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Montie_Claunch
Guest
I am taking R.C.I.A. classes in sptember. Are there any classes to further my religous education?
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jimmy
Guest
Montie Claunch:
By the way, welcome to the Catholic Church.
Some churches offer Catechism classes. It is pretty much up to the individual parish. If your church does not offer a class, you can always read the Catechism and read the documents of the councils and read church fathers and other saints.
By the way, welcome to the Catholic Church.
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Lorrie
Guest
Great advice! There are so many wonderful books out there explaining Catholicism, most are quite easy to read too. A very informative book that I just finished reading is: “Catholic Rites & Wrongs” by Kay Lynn Isca. Its a great book about Catholic etiquette, explaining why we do what we do, etc.
Congratulations on deciding to become a Catholic.
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
Montie Claunch:
After RCIA you should spend a year meeting together as a Small Christian Community once or twice a month and doing some things around the parish as a group. Adult education should be offered on a regular basis.
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NotWorthy
Guest
- I wish there was a way to get Cradle Catholics to attend RCIA every 5-10 years. The average convert knows more about our faith than the average CC. The problem with my proposal is the people that need it the most are the ones who wouldn’t attend.
- Encourage your priest to help start one. Maybe find someone in your parish to volunteer. “No way, this could ever work”, you say? Well, it worked on me. Of course, my wife accuses me of being a yes-aholic.
- Our Diocese offers some classes in many different topics (called CEMI classes). Maybe yours does. Ours our held in various parishes throughout our diocese.
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SleepyGuy
Guest
Afterwards, you are in Mystagogia, or Mystic Googles if your like me and thats too hard to say. My experiance was just more RCIA type stuff. Breaking open the word. Usually the sponsers were not involved in this part. I hear that some parishes will do this for another year, mine was only 4 weeks.
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MaryAgnes
Guest
NotWorthy said:
What does “CEMI” stand for?
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NotWorthy
Guest
I knew someone was going to ask that and I didn’t know!!! But I found it on our diocese’ website.
******CATHOLIC EDUCATION And MINISTRY INSTITUTE
NotWorthy
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netmilsmom
Guest
Br. Rich SFO:
In America, we are all Americans, but some of us are African/American or Polish/American, etc. Why not be proud of being Catholic?
I hate to sound picky about this but how about a year meeting together as a Small CATHOLIC community. Afterall, most new Catholics were Christian before becoming Catholic and although we are all Christians, new Catholics are different than they used to be.
In America, we are all Americans, but some of us are African/American or Polish/American, etc. Why not be proud of being Catholic?
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hilde_the_dog
Guest
Once RCIA was over I felt thrown to the wolves. Our church offers various classes which I attended but most were serious theological classes on various papal documents. (Baptism by immersion) And I wound up reading on my own including books by Scott Hahn, Sri, Shea, Cavin as well as Chsterson, CS Lewis, Peter Kreeft and study Bibles. I must have bought and read 20 to 25 books.
And I wound up reading on my own including books by Scott Hahn, Sri, Shea, Cavin as well as Chsterson, CS Lewis, Peter Kreeft and study Bibles. I must have bought and read 20 to 25 books.
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puzzleannie
Guest
Montie Claunch:
If an astronaut tried to explain to you what space travel and space walks are like, you still would not fully understand his experience unless and until you yourself went into space. Initiation is the same way, you cannot fully understand or “rehearse” for initiation you have to experience it. Only after that can you fully appreciate the gifts you have received and what they mean to your life. Then you begin life-long learning and formation in being Catholic, being part of this Church, this Body of Christ.
the RCIA process does not end when you celebrate the sacraments of initiation at Easter. Mystagogia, or study of the mysteries, should be intensive during at least the 6 weeks following Easter, and ongoing for at least a year after your initiation. What classes and sessions with the Sunday lectionary are intended to do are to present the basic elements of the Creed you will be professing, the most basic theology of the sacraments you will be receiving and their origin in the Eucharist, and Catholic prayer, spirituality, moral life, and practice. Another imporant element is bringing you fully into parish life and Christian service, which is why you have a sponsor. Mystagogia, formation after initiation, is intended to help you answer the question “what just happened to me and what does it all mean?”
If an astronaut tried to explain to you what space travel and space walks are like, you still would not fully understand his experience unless and until you yourself went into space. Initiation is the same way, you cannot fully understand or “rehearse” for initiation you have to experience it. Only after that can you fully appreciate the gifts you have received and what they mean to your life. Then you begin life-long learning and formation in being Catholic, being part of this Church, this Body of Christ.
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Psalm45_9
Guest
Mine was only two weeks, because after that no one showed up. Big surprise there… For the ones that did show up, it showed me who really cared, and it was those who were just baptized. Last year we didn’t start RCIA until October, this year we’re starting in September on Our Lady of Sorrows.
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Lorrie
Guest
Psalm45:9:
The purpose of the RCIA is to educate oneself and to enter the Church, after one becomes a member their goal is met. Going to the classes after the fact is a choice, not a requirement. Saying that the people who did show up are the only ones who cared is quite judgmental. Going to the classes for 7 months can take its toll on people. Your anxious about entering the Church, one gets almost impatient. Once it finally happens its such a relief, and as I said, the goal is met.
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MrS
Guest
A number of years ago, I mentioned to our Bishop that I thought some (perhaps up to half) of those coming into the Church at Easter (1,200) would be gone by next Easter. He said no, it would be more than half…because we don’t follow up.
I agree with the poster who suggested an RCIA program for current Catholics on a regular basis… and Apologetics on a continuing basis.
I agree with the poster who suggested an RCIA program for current Catholics on a regular basis… and Apologetics on a continuing basis.
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puzzleannie
Guest
all I can tell you from experience is what we do in the last 3 parishes I belonged to, where we were active in RCIA as sponsors and/or catechists. While still in the catechumenate we involve adults, youth and children, appropriate to their age and interests in parish ministry in some way - Appalachian mission trips, social concerns, family life or other parish committee, youth group service projects, volunteering for any of a dozen ministries such as food bank, hot meal, clothing store, home repair, child care and so forth. That way they are already “plugged in” to the parish when they are initiated. This is where the role of the sponsor is so critical, our sponsors do much more than sitting with them during classes and other sessions, and are recruited precisely because they are active in various ways.
In all 3 parishes we also have robust adult education programs with offerings designed to attract the neophytes, who now are hungry for more knowledge, more spirituality, more bible study. They don’t have to wait, there is always some way they can continue studying and growing.
I might add that it is precisely because of the “new blood” always coming in that we seem not to lack for new catechists and volunteers, and these other ministries are so strong.
In all 3 parishes we also have robust adult education programs with offerings designed to attract the neophytes, who now are hungry for more knowledge, more spirituality, more bible study. They don’t have to wait, there is always some way they can continue studying and growing.
I might add that it is precisely because of the “new blood” always coming in that we seem not to lack for new catechists and volunteers, and these other ministries are so strong.
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TheTick
Guest
Catholic Distance University is one place new converts from any diocese can pursue continued systematic intellectual formation in the faith. In those diocese that partner with CDU, the continuing education courses are quite affordable; the graduate certificate in Sacred Scripture is a good for those coming from a strong background in the Bible and are looking to learn more about the Catholic approach to Scripture.
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PJM
Guest
LETS BREAK IT DOWN
What will happen?
Depends on the Parish program. Very often littel or nothing
What SHOULD happen?
The Church calls 'Mystogia" it’s additional and more in depth study of what we believe
What CAN HAPPEN:thumbsup:
I Offer a FREE Comprehensive course on our Catholic Faith founded on an RCIA curriculim BUT Widely expanded in topics and depth. The PROGRAM “BUILDING BLOCKS of OUR CATHOLIC FAITH” aims to explain not only what we believe BUT ALSO explain WHY we do and HOW we are able to believe it. I ALSO ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS PERSONALLY IN DEPTH.
I’m a retired experience, trained, tested and certified Teacher of our Faith now wrking from home.
IF your interested just send me a PRIVATE MESSAGE and I’ll get you the details.
God Bless,
Pat [PJM] here on the FORUM
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