What is way to find the best RCIA program in your area?

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Tommy999

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Hello,
I am a non-Catholic who doesn’t know many Catholics in my area, although I have a few Catholic friends at work. I am thinking about joining RCIA when it starts up again in the summer or fall but I don’t know which parishes have a reputation for a good RCIA program and which ones don’t. I’ve heard many stories of how a good RCIA program can make all the difference to help prepare someone for the Catholic faith and I have lots of questions, so I’d like your advice.

Background info:
I live in a metropolitan area that has over 15 parishes to choose from.
 
The best thing is to simply call your closest parish.

One thing about the Catholic Church is that it is highly organized. Wherever you live, you are assigned to a parish. (Sort of like no matter where you live in the US, you are assigned to a state.) If your home is physically located inside the boundaries of California, then you are a resident of California no matter what.

Similarly, if your home is physically located within certain boundaries, you belong to Parish A no matter what. So that’s going to be the best place to start.

Welcome home!
 
SuscipeMeDomine said:
The best thing is to simply call your closest parish.

One thing about the Catholic Church is that it is highly organized. Wherever you live, you are assigned to a parish. (Sort of like no matter where you live in the US, you are assigned to a state.) If your home is physically located inside the boundaries of California, then you are a resident of California no matter what.

Similarly, if your home is physically located within certain boundaries, you belong to Parish A no matter what. So that’s going to be the best place to start.

Welcome home!
Click to expand...
Hi SuscipeMeDomine,
What happens if that parish doesn’t have a reputation for having a good RCIA program but another parish does? Are you still bound to attend the closest one? I’m not even sure I’m going to be a Catholic yet but I am thinking about attending RCIA.

The closest parish to my home is a small one. However, there is a cathedral within a 10-15 minute drive and some other larger parishes within about the same amount of driving distance. I attended Mass once at one of these parishes where my friend at work attends, but I have no idea how their RCIA program is, either. I was just curious if there is an objective way to tell which ones have the best reputation. .
 
Since I’m an RCIA director I’d have an easy time saying my parish does everything right and other parishes, well, they’re not as good. But realistically, I don’t think there’s a good way of evaluating RCIA programs. The real question is whether they are in synch with the Church and I don’t know how you could know that in advance.

One thing I would stress is something that others on CAF will dismiss, and that is the idea that RCIA is not primarily a series of classes where you are either subjected to a rigorous education or not. Catechesis – education – is only one factor in RCIA. The other three – and they are also vital! – are formation in and through the Christian community, formation in liturgical prayer, and formation in apostolic service and witness. A good RCIA program should be incorporating catechumens and candidates into the parish community, helping them find ways of serving the larger community, and developing a love for liturgy.

I don’t know if I’m helping any…
 
SuscipeMeDomine said:
Since I’m an RCIA director I’d have an easy time saying my parish does everything right and other parishes, well, they’re not as good. But realistically, I don’t think there’s a good way of evaluating RCIA programs. The real question is whether they are in synch with the Church and I don’t know how you could know that in advance.

One thing I would stress is something that others on CAF will dismiss, and that is the idea that RCIA is not primarily a series of classes where you are either subjected to a rigorous education or not. Catechesis – education – is only one factor in RCIA. The other three – and they are also vital! – are formation in and through the Christian community, formation in liturgical prayer, and formation in apostolic service and witness. A good RCIA program should be incorporating catechumens and candidates into the parish community, helping them find ways of serving the larger community, and developing a love for liturgy.

I don’t know if I’m helping any…
Click to expand...
I think I understand what you are saying, if you are saying that there is more to RCIA than just learning Catholic beliefs in an educational sense. It also involves plugging in and becoming a part of that local parish community, serving and being served, etc. Correct me if I am wrong on that.
 
Tommy999 said:
Hello,
I am a non-Catholic who doesn’t know many Catholics in my area, although I have a few Catholic friends at work. I am thinking about joining RCIA when it starts up again in the summer or fall but I don’t know which parishes have a reputation for a good RCIA program and which ones don’t. I’ve heard many stories of how a good RCIA program can make all the difference to help prepare someone for the Catholic faith and I have lots of questions, so I’d like your advice.

Background info:
I live in a metropolitan area that has over 15 parishes to choose from.
Click to expand...
Hi Tommy,
I noticed you are from Oklahoma - The state with the great state song. 👍
The FSSP is noted for its adherence to the magisterium and our priest does individual convert instruction. I checked the FSSP website and saw that they have two parishes in your state (one in the diocese of Oklahoma City and the other in the diocese of Tulsa).
I’m posting a contact link below and you might wish to reach out to one of the priests and inquire about individual instruction.

May God bless you.
jt

fssp.com/press/locations/
 
Tommy999 said:
Hello,
I am a non-Catholic who doesn’t know many Catholics in my area, although I have a few Catholic friends at work. I am thinking about joining RCIA when it starts up again in the summer or fall but I don’t know which parishes have a reputation for a good RCIA program and which ones don’t. I’ve heard many stories of how a good RCIA program can make all the difference to help prepare someone for the Catholic faith and I have lots of questions, so I’d like your advice.
Click to expand...
Good suggestion here about checking out the parish’s website and bulletin to get an idea of the parish. This was put together by Devin Rose who is a convert to the Catholic Faith himself.

devinrose.heroicvirtuecreations.com/blog/2012/01/26/tips-for-inquiring-protestants-on-choosing-a-parish-and-rcia-program/
 
Tommy999 said:
I think I understand what you are saying, if you are saying that there is more to RCIA than just learning Catholic beliefs in an educational sense. It also involves plugging in and becoming a part of that local parish community, serving and being served, etc. Correct me if I am wrong on that.
Click to expand...
That’s it exactly! It’s about learning to think in a Catholic way and view the world through a Catholic lens. The educational aspect should be a lifelong pursuit – in my mind, you are ALWAYS learning.

And just to add a bit to Jeannetherese’s post, the FSSP are Catholics who are totally in line with the Pope who use the older form of the Mass. If your preference is for what is called the extraordinary form – the pre-Vatican II form all in Latin – they would be the people to call. If your preference is for the ordinary form – the post-Vatican II form usually in the vernacular – you want your local parish.
 
jeannetherese said:
Hi Tommy,
I noticed you are from Oklahoma - The state with the great state song. 👍
The FSSP is noted for its adherence to the magisterium and our priest does individual convert instruction. I checked the FSSP website and saw that they have two parishes in your state (one in the diocese of Oklahoma City and the other in the diocese of Tulsa).
I’m posting a contact link below and you might wish to reach out to one of the priests and inquire about individual instruction.

May God bless you.
jt

fssp.com/press/locations/
Click to expand...
Thanks, jeannetherese. I’m more interested at this point with being part of a group but I will keep that in mind if I change my mind and prefer individual instruction.
 
Hi,
I just went through RCIA, I contacted the diocese and talked to the director of Catechisis. I’m lucky enough to be in a town that has a diocese. She pulled together all the RCIA groups in the area (like meeting times and things of that nature) and we decided together which one best fit my schedule.

Hope this helps,
TXDEB
 
texasdebutante said:
Hi,
I just went through RCIA, I contacted the diocese and talked to the director of Catechisis. I’m lucky enough to be in a town that has a diocese. She pulled together all the RCIA groups in the area (like meeting times and things of that nature) and we decided together which one best fit my schedule.

Hope this helps,
TXDEB
Click to expand...
Thanks, texasdebutante. Nice to know that option exists and that it worked for you.
 
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