What's RCIA Like?

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MrZetterlund

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What is RCIA and what is it like? What do you go through, what do they teach you?
 
The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults is quite fun. Well, it was at my parish. Basically, you learn what beliefs make a Catholic Catholic. Each class period usually has a different theme. We run ours for a school year, with the actual joining of the Church at Easter Vigil.
We have silly little quizzes that our pastor writes (and puts fake answers like Lady Gaga and Ke$ha on). We also have two Catholic Game Show Nights - one before Christmas and one right before Easter. Those get crazy.
But it really depends on the parish and who teaches it. Like I said, our pastor did most of it, with others stepping in from time to time in order to cover things like history, NFP and stuff.
 
TrueLight said:
I see you’re a recent convert. Did you not go through RCIA? Did you have personal instruction?
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No, I don’t really know what to do to enroll in it. I’m a “convert” in doctrine and belief since I read a great deal about the history, beliefs and practices about the Church and ended up siding with it (go figure.)
MissClaire said:
The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults is quite fun. Well, it was at my parish. Basically, you learn what beliefs make a Catholic Catholic. Each class period usually has a different theme. We run ours for a school year, with the actual joining of the Church at Easter Vigil.
We have silly little quizzes that our pastor writes (and puts fake answers like Lady Gaga and Ke$ha on). We also have two Catholic Game Show Nights - one before Christmas and one right before Easter. Those get crazy.
But it really depends on the parish and who teaches it. Like I said, our pastor did most of it, with others stepping in from time to time in order to cover things like history, NFP and stuff.
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I was hoping maybe they’d explain everything in the Mass to me. For example, when the priest says “Let us call to mind our sins” I don’t feel like I’m given enough time to call into mind ALL my sins. -_-
 
Just approach the Priest after Mass, tell him you want to become a Catholic and he will know what you need to do. I think some classes have already started, mines not starting until October.
 
asd72 said:
Just approach the Priest after Mass, tell him you want to become a Catholic and he will know what you need to do. I think some classes have already started, mines not starting until October.
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Well dang. Maybe I should change my religion status to “becoming Catholic” -_-
Which I dont wanna do, because then some people are like “Why aren’t you Catholic yet???” 😮
 
MrZetterlund said:
Well dang. Maybe I should change my religion status to “becoming Catholic” -_-
Which I dont wanna do, because then some people are like “Why aren’t you Catholic yet???” 😮
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Well, you didn’t actually convert yet. Are you receiving communion?
 
MrZetterlund said:
Yes :q
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Have you been baptized? As a protestant?

A potential convert doesn’t just just decide to start taking communion. You have to be received into the church.

That is why I am still suffering even though I have been attending mass at least 3x a week and living my life as a Catholic, for almost 6 months.
 
TrueLight said:
Have you been baptized? As a protestant?

A potential convert doesn’t just just decide to start taking communion. You have to be received into the church.

That is why I am still suffering even though I have been attending mass at least 3x a week and living my life as a Catholic, for almost 6 months.
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Huh??? Yeah, I’m baptized. As a Christian, not a Protestant I prefer to believe. :confused:
Why doesn’t anyone tell me these things??? Xo
 
MrZetterlund said:
What is RCIA and what is it like? What do you go through, what do they teach you?
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I audited a few RCIA classes around March when I was considering doing RCIA this September.

The RCIA instructor was pretty cool. He had a relaxed teaching style and the class used Peter Kreeft’s “Catholic Christianity”. He referred to both the Church Fathers and sacred scripture during the class.

I was impressed that one of the topics they covered was contraception and NFP because some parishes are so liberal they don’t even go into that topic because they don’t believe the Church’s teaching.

There seemed to be a great sense of community. There were over 30 catechumens/candidates and they would go out for brunch ever now and then.

As it turns out, I’m getting private instruction at another parish, so I am not going to do that RCIA class.
 
MrZetterlund said:
Huh??? Yeah, I’m baptized. As a Christian, not a Protestant I prefer to believe. :confused:
Why doesn’t anyone tell me these things??? Xo
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If you were baptized validly as a non-Catholic, you have to do a first confession and then receive communion. This only comes after you have either gone through RCIA and then confirmation, or in some parishes, you get private instruction from a priest or deacon and when they feel you are ready, you do your first confession and then first communion.

It’s a process.

I suggest you speak to a priest at your parish immediately.
 
TrueLight said:
I audited a few RCIA classes around March when I was considering doing RCIA this September.

The RCIA instructor was pretty cool. He had a relaxed teaching style and the class used Peter Kreeft’s “Catholic Christianity”. He referred to both the Church Fathers and sacred scripture during the class.

I was impressed that one of the topics they covered was contraception and NFP because some parishes are so liberal they don’t even go into that topic because they don’t believe the Church’s teaching.

There seemed to be a great sense of community. There were over 30 catechumens/candidates and they would go out for brunch ever now and then.

As it turns out, I’m getting private instruction at another parish, so I am not going to do that RCIA class.
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So they’re basically a series of lectures? How long do they last? :confused:
 
TrueLight said:
If you were baptized validly as a non-Catholic, you have to do a first confession and then receive communion. This only comes after you have either gone through RCIA and then confirmation, or in some parishes, you get private instruction from a priest or deacon and when they feel you are ready, you do your first confession and then first communion.

It’s a process.

I suggest you speak to a priest at your parish.
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Alrighty well I guess it’s time to get ahold of Father K. -_-
 
Instead of asking each and every question here, go to the parish you attend, and ask them to enroll you in RCIA.

There, you will get the answers to your questions, and the many other questions you may come up with.

If you resist, like you appear to be doing here, it makes one wonder if you are REALLY a convert, or possibly someone seeking to cause questions to arise in the minds of others.

Personally, I converted at the age of 9, but was not baptized until I turned 13 (the church I was raised in did not believe in infant baptism).

Go to your parish, see the Priest there and you will get the answers you seek.
 
The_Old_Medic said:
Instead of asking each and every question here, go to the parish you attend, and ask them to enroll you in RCIA.

There, you will get the answers to your questions, and the many other questions you may come up with.

If you resist, like you appear to be doing here, it makes one wonder if you are REALLY a convert, or possibly someone seeking to cause questions to arise in the minds of others.
Personally, I converted at the age of 9, but was not baptized until I turned 13 (the church I was raised in did not believe in infant baptism).

Go to your parish, see the Priest there and you will get the answers you seek.
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:mad: I’m no cradle-Catholic, I don’t know all this stuff and want to know what to expect before I stick my foot in the door!! I have many questions, obviously, because I’m NEW to this… :mad:
TrueLight said:
Have you also been to confession?
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No, to be honest, all of this sort of scares me. As a former Baptist, we focused so much more on personal conversion and turning-of-the-soul to Jesus Christ. The RCC is more of a community than Baptists are…
 
MrZetterlund said:
:mad: I’m no cradle-Catholic, I don’t know all this stuff and want to know what to expect before I stick my foot in the door!! I have many questions, obviously, because I’m NEW to this… :mad:

No, to be honest, all of this sort of scares me. As a former Baptist, we focused so much more on personal conversion and turning-of-the-soul to Jesus Christ. The RCC is more of a community than Baptists are…
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No, I just wanted to know if you had done that as well, because you shouldn’t.

You have been given some great links. Also, I would suggest doing a search for RCIA on this website. You will learn a lot about the process.

Speak to your pastor as soon as possible and I would refrain from receiving communion.
 
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