and even using the Psalms for prayers? And I gave a little speel about how important this is…I think I ruffled a few feathers BUT by the time the program ended we were quoting from the Bible repeatedly and referencing the Cathecism, SO ALL YOU SPONSORS OUT THERE, SPEAK UP! YOU CAN CHANGE THE PROGRAM FOR THE BETTER!

Thanks

 

[jrabs]

mercygate:

Aaaarrgh. I’m hyperventilating. This is revolting. I’ve heard that people have had to make clay pots to show how God is the potter and we are the clay. Draw pictures of their faith journey. A nun I know takes torn clothing and makes people sew it together to show how God mends us.

RCIA tends to be a one-size-fits-all (or none) garment, and has little accommodation for people who already know their former faith or much about the Catholic Church. The humility to endure this patiently is a very great grace.

Oh Mercygate,
I am right there with you! Not only RCIA does these goofy activites, but in my church, the prep classes for the Sacraments make people do odd things also - painting bird houses because God can live anywhere, door knob signs, and miscellaneous craft projects that leave my kids head spinning. Projects with no explaination as to the relevance to Christ and the particular sacrament.

I guess I am a sort of Scrooge where the craft projects come in.

 

[rjmporter]

salveregina:

From what I have heard, most RCIA classes are just a burden you have to bear until you enter the church-- there liberal and theologically incorrect.
I attend a very, very orthodox parish and so far have just loved RCIA. It really depends on the teacher. You may want to try and combat some of the things he says with actual Church writings.

OUCH. As an RCIA director, I offer my sincerest apologies to all for the lack of good teaching and good teachers in our field. Pray that God send more workers to the vinyard.

 

[Chauncey]

You don’t know how good it is to know that I am not alone. My RCIA experiance in 2001 was one of the most humbling of my life.

Here is what I learned in RCIA about:
Confession: It is okay to not go before your first communion.
Adoration: Who would want to stare at a piece of bread for an hour?
Priesthood: If you decide it isn’t right for you, get married. (this is what the RCIA team leader did)
Homosexuality: It is okay for a lesbian to have her live in girlfriend be her sponser
Jesus: He is best encountered in long walks in the wilderness

But hey we did sing a lot of exciting Catholic hits from the 70’s, make candles to build a sense of community, and tell each other how words like “warm” -“hope” - “cherish” - “alive” made us feel.

 

[Detroit_Sue]

This is not meant to be offensive to DREs or lay RCIA teachers.

Most RCIA programs are awful. If you can find one that is run by the pastor of a parish, you will be better off. The more people who have their fingers in it, the more polluted the program becomes with private opinions being inserted, and defective theology. Of course, that is not to say that all RCIA programs run by priests are great. Discernment is extremely important, and you sound like the Holy Spirit has enlighted you well.

Good luck!

 

[mercygate]

Chauncey:

My RCIA experiance in 2001 was one of the most humbling of my life.

That could be a good thing . . .

Chauncey:

But hey we did . . . tell each other how words like “warm” -“hope” - “cherish” - “alive” made us feel.

. . . like throwing up?

 

[mercygate]

rjmporter:

OUCH. As an RCIA director, I offer my sincerest apologies to all for the lack of good teaching and good teachers in our field. Pray that God send more workers to the vinyard.

I am a convert with the education of a priest. My confessor (wisely) told me tht RCIA is designed to teach patience. I have offered to work with the RCIA program in the hope of helping teach something more – like the faith, for example – and have been cold-shouldered. When I offered to buy every inquirer in RCIA a copy of the Catechism, I was told that laymen should not read the Catechism because the people who wrote it don’t understand how real people live. Besides, we wouldn’t want people to use it as a weapon.

 

[tTt]

I like what Detroit Sue had to say. The TRUTH is more obvious to you than it is to those RCIA teachers. Something down deep and dark makes them seek out RCIA positions. They hope to bring in more like minded dissenters.

Keep reading and find something better.
You are in my prayers.

 

[lsburk]

I’ve got one to share. I came across this thread and couldn’t resist when I saw the subject matter. My wife is a sponsor in a local RCIA program. Two Sundays ago, when the the catechumens were dismissed from mass, the person leading the “breaking of the word” in the parish center went off on a tangent about how John Kerry is going to save the country. Now, regardless of a person’s political leanings, there is absolutely no room for political grandizing at a “breaking of the word” get together. I have also heard that this same individual likes to use colorful language in his presentations. This is not even our parish. My wife is aghast at this guy’s rantings. We keep trying to get my wife’s friend to come to our parish where we have a wonderful, orthodox, RCIA program. She won’t switch though, even if she is put off by that jerk. Just had to share that. Some programs are great others are way off and should be closed down by the diocese.

Scott

 

[tTt]

Chauncey:

You don’t know how good it is to know that I am not alone. My RCIA experiance in 2001 was one of the most humbling of my life.

Here is what I learned in RCIA about:
Confession: It is okay to not go before your first communion. :bigyikes:
Adoration: Who would want to stare at a piece of bread for an hour?:crying:
Priesthood: If you decide it isn’t right for you, get married. (this is what the RCIA team leader did) :bigyikes:
Homosexuality: It is okay for a lesbian to have her live in girlfriend be her sponser:bigyikes:
Jesus: He is best encountered in long walks in the wilderness:crying:

But hey we did sing a lot of exciting Catholic hits from the 70’s, make candles to build a sense of community:whacky: , and tell each other how words like “warm” -“hope” - “cherish” - “alive” made us feel.

:bigyikes:

We need a new thread
“You know you’re in bad RCIA program when…”

 

[lsburk]

I’ve been thinking that the reason there are so many bad RCIA programs out there is for so long our church has been trying to attract new members rather than see exisiting members go away. In the process, our church and her teachings have become watered down. The truth is that we don’t need to water down our church. It is the one true church established by Christ. It is the Church that others are seeking. That’s what we have to offer, the Church that those that are being called by God are looking for.
:dancing:

Scott

 

[Reformed_Rob]

I’ve been to one RCIA meeting, and it was pretty “good”, I mean “Catholic!” That was a year ago. But the priest who was teaching it had taken the vow against Modernism and is very diligent to uphold it. I suppose I should be thankful for him being the priest in my local parish.

But, months before that, I decided I would do some honest investigation into the Catholic faith. Well, I knew there was a Catholic Church in the city where I went to college, so I thought, I’ll go there and meet with the priest. Well, being a busy guy, we ended up making an appointment to meet for a while. The day came, and, you know, he seemed nice enough. He did tell me that the Bible is tradition (Tradition). He explained that some. Well, I had my Protestant Bible, and my new CCC with me, and I was ready to take notes. He said he felt sorry for anyone who tried to read the CCC all the way through, it’s more of a reference. Well, it would be a difficult read, but wouldn’t it be a good one?
Then we started talking about original sin. Boy, red flags went up there. He denied that Adam and Eve were real people!! I think I sufficiently refuted that from Scripture, but being a Modernist, he was way above hearing God’s Word. What’s more, he apparently refused to hear the Holy Spirit teaching from the Catholic Church, because soon after we met, like a few weeks or so, I was reading some Benedict XV Encyclicals, and he was condemning many of the things that liberal priest was telling me!! Truly, many Popes saw Modernism as a very near threat to the purity of the Church, and tried to combat it and warn everyone.
So, though I’m Reformed, I think I can say that the church’s teaching is objective. Look to the Church Fathers and Doctors, know the Church Councils, know the Creeds and the Catechisms, and trust **Catholic teachers.

Perhaps a good test of a particular person’s orthodoxy is their belief about Mary. Like, you can’t believe what the Church teaches about Mary and be too liberal. At least, I would’nt think so. What I mean is the Marian doctrines are so closely dependant upon the Church’s teaching authority, that someone who adores Mary the way the Church teaches is almost sure to be elect unto salvation. At least, that’s what my Catholic friend Jay told me that Aquinas said.

 

[mercygate]

Reformed Rob:

I had my Protestant Bible, and my new CCC with me, and I was ready to take notes. He said he felt sorry for anyone who tried to read the CCC all the way through, it’s more of a reference. Well, it would be a difficult read, but wouldn’t it be a good one?

I read it cover-to-cover, and cried all the way through it. It is seraphic! “Management” in my parish thinks laymen shouldn’t read it because they might use it as a weapon. :ehh:
Reformed Rob:

He denied that Adam and Eve were real people!!

Now you know why he didn’t think much of the Catechism! You are doing something we Converts have had to forego: Catechizing the Catholics about the Catholic faith. Oi. Marcus Grodi says all the Protestant converts are being sent by God to save the Church.

 

[larryo]

If you can, get out of this RCIA class and find one that is more orthodox in its teaching. If you can’t do that, then stay with the program, take everything with a grain of salt, read the *Catechism of the Catholic Church, *and read the tracts and other information on Catholic Answers. Also, acquire a library of orthodox Catholic literature through sources like Catholic Answers, EWTN, and TAN Publishing. You, unfortunately, are becoming Catholic at a time in American church history when catechesis is weak and orthodoxy ata premium. Be prepared to educate yourself and steer clear of the Modernists that have infiltrated the Church. My and my wife’s prayers go with you. She also experienced some of the same tribulations when she went through the RCIA program.

 

[Detroit_Sue]

Reformed Rob:

Perhaps a good test of a particular person’s orthodoxy is their belief about Mary. Like, you can’t believe what the Church teaches about Mary and be too liberal. At least, I would’nt think so. What I mean is the Marian doctrines are so closely dependant upon the Church’s teaching authority, that someone who adores Mary the way the Church teaches is almost sure to be elect unto salvation. At least, that’s what my Catholic friend Jay told me that Aquinas said.

B-I-N-G-O!!!

When I read this, I realized that all the liberal priests I’ve had the displeasure of knowing were absolutely NOT Marian. Bob, you gave me my moment of clairty for today!

God bless!
Sue

 

[Chris-WA]

I think the over-arching problem here is the lack of a single, world-wide syllabus for RCIA. Every parish has it’s own program that totally depends on the individual(s) who happen to be teaching. In most cases they probably have little or no supervision or training. Just as was done with the Catechism, I think we need the Magisterium to publish a single, world-wide RCIA instructional manual in every language that’s steeped in Catholic history, doctrine, and teaching. That way a convert in Africa learns the same stuff as a convert in New Zealand, and you can be sure that the Magisterium has approved it. For that matter, I think we should have the same type system for child and adult religious education. What kind of Catholic education you got probably depended on what particular set of books your diocese bought from what particular publisher. I would like to see the day when all official Catholic educational materials for all ages have been written and approved by the Magisterium. After all, they’re the ones responsible for correct teaching of the faith.

 

[Hesychios]

Oh my!

This thread is real depressing!

 

[Pbuschur]

I agree with Christ wholeheartedly, two post up.

Is this not what Catholic means? What gives?

 

[Detroit_Sue]

Chris-WA:

I think the over-arching problem here is the lack of a single, world-wide syllabus for RCIA. Every parish has it’s own program that totally depends on the individual(s) who happen to be teaching. In most cases they probably have little or no supervision or training. Just as was done with the Catechism, I think we need the Magisterium to publish a single, world-wide RCIA instructional manual in every language that’s steeped in Catholic history, doctrine, and teaching. That way a convert in Africa learns the same stuff as a convert in New Zealand, and you can be sure that the Magisterium has approved it. For that matter, I think we should have the same type system for child and adult religious education. What kind of Catholic education you got probably depended on what particular set of books your diocese bought from what particular publisher. I would like to see the day when all official Catholic educational materials for all ages have been written and approved by the Magisterium. After all, they’re the ones responsible for correct teaching of the faith.

There is one: it’s called “Catechism of the Catholic Church.” Responsibilities in the US have been over-delegated to the laity, many of whom weren’t properly catechized themselves. This is why there is a simmering war in our archdiocese. The new priests want unity & orthodoxy - the older priests are fighting them on it.