Unqualified RCIA "facilitator"

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reen12:
quote: Church Militant

And that is the short answer to my jeremiad, above.
Issues of catechesis aside, the Holy Spirit works
as He wills.

Note, too, that you have returned to the Church,
right? [or are you a convert? I can’t recall]
[See the line below my signature, in my post, above,[/color]
OK?]

Best to you, Michael, and God bless you,

Maureen

Does God use even the “fallen away” to do His work? 🙂
I’m a “re-vert”… 😃
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Pug:
Um, I can’t quite tell if a clarification is needed here. I’d be sure to not pass out materials to the class (as a class member and not the leader) without first getting permission from whomever is in charge. Be sure whomever is in charge (like the parish priest or perhaps the facilitator) knows about the matierials and approves them first. I know, we are talking CA tracts, and they are just fine, but still.

Often, in RCIA, a focus on apologetics is not what is needed. Also, RCIA classes are used as a catch-all, unfortunately. It is a mixed group with different needs.
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That’s why I said to e-mail her with the link and that meeting may offer an opportunity to get that approval.
 
Don’t worry. I have one of those doomsday preacher that works my street a lot. I will have him go over to your parish and take care of the classes for you. Don’t Worry.
But, really, This is where I would think that you should go to your Preist and have a chat about adjusting the staff around the parish a little bit. Wink Wink
 
when i converted (accepted), they didn’t have rcia. i took private instruction under the parish pastor (msgr prendergast). i found it a thoroughly rewarding experience. when he felt i was ready, i was accepted into the church. i did my confirmation in the back or the kids line along with 6 others.

i very much like that way better. i read the bible cover to cover as part of my journey. i didn’t have to, i wanted to. my frst lent i fasted the 40 days(lost 40 lbs, got sick after). (gift from God(Holy Spirit)) i couldn’t now.

my two cents!!!
 
I have a more fundamental question - is the facilitator qualified or certified? In our Archdiocese you cannot teach any adult catechesis, including RCIA, unless you have at least a Certificate in Catechesis with a specialization in Adult Catechesis (which is another 30 clock hours.) How did this person get into this position, is the need for people to help so great and the supply so small?
 
Church Militant:
That’s why I said to e-mail her with the link and that meeting may offer an opportunity to get that approval.
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Yes, I figured as much. I read your post twice and couldn’t seem to figure it out that day, so I posted just in case. I’m getting too old! :whacky:
 
I went through RCIA about 3 years ago. It wasn’t…bad…I can’t recall any major errors taught or anything like that, of course at the time I was pretty ignorant even in the basics so I might just not be remembering. The thing that was bad about it was that it was too social to me, it also had a lot of ‘excercises’ that were a waste of time for me personally, and not a lot of meaty teaching. I would much rather prefer doing the old method of one on one with the priest. I know that’s not always possible these days…but it’s an ideal in my opinion. I’ve been asked by the priest to be a ‘sponser’ in RCIA, but I’m afraid I might get too irritated lol. I’m still thinking about it though. I’d rather be the main teacher, but we already have someone who heads that up.
 
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Oren:
I went through RCIA about 3 years ago. It wasn’t…bad…I can’t recall any major errors taught or anything like that. . . . **The thing that was bad about it was that it was too social to me, it also had a lot of ‘excercises’ that were a waste of time for me personally, and not a lot of meaty teaching. **
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I can’t help but to emphasize this again for all of us who are involved in any way in RCIA, because I think it is one of our main drawbacks.
 
I went into, and out of, RCIA twice before I found one where I was acctually learning about the Catholic Faith and not spending all my time in Group Therapy talking about my blasted “feelings.” The first RCIA class I struggled through we did things like, “Let’s all draw a picture of what we think God looks like to us!” and we read this wishy-washy new agey book that made no sense whatsoever. The second time I was in RCIA it was a lot better but I was carless and I could only get a ride to the 10am Mass. The church was 15 miles away and not on any bus line. The Decon in charge of the RCIA class told me I had to make it to the 8am Mass or I wouldn’t be baptised. I searched around for rides and finally went to the Priest and asked him for help. He told me to come back “when you have a car.” I became a member of the Evangelical Free Church for about a year after that.
I returned home to Massachusetts and was going to search for an Evangelical Free Church there when I stumbled upon a beautiful Catholic church called “Our Lady of Czestochowa” in Turners Falls, MA. I decided to give it one more try and inquired about an RCIA class. On my first evening the RCIA teacher, who only taught one-on-one, told me that we would read Saint John’s gospel, St. Therese’s “Story of a Soul” and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I knew I had found the right place! When I passed on to her all of the anti-Cathlic stuff I had learned in the Protestant church she handed me “Surprised by Truth” for extra reading. I devoured it, “Story of a Soul”, the CCC and St. John’s Gospel like a starving animal. After I was baptised (and this lady was a demanding teacher!) I was put through a 5-month Confirmation class! They don’t do this to adults usually - it’s just Baptism/Confirmation all in one tidy package. But let me tell you: I learned SO MUCH during that really difficult demanding confirmation class and got the joy of being Confirmed with all of the school kids. And I really really understood my Faith.
I wish RCIA was done this same way everywhere else. It really is a necessity because we should really understand the Faith we are joining!
 
Dear MichelleTherese,
quote: Michelle Therese
I knew I had found the right place! When I passed on to her all of the anti-Cathlic stuff I had learned in the Protestant church she handed me “Surprised by Truth” for extra reading. I devoured it, “Story of a Soul”, the CCC and St. John’s Gospel like a starving animal.
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Oh, Michelle Therese, I understand, truely I do.

That God gifted you with what you needed, rather
than the dreadfully “silly” cotton candy that you
were originally offered, [instead of the “meat” of
the faith] is a great blessing.

quote: Michelle Therese
…and not spending all my time in Group Therapy talking about my blasted “feelings.”
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What can I say? Catechesis seems to have gone from
all “mind” in the 1950’s, to all "blasted ‘feelings’ by the
eighties.

I hope that your post “speaks” to those who may
be involved in RCIA.

Best regards,
reen12
 
I must say that when I went through RCIA three years ago (Wow time flies) we almost always had the Deacon there and about half the time a Priest. The Priest was llike the bad cop, the enforcer of orthodxy, but real good and approachable. He was always willing to research answers and give information. Actually all the RCIA folks were as well very humble and wanted the answers to be correct. Yeh I can wait a week if its the right answer. But I do wish they had more classes to explain church teachings to adults.

I will never forget how to recieve communion. At RCIA we practised and I did the snatch and grab. I did not know what it was but I found out its BAD. I became the example for the class.To this day I always practise recieving the eucharist correctly before going up.
 
Well I’ve already ranted on these pages about how dismal my RCIA experience was. I think they should scrap it altogether and return to “instruction” or “catechesis” or whatever it was called before. RCIA as it is seems to invite the touchy-feely approach, but for that matter, my whole parish seems to be on that path & the priests never say anything of substance but seem to spend their time dumbing down the liturgy and warning people away from excessive scrupulousness or whatever it is.
 
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caroljm36:
… I think they should scrap it altogether and return to “instruction” or “catechesis” or whatever it was called before. RCIA as it is seems to invite the touchy-feely approach …
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I think a good RCIA program can have both the touchy-feely stuff and solid catechesis. Both/And not Either/Or.

It is good to talk about personal experience and to share where we are at in our faith journey in RCIA. Doing various spiritual exercises is not inappropriate either. What is inappropriate, is to be so focused on these things that the doctrines of the Church never get systematically presented.

(As an aside, does anyone know the better term than touchy-feely?). :confused:
 
Hi, Matt16_18,

quote: Matt16_18
(As an aside, does anyone know the better term than touchy-feely?). :confused:
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How about:

“I’m OK-You’re OK”

But, my favorite, has become that of another poster to this thread:
“…blasted feelings…” [aka Group Therapy]

“I’m OK,”…😃 I’ve sat thru RCIA twice !

Best,
reen
 
Anything you wrote her should have been cc’ed to her Religious educ. director and Parish priest. \

If she did not speak in error but was still otherwise incompetent in presenting the faith you will have to make your case to the pastor.

If you feel the pastor is defending an incompetent catechist, you are canonically obliged to report that to your bishop.

If your bishop is also defending the person, you must write to the appropropriate congregation in Rome. I think in this case it would be the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

I think you could also write to the congregations that deal with priests and bishops.
 
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reen12:
How about:

“I’m OK-You’re OK”
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Doesn’t work for me.

RCIA is about learning that “I’m not OK, and your not OK, but that’s OK”.

(I need to give credit to Father Faricy, S.J. for this quote). 😉
But, my favorite, has become that of another poster to this thread:
“…blasted feelings…” [aka Group Therapy]
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In some ways, RCIA is like a twelve-step recovery program. 😃

The 12 Steps of RCIA

1.) We admitted we were powerless over sin - that our lives had become unmanageable.

2.) Came to believe that a Jesus Christ could restore us to sanity.

3.) Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God.

4.) Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

5.) Admitted to God, to ourselves and to a priest in the Sacrament of Confession the exact nature of our wrongs.

6.) Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

7.) Humbly asked God for the grace to remove our shortcomings so that we could live a life of virtue.

8.) Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

9.) Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10.) Continued to make the examination of conscience, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.

11.) Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our personal relationship with God, praying for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

12.) Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, and through the graces bestowed by the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Holy Eucharist, we tried to carry this message to other sinners, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
 
quote: Matt16_18
Originally Posted by reen12

How about:

“I’m OK-You’re OK”

Doesn’t work for me.

RCIA is about learning that “I’m not OK, and your not OK, but that’s OK”.

(I need to give credit to Father Faricy, S.J. for this quote). 😉
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It was said tongue in cheek, Matt !
It was meant to ridicule “I’m OK-You’re OK.”

quote:reen12
“I’m OK,”…😃 I’ve sat thru RCIA twice !
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[Didn’t you notice the 😃 in that sentence?]

From another thread, dated Aug.20

quote: reen12
Anyone read the early work of Eric Berne? [Not
the later stuff: I’m OK-You’re OK
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, because there
are some in this world who are definitely not OK.]

I give up, I just give up…🙂

Best, Matt16_18,

reen
 
I feel better, now. I’ve had supper. 😃

Best to you, Matt16_18,

reen12
 
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