WHAT EXACTLY IS "RCIA" and CONFIRMATION?

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I’m now at the point where I would like to know why Catholics to be have to go through an “RCIA” process and what exactly is it? Why does one have to be “initiated” to become a Catholic? Also what takes place during Confirmation? Is it simply the folks who completed the RCIA class get laying on of hands by the Bishop? When does this happen? During Mass one Sunday? Should one take the RCIA class at the Parish you want to join or can you sign up for it at any Parish and then go somewhere else?

I’m a bit confused! Thanks so much anybody who can let me know!

God Bless~~
 
Hi Sparkle - R.C.I.A. is the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. If you sign up at one parish you should take the classes at that parish. When you are confirmed, you will be completing your baptismal vows and you will receive the gifts of the Holy Spirt.

The WHY do you ‘have to’ take the class…well, tell me, would you join something without knowing anything about it? For instance, when you sign on to a job, you know what your salary will be, what benefits you will have and when your hours are. Similarly, RCIA will teach you about the nuts and bolts of the Church, teach you what she, the Church, teaches as well as giving you the opportunity to ask questions that you need answers to.

I encourage you to call your parish and find out when they will be starting the next class. God Bless you -
 
Hi Sparkle - RCIA is preparation for the Sacraments of Initiation - Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. It involves a period of preparation of about a year,. The Sacraments are administered around Easter, usually at the Vigil Mass on the Saturday before Easter.

Many of the details vary from parish to parish; so it is best that you get your information from a parish near you.

Keep us advised of your progress so we can share the journey with you.
 
I might add to the other responses. RCIA is not something new it is RESTORED and has it’s roots in the first centuries of Christianity. Those who were not Christian were not even allowed to know where the Christians were meeting. Even more they were never allowed to join them until they proved by their lives, over the course of several years, that they had converted to Christianity and received Baptism at a minimum. Then they were allowed to join the Christian community were addmitted to the Holy Communion and later Confirmed by the Bishop.
 
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sparkle:
I’m now at the point where I would like to know why Catholics to be have to go through an “RCIA” process and what exactly is it? Why does one have to be “initiated” to become a Catholic? Also what takes place during Confirmation? Is it simply the folks who completed the RCIA class get laying on of hands by the Bishop? When does this happen? During Mass one Sunday? Should one take the RCIA class at the Parish you want to join or can you sign up for it at any Parish and then go somewhere else?

I’m a bit confused! Thanks so much anybody who can let me know!

God Bless~~
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Thanks for asking… you’ve already gotten some great responses.

RCIA stands for Rite of Christian Initation for Adults. It takes its model straight from the practice of the methods by which, in the early Christian church, people who wanted to join (which is the definition of the word “initiation” – “joining”), it would take sometimes several years to before baptism. You can read the Early Church Fathers (the generation immediately following Christ’s) for early church history on this.

RCIA is a process… not a class… although RCIA does place during a series of community events that for lack of better terms the word “class” is used… it is MORE than only learning the key points of the Catholic Faith and practice…

Here’s an issue of Catholic Update on this topic of RCIA:

New Look at the RCIA: Journey for the Entire Parish
by Rita Burns Senseman

americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0502.asp

Catholic Answers Website has a page on it, as well.

catholic.com/library/how_to_become_a_catholic.asp

Catholic Answers also has pages on the Sacraments of Initiation, which are Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.

Also, and not to overwhelm you, but there’s another online forum that might be helpful, especially because it’s mainly for folks who are asking questions like yours. Many of the discussion threads are about and by people who are and recently have experienced the RCIA program.

This thread, in particular, is the most recent of those.

209.239.45.222/dcforum/DCForumID7/383.html

To get there, go to www.chnetwork.org

(stands for Coming Home Network… a TV program and ministry shown on www.ewtn.com television channel… with Marcus Grodi)

The main index page of GENERAL discussion threads is here:

209.239.45.222/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=list&forum=DCForumID7&conf=DCConfID6

Hope this helps? :o 😃
 
RCIA is a program to Teach the important basics of the Catholic Church Our Lord Founded. The Apstles taught the incoming converts; most famous are the teaching of Catechumens in the Catacombs when the Church was hiding from deadly persecution 1900 years ago. Each is taught about each Sacxrament; about our sacred Liturgies and how to participate. The Easter Vigil when Our Lord Rose from the Dead has been the historic time for Becoming full Catholic, by knowldgeably receiving the Sacraments. Many I know who were Away from the Church for a long time are asked to Attend RCIA by their Pastors, if they have forgotten Basic Catholic Teachings, especially about the Sacraments. Confirmation is the Sacrament Described by St Paul to bring the Holy Spirit unto the young adult.
 
:rolleyes:
1ke said:
Um… this is a 7 year old thread.
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So? A proper, full Answer is helpful any time. Is the Bible obsolete? Is a Full Answer ever obsolete, if Correct? There are always new Viewers, like non-Catholics and those thinking of RCIA. Vivat Jesu
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
I might add to the other responses. RCIA is not something new it is RESTORED and has it’s roots in the first centuries of Christianity. Those who were not Christian were not even allowed to know where the Christians were meeting. Even more they were never allowed to join them until they proved by their lives, over the course of several years, that they had converted to Christianity and received Baptism at a minimum. Then they were allowed to join the Christian community were addmitted to the Holy Communion and later Confirmed by the Bishop.
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Was it that way because of the tremendous amount of persecution that was going on? One had to prove one was really interested in Christianity and not a mole of the persecutors?

When Paul first converted, the disciples were wary if not outright afraid of him, because they were afraid it was a trap.
 
TrueLight said:
Oh wow. I just noticed this. 😛
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You’ve got a lot to look forward to, True: The Consecration of bread and wine By Christ, through the Priest, is THE MOST SACRED Liturgy/part of the Catholic Church of 1.3 Billion Christ founded. We still call part of the Mass The Mass of the Catechumens, because only full Catholics could attend 1800 years ago: those Studying to be Catholic had to Leave. That is why Everyone Kneels During Consecration, except co-Celebrating Priests. Even Swiss Guards Kneel on the Right Knee during Consecration Only.
Watch the daily Conventual (Convent) Mass on EWTN: all Media sources. l’ve learned so much More about Christ’s ideal as He is Church since returning to The Church watching EWTN 20 years ago ❤️ I’m still learning, very much, from EWTN: The Beauty, idealism of The Church of Christ. (Am 70 yo student)
 
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