What to expect at RCIA classes?

[mhevans]

Hello everyone-

I started my RCIA classes two nights ago and am VERY excited about going. It seems as though my experience was a little different than everyone else who has posted so far. My class has set aside the first few classes as informal Q&A sessions. After introductions, they started fielding questions from everyone there and asked everyone to also write down any questions about becoming Catholic and the Church.

The next few weeks will be all about answering our questions, which I think is a great idea. Especially for me since I have only been attending Mass for a month and have a lot to learn.

Cheers!
Michael

 

[KarenElissa]

So my question is to you guys is, what are the most important things she should know and learn at 1st?

And then what should she progress to after that, then week by week?

We would be very grateful & appreciated it if someone could help us with this and set us out a little guide/programme so we can use at our classes

Thanks & God Bless.

Tony.

Trying to be positive here, the first part of RCIA is supposed to be inquiry, a more informal period guided by the questions the group has and that kind of stuff. Maybe that is what they are aiming for here, although it seems the execution isn’t quite the best.

Between the Rite of Acceptance and the Rite of Election is supposed to be the major period of catechesis, of learning doctrine and stuff like that. Hopefully it will become a bit more structured by then, if not before.

 

[Alindawyl]

Trying to be positive here, the first part of RCIA is supposed to be inquiry, a more informal period guided by the questions the group has and that kind of stuff. Maybe that is what they are aiming for here, although it seems the execution isn’t quite the best.

Between the Rite of Acceptance and the Rite of Election is supposed to be the major period of catechesis, of learning doctrine and stuff like that. Hopefully it will become a bit more structured by then, if not before.

Our deacon here likes to jump into organized topics in the second session, but that’s mainly to assist people in thinking about stuff and formulating their questions. We expect and welcome questions on a variety of topics each week as things progress.

Normally we have 30-45 minutes or so of formal lecturing each week on that topic, followed by a break, followed by splitting up into groups for discussion of the topic or anything else folks want to talk about, ending with reforming the class and fielding any questions unable to be answered in group or that they would prefer to present to the class as a whole. Some weeks the topic is covered quickly and we end up talking about other stuff and some weeks we never leave the topic. Depends what people want to talk about.

We start with more general topics up front like the Trinity, sin and prayer. The deeper and more specifically Catholic doctrines don’t begin until after Thanksgiving.

 

[PJM]

=Alindawyl;5712873]Our deacon here likes to jump into organized topics in the second session, but that’s mainly to assist people in thinking about stuff and formulating their questions. We expect and welcome questions on a variety of topics each week as things progress.

Normally we have 30-45 minutes or so of formal lecturing each week on that topic, followed by a break, followed by splitting up into groups for discussion of the topic or anything else folks want to talk about, ending with reforming the class and fielding any questions unable to be answered in group or that they would prefer to present to the class as a whole. Some weeks the topic is covered quickly and we end up talking about other stuff and some weeks we never leave the topic. Depends what people want to talk about.

We start with more general topics up front like the Trinity, sin and prayer. The deeper and more specifically Catholic doctrines don’t begin until after Thanksgiving.

Yea once you get the easy stuff out of the way like the Trinity, sin and prayer the rest is all down hill right?

I’m kidding, I’ve taught RCIA for three years and Adult Ed., 1and CCD for many years prior to that.

Have a plan and work it:thumbsup:

But a sugestion [and that is all that it is] is to get some information about who and what the CC is, with a BIT of history to kinda set a foundation. Marks of the Church and the like?

Depending on how much detail your giving, you’re starting with three Profound topics.

Love and prayers,

 

[Shepherdsbush1]

Ive been attending Mass since June & am starting RCIA classes next week. Looking forward to it but also a little nervous. Will let you all know how it goes.

 

[PJM]

=Shepherdsbush1;8337222]Ive been attending Mass since June & am starting RCIA classes next week. Looking forward to it but also a little nervous. Will let you all know how it goes.

Send me a Private Message if there are any questions you’d like more information on.

God Bless you,

Pat

PJM on this Forum

 

[graceandfaith]

I start RCIA this upcoming Sunday. I’m very excited and really feel like I’ve found my way home. Good luck! To answer your question, I don’t know what to expect…we’re in the same boat.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

RCIA went great! I really enjoyed it. We talked about the bible tonight and some introductory stuff. As for the things I am not sure of yet, I will cross those bridges when I get there, I have decided. Thanks for the replies!

I too had questions when I started RCIA…not on most of the major dogma’s of the church but mostly on disciplines of the church. But at the time I wasn’t too sure about praying to saints or Mary. Learning that it’s really asking saints to pray for us made a difference.

I just decided to go at it with an open mind and heart. I prayed for God to show me what He wanted me to learn. In the end it all turned out fine.

Easter Vigil (confirmation) was wonderful. Having the Church and her sacraments is completely wonderful…it’s what I think of when I need to calm down sometimes.

May God Bless you on your journey!

 

[Desertmesa]

What to expect at RCIA classes? We expected alot, but ended up viewing a somewhat neo-pagan ritual the first night, with some prayer’s thrown in here and there.
Wrote a interesting, and very true description about that evening class. Posted it in the Traditional forum arena a few day’s ago, so as to get some feedback and also to let people know that there are a few, if not many RCIA classes, around the country that are teaching these classes that are full of abomination’s against the Holy Catholic Church. About 30+ good people responded to this sharing thread, and over 600 viewed it.
Well, this morning we noticed that the thread I started has been pulled and is gone.
It was written and posted in order to share in a good way, how even Traditional Catholic’s, or just good folks, can perhaps attend an RCIA class expecting some very exceptional teaching’s, and instead experience very strange new-age prose.
As a “newbie” on here, I find it is wise to not take precious time to write and post a new thread. Well maybe in a more non-chalant arena on these forums. God Bless…Over and out.

 

[Desertmesa]

We expected a beautiful journey within our RCIA class to be held at the Cathedral. Little did we know of what was/is awaiting unsuspecting pupil’s.
So, my thread on that experience has been pulled as of midnite last nite. It was a great thread, written in truth to share with many to beware.
Because I echoed what Wisdom Seeker had stated in a good way on my thread, about which type of Mass to attend instead, I was given an infraction for proselytizing on my thread. All I did actually was to repeat his words in agreement to attending a good parish church and a particular Mass to take part in.
Goodbye everyone. This Catholic GrandMother is going to try to find not only another parish, but a new forum. I tried here, but feel targeted now.
I wish everyone who is attending an RCIA class a great, and beautiful experience.

 

[rebecca123]

I see the thread you posted on your first RCIA experience was gone. Probably not the best idea to do. That type of thing would make people inquiring into the RCC very suspicious indeed. Why would there need to be secrets? It was a good thread, I hope you find a more suitable class. I’m sure your experience is not all that uncommon.

 

[nickybr38]

My RCIA class consisted of touchy feely ‘how does God make you feel’ stuff. It felt like a colossal waste of time. I dreaded going every week but I stuck with it because I loved the Church too much to walk away (yes, I loved the Church BEFORE taking RCIA, which I think was a prerequisite because RCIA would have turned me away from the Church in a second).

I think RCIA classes are like russian roulette… you’ll either get a fantastic result or you’ll get a terrible result… Just depends on the diocese. Whatever you get I would suggest sticking with it. The pay off is sweet even if the labor is difficult.

Also, I encourage ANYONE taking RCIA class to do study on the side of their own.