What does RCIA entail?

[Tyuiop411]

I’m seriously considered conversion and have finally decided to become a full fledged Catholic but i really have no idea what the RCIA entails and want to know more about it.

 

[brigid12]

RCIA entails going to class of a couple hours about once a week (although with summertime here, many only have class every other week), then you would want to attend Mass each week. Different parishes have somewhat different programs since it is somewhat up to each Religious Education Director and, of course, each pastor. Oftentimes you will get a sponsor for entrance - a practicing Catholic to help you understand some things you may have trouble with and to help bring blessings to you from God.

Welcome!

 

[michaeldaniels]

Pretty much summed up here…it has been many years since I converted, but I do remember it lasting approximately a year long…you do not go into very deep theology, but the basics of Catholic belief and theology…such as the 4 marks of The Church…early Church Fathers, The Nicene and Apostles Creed, the Gloria, Transubstantiation, all the Sacraments…etc…of course there is a lot more we discussed and somethings were discussed in greater detail and length than others. All were given a sponsor…and you get to choose a confirmation name which is really cool. It is not designed to make you an Apologist upon completion, but to equip you with a great enough knowledge of The Catholic Church that you can intellectually make a conscientious decision to be baptized and/or confirmed and live your life as a practical Catholic…and subsequently understand and partake of The Sacraments.

Congratulations…this is the best decision you have ever made and you will be eternally happy. Welcome Home…I wish you the best of luck.

RCIA entails going to class of a couple hours about once a week (although with summertime here, many only have class every other week), then you would want to attend Mass each week. Different parishes have somewhat different programs since it is somewhat up to each Religious Education Director and, of course, each pastor. Oftentimes you will get a sponsor for entrance - a practicing Catholic to help you understand some things you may have trouble with and to help bring blessings to you from God.

Welcome!

 

[puzzleannie]

Welcom home!
from the CA library, linked on the homepage, on How to Become Catholic
catholic.com/library/How_to_Become_a_Catholic.asp

participate in the Evangelization forum to discuss the RCIA process and share experiences with others on the same journey, and ask questions

 

[nsper7]

I’m seriously considered conversion and have finally decided to become a full fledged Catholic but i really have no idea what the RCIA entails and want to know more about it.

I am not sure about where you live, but for me, it was basically meetings after Sunday Mass and some other meetings, usually on Saturdays (like only a handful). Plus, there are the associated Rites: Rite of Welcoming (part of a Sunday Mass), Rite of Sending (part of a Sunday Mass), Rite of Election (basically, this involves the Bishop…where I lived, we all went to the Cathedral-Basilica of our Diocese on a Sunday), Rite of Baptism (if not already Baptised) and Confirmation (the biggy…for me, it was on the Easter Vigil) and 1st Communion. At some point before Confirmation/1st Communion, IF you are already Baptized, there will be 1st Confession/Reconciliation.

One word of warning though: many RCIA catechists can be a bit too on the liberal side theologically (this was the case in my RCIA class when I was becoming Catholics all of a few months ago–I remember people cringing when I would bring up questions on Hell, Confession, etc.) so you might want to do a lot of your own reading (i.e. of the Baltimore Catechism, the regular Catholic Catechism, the documents in this site’s library, etc.).