The value of the RCIA program

[The_Reginator]

It was my understanding that you were supposed to stay with your local parish. Good or Bad. My experience with RCIA has been local parish was horrible and put me off the church. There was no chatachesis or any contact at all with a priest. I thought going to another parish was ‘shopping’ and was the same as what protestants do with churches?

In the “old days,” yes, one was supposed to stay within the parish boundaries. That is no longer true. At our last parish we had several families from the next state. At 1 parish here, which is closer to a town in Canada than our town, the people have been told they can attend mass in Canada when the priest isn’t there (when we have a priest, he gets up there about twice a month). I suppose, if any of them wanted to, they could also belong to the Canadian parish.

Now that there are so many differences between parishes, it makes sense to go to one that you are more comfortable at.

Many people from my small town travel 45 minutes to assist at a Tredentine Mass. One may attend the O.F. or the E.F. but I doubt that both could be found in the same parish, especially considering the placement of the alter and lack of communion rails.

 

[sablouwho]

My experience was horrible. It was taught by laypeople who pushed information that went against the Catechism. Luckily, we moved to an FSSP parish and we are now being taught by the priest. This has been amazing. Thank God for FSSP.

Newbie here, so I apologize if this is a silly question, but what is FSSP?

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Newbie here, so I apologize if this is a silly question, but what is FSSP?

Fraternitas Sacerdotalis Sancti Petri or Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter. They are priests who celebrate the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. They are fully in communion with the Pope.

 

[Alfalfa]

I went through the RCIA program at my parish in 1999-2000. I am a revert to the Catholic Church. I only needed to be confirmed. RCIA was the most horrible experience. The class was taught by the laity, some of them very well catechized, some of them not. The confirmandi got stuck with the not so catechized. I earned somewhat of a reputation for being uncooperative and argumentive, because people would ask questions and if the answer was wrong I made no bones about correcting the misinformation. I did it charitably, but was told by the main instructor to refrain from correcting the core team members. I made notes of all the misinformation, then I made an appointment with the pastor and let him know what was going on. I never got harrassed again. I received the Sacrament of Confirmation at Easter Vigil in 2000. I haven’t looked back or missed Mass since. The RICA program was evaluated and the next year (2000-2001) was taught by a very holy deacon and very well catechized laity. My daughter was given permission at age 11 to go through the RCIA (yes, for adults) in 2001-2002 and it was a blast! We had fun and learned a lot. I guess it all depends who is teaching and what they are teaching. I am VERY grateful for both experiences. I’m sure it was a test to see how serious I was/am about my faith.

One thing about RCIA that bothers me; people who receive the sacraments and then become fallen away Catholics.

 

[sablouwho]

Fraternitas Sacerdotalis Sancti Petri or Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter. They are priests who celebrate the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. They are fully in communion with the Pope.

I’ve experienced TLM once when a local parish hosted an outside priest who came in to do it–I really was amazed. I wish that I knew of a parish that did the TLM regularly that was also nearby to where I live, but no such luck. Oh well, at least I’ve had the experience of this mass at least once. Truly uplifting.

 

[lutherlic]

I have only good things to say about RCIA. I know it varies in implementation from parish to parish for many valid reasons. However it is conducted, with the resources available, the goal is a true and informed conversion of heart. I don’t think there is only one way to achieve that.

There are a few stories where a given RCIA team apparently did not have the right resources needed to fully accomplish their mission. In some stories it appears to me that the structure or personalities involved may not have been a good fit for the individual. Either way I hope when this happens that they try the RCIA process at another parish. This is far too important to try briefly and decide its “not for me.”

I do not see any issue in restricting the core classes either. I believe they are appropriate for anyone for whom the material presented will bring closer to Christ. That includes reverts and others. Large parishes with many Christian formation opportunities may offer other options for those people and that is fine too.

 

[Statius]

I am very much enjoying RCIA. The program in which I am currently enrolled is not the first of which I have been part - I spent a few weeks in a different parish and, what with one thing and another, ended up settling in a different parish.

There are different ways of doing it, and indeed different ways of doing it well, and it does depend on resources and who is available. Both the programs I have seen did have done it well. We are lucky in my parish to have a wonderful priest who takes care of the group personally. We sort of follow a syllabus, but as there are only half a dozen of us including the priest, sessions look more like informal chats than organised classes.

 

[dbpetty]

RCIA is very good in my local parish, led by: Fr, a Sister, some older converts thats been Confirmed for years and years, and normally a few sponsors. I love this sight! I spend 2+hrs on here. I was born and baptized Methodist, after 5 years on my own out of moms house i have made the decision after studying many other religions. That Lutheran or Catholic, and since Ive read many books Catholic was my decision. I dont see how RCIA would hurt me by attending, much less anyone else, its very informative and gets your mind working the right way, dispels fears and myths ect.

Peace be with you all

 

[fdesales]

I guess it all depends who is teaching and what they are teaching. I am VERY grateful for both experiences. I’m sure it was a test to see how serious I was/am about my faith.

One thing about RCIA that bothers me; people who receive the sacraments and then become fallen away Catholics.

First statement: True.
Second: Several reasons. First, they did not have a real conversion experience, just going through the motions. Second, more common, they never got involved in the parish ministries. This is crucial to future growth and getting to know others in the community. It is difficult belonging to a faith community when you don’t know anyone…

Regards

 

[otjm]

RCIA? Why, then, doesn’t the Church start some kind of a refresher course for lifetime Catholics in order to reinvigorate their faith lives?

We have been struggling with Adult Education in our parish for years. The hardest thing is to get them to come.

 

[Bonnie]

We have been struggling with Adult Education in our parish for years. The hardest thing is to get them to come.

We started Adult Ed last year & have had phenomenal attendance - 50-70 people in a very small parish. We have the studies on Wednesday evenings using Scott Hahn’s studies from the St. Paul Center.

We do the large group with video or slides & reader (changes each week), then break into small study groups.

We also have parishioners attending the RCIA just to learn more. Love these people!