Why are RCIA candidates asked to leave?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Steve_Andersen
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Steve_Andersen

Guest
I’ve started going to mass again after many years.

When I was a boy I don’t really remember anything about converts except in the stories the missionaries would tell about some remote part of the world

Pretty much everyone in my neighborhood was a Catholic
I think the only Protestants we had were in museums 😉

Anyway…I guess I’m living in more mixed areas now and ther are a lot more converts (or they seem to make a bigger deal about them) .I’ve noticed in church recently where they bring in the RCIA students/converts and ask the congregation to pray for them

Very nice, heart warming, all well and good
But THEN they are asked to leave before the offertory.

I was just wondering why?

I’ve brought non-catholic friends to church and as far as I know they’re welcome to sit through the whole celebration

Does anyone know the rationale behind asking converts to leave?

It’s not like we’re hiding the secret handshake or something
:confused:
 
Dear Steve, How wonderful that you’re attending Mass again! Welcome!

The practice of asking the catechumenates to leave the Mass before the offertory harks back to the earliest days of Christianity. It entails an acute recognition of the awesome and sacred mystery of the sacrifice of the Eucharist, which only the baptized were permitted to partake in as members of the Body of Christ.

It is my understanding that those preparing for baptism were not permitted to the Mass at all, at least for some centuries, (The letters from St. Cyril of Jerusalem (mid 4th century) contain lengthy, play-by-play descriptions of what happens at the Mass for catechumenates who could not yet participate) but perhaps they were simply asked to leave, as is the practice in many parishes today. The request illustrated the truth, so often forgotten today, that the Mass is no mere public spectacle but an intimate act of communion between Christ and His Bride the Church.

You mention that, “it’s not like we’re hiding a secret handshake, or anything.”’ In some ways, actually, we are. Well, not hiding it exactly, but keeping it intimately private, like the act of love between a husband and wife; no one outside the marriage may witness it.

Those in RCIA are simply not yet members of the Church, and may not yet partake in the immense privilege of the Eucharist. Asking them to leave might seem harsh, or at least strange, by modern standards, but it reinforces both to them and to the Church what an incredible gift and mystery is about to occur. When I was coming into the Church, I was aware of the practice of asking catechumenates to leave, but our parish did not do it. In a strange way, I was sorry. When understood, it can be a powerful teaching instrument for all.
 
Hmmmmmm

Thanks

I suppose that makes some kind of sense but it still seems strange

If a non Catholic is curious he can come and witness the whole Mass all he wants but the minute he is serious enough to attend classes we show him the door.
 
Steve Andersen:
Hmmmmmm

Thanks

I suppose that makes some kind of sense but it still seems strange

If a non Catholic is curious he can come and witness the whole Mass all he wants but the minute he is serious enough to attend classes we show him the door.
Click to expand...
In my church when the catechumanates leave they leave with their instructor and then engage in a faith formation class. They don’t just leave and go home dejected. I think the idea you are forming is that they are made to feel unwelcome. The ceremony that is performed before they leave is very welcoming and it is an opportunity for the faith community to welcome them and show them support in their journey.

I believe those who are seeking to convert only do this once a month (in my parish, anyway). On other sundays they probably go to mass but refrain from receiving communion.
 
I know they go off to class
I wasn’t making any assumptions about the feelings of the converts
I was just expressing the feelings I had as a congregant
You’re right it is a very welcoming ceremony and then they leave
I was just confused as to why

PS funny semi-related story
A Methodist friend came to church with me once. It was her first time at a Catholic mass. When the Priest asked everyone to extend their hand over the converts she said it reminded her of the Nazi salute. :eek:

She started attending Methodist bible study after that.
Lost that one. :o
 
Steve Andersen:
PS funny semi-related story
A Methodist friend came to church with me once. It was her first time at a Catholic mass. When the Priest asked everyone to extend their hand over the converts she said it reminded her of the Nazi salute. :eek:
Click to expand...
I have thought the same thing.🙂

I bend my elbow a little and hold my hand straight up instead of pointing forward so as not to look so much like the nazi salute.
 
Steve_Andersen said:
Hmmmmmm

Thanks

I suppose that makes some kind of sense but it still seems strange

If a non Catholic is curious he can come and witness the whole Mass all he wants but the minute he is serious enough to attend classes we show him the door.
Click to expand...
I am so glad that you have posted this where other Catholics and converts can see it! This is soooooo true. Having been raised Protestant, married now for 16 years to a Catholic, and having gone through RCIA, I completely agree with your observation! I didn’t become Catholic before marriage because it was made sooooo difficult. Years later, in trying to contact the parish about RCIA I endured a year of “I will have to get back to about when we can pull something together so that you can begin your Inquiry”. It was endless “I will get back to you on that”. I persevered, and although it was humbling, humiliating, and at times made me feel so rejected, it was well worth it to reach the finish line and be able to accept the Body and Blood of Christ.

I never understood how I was being treated and I never understood why the church wasn’t welcoming my family with open arms and hearts. From my point of view, having my husband, me, and my beautiful Catholic School educated kids, our volunteer hours, and our financial resources was not exactly a bad deal for the church.

Now, during Lent, I realize more than ever that even though I felt “scutinized” every time I got up and left, not only during what we are in now, the weeks of the Candidates and Catechumen undergoing their real weekly Scrutiny, that this was all a good lesson. I liken it to Jesus’s crucifixion and the stations of the cross.

Jesus in the Garden of Olives,
Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested,
Jesus is condemned by the Sanhedrin,
Jesus is denied by Peter,
Jesus is judged by Pilate,
Jesus is scourged and crowned with thorns,
Jesus takes up his cross,
Jesus is helped by the Cyrenean to carry his cross,
Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem,
Jesus is crucified,
Jesus promises his kingdom to the good thief,
Jesus and his mother and disciple,
Jesus dies on the cross,
Jesus is laid in the tomb.

Devotion, Humility, Faith, Sacrifice, and in the end, Redemption and Grace. The reward: full communion with the Catholic Church.

I recommend that anyone participating in RCIA stick with it, it is a cross to bear but in the end it is well worth carrying the weight. It’s not about the other parishioners, your RCIA instructors, or how anyone else sees you – this is between you and the Lord, so hold your head up high and fight for your rightful place in line to receive the Eucharist.

Peace,
 
Hi,

this practice is also followed in and Orthodox churches, though when there was a catechumate in an Eastern Catholic church I attended, the catechumate prayers were said after the homily, and then, though the catechumate didn’t have to leave, the announcement for non-Christians to leave was made anyway.

In the early church pagans outnumbered Christians, and if the Mass/Divine Liturgy had been open to them, it likely would have been profaned, and made fun of. Can you imagine people attending Mass/Divine Liturgy just for kicks?! Those who didn’t make it through the 3 year cathecumanate (sp?) for whatever reason, were unable to provide outsiders with distorted accounts of this most holy experience. That would’ve been disastrous for the early church.

Also,attending their first mass/divine liturgy after baptism and confirmation/chrismation was that much more precious and meaningful. I imagine it is kind of like celebrating Easter after a truly fruitful Lenten season. There’s such joy, and ,boy, do you appreciate eating that Easter meal!

When I find my information about this practice I’ll post again, because it is very profound and enlightening.

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Triana
 
cove said:
In my church when the catechumanates leave they leave with their instructor and then engage in a faith formation class. They don’t just leave and go home dejected. I think the idea you are forming is that they are made to feel unwelcome. The ceremony that is performed before they leave is very welcoming and it is an opportunity for the faith community to welcome them and show them support in their journey.

I believe those who are seeking to convert only do this once a month (in my parish, anyway). On other sundays they probably go to mass but refrain from receiving communion.
Click to expand...
A part of this process is intended to create a desire for the Eucharist in the Catechumenate. Thus, when they finally partake, the experience is more meaningful to them. It was for me.

Christ’s peace.
 
Steve_Andersen said:
I know they go off to class
I wasn’t making any assumptions about the feelings of the converts
I was just expressing the feelings I had as a congregant
You’re right it is a very welcoming ceremony and then they leave
I was just confused as to why
Click to expand...
Welcome Home 😃

And you should have feelings…

In the early days of the church the catechumens were allowed to participate in the Liturgy of hte Word but not the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The church was persecuted, one could not observe the Sacred Mysteries in full until they had been properly instructed and vetted lest they were a spy who would betray the community.

Today the "breaking open the Word’ or “Dismissal” or whatever your parish calls the practice is mulitfaceted … it is a reminder of our Christian Life and the importance of Eucharist in the life of the Christian [individualy and as a Community] as well as a time for the Catechumens / Elect to study the the Holy Scriptures in greater depth. They should long to partake of the Food from Heaven and we long to have them join us, becoming the Body of Christ …

When you consider that many Christians would stay home to watch the Super Bowl or just sleep in rather than come to Mass and join their Christian family at the Table of the Lord … it is necessary to be reminded just how important this Eucharist truly is …

We become complacent … would you came to Mass if it could cost you your very life? Would you profess Jesus if you would lose your job? I think of this when I see our Elect leave to study the scriptures and I pray for the Easter Liturgies that will welcome them home …

Participate in all of the Triduum Litergies if you have not had the chance … Holy Thursday, Good friday and the Easter Vigil … I am always amazed at the number who have never attended them … it will give you a whole new appreciation and view of the liturgical life of the Church …👍

Again Welcome:) Home
 
Steve_Andersen said:
I’ve started going to mass again after many years.

When I was a boy I don’t really remember anything about converts except in the stories the missionaries would tell about some remote part of the world

Pretty much everyone in my neighborhood was a Catholic
I think the only Protestants we had were in museums 😉

Anyway…I guess I’m living in more mixed areas now and ther are a lot more converts (or they seem to make a bigger deal about them) .I’ve noticed in church recently where they bring in the RCIA students/converts and ask the congregation to pray for them

Very nice, heart warming, all well and good
But THEN they are asked to leave before the offertory.

I was just wondering why?

I’ve brought non-catholic friends to church and as far as I know they’re welcome to sit through the whole celebration

Does anyone know the rationale behind asking converts to leave?

It’s not like we’re hiding the secret handshake or something
:confused:
Click to expand...
You may have jumped back into things just at the right moment to see this. I am in RCIA and have been going to mass, the whole thing, for over a year (not receiving Communion of course). It is only these last 3 weeks of Lent that we are getting scrutinized after the homily and then leaving for our very familiar RCIA classroom.

Makes me happy, as it means we’re this much closer to Easter Vigil. Yay!
 
maendem said:
Dear Steve, How wonderful that you’re attending Mass again! Welcome!

The practice of asking the catechumenates to leave the Mass before the offertory harks back to the earliest days of Christianity. It entails an acute recognition of the awesome and sacred mystery of the sacrifice of the Eucharist, which only the baptized were permitted to partake in as members of the Body of Christ.

It is my understanding that those preparing for baptism were not permitted to the Mass at all, at least for some centuries, (The letters from St. Cyril of Jerusalem (mid 4th century) contain lengthy, play-by-play descriptions of what happens at the Mass for catechumenates who could not yet participate) but perhaps they were simply asked to leave, as is the practice in many parishes today. The request illustrated the truth, so often forgotten today, that the Mass is no mere public spectacle but an intimate act of communion between Christ and His Bride the Church.

You mention that, “it’s not like we’re hiding a secret handshake, or anything.”’ In some ways, actually, we are. Well, not hiding it exactly, but keeping it intimately private, like the act of love between a husband and wife; no one outside the marriage may witness it.

Those in RCIA are simply not yet members of the Church, and may not yet partake in the immense privilege of the Eucharist. Asking them to leave might seem harsh, or at least strange, by modern standards, but it reinforces both to them and to the Church what an incredible gift and mystery is about to occur. When I was coming into the Church, I was aware of the practice of asking catechumenates to leave, but our parish did not do it. In a strange way, I was sorry. When understood, it can be a powerful teaching instrument for all.
Click to expand...
I’m in RCIA and it was never explained to me why we leave half way through, I thought and still think that it is so we can discuss the reading in the Breaking open the Word discussion, an environment where we can share, learn and grow in our faith. I never thought it was because we can’t receive the Eucharist, I know before I began my RCIA journey I attended Mass many times and never left early and would have been shocked to hear the priest ask all the Non Catholics to leave now because of the Eucharist. I understand why I can’t receive and I abide by this, and have never felt out of place staying in the pew or going up for a blessing.

God Bless
ww
 
waxwing said:
I’m in RCIA and it was never explained to me why we leave half way through, I thought and still think that it is so we can discuss the reading in the Breaking open the Word discussion, an environment where we can share, learn and grow in our faith. I never thought it was because we can’t receive the Eucharist, I know before I began my RCIA journey I attended Mass many times and never left early and would have been shocked to hear the priest ask all the Non Catholics to leave now because of the Eucharist. I understand why I can’t receive and I abide by this, and have never felt out of place staying in the pew or going up for a blessing.

God Bless
ww
Click to expand...
It’s NOT non-Catholics that are asked to leave. It’s non-Christians, those who are NOT Baptized!!!
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
It’s NOT non-Catholics that are asked to leave. It’s non-Christians, those who are NOT Baptized!!!
Click to expand...
Thanks Br. Rich, ok replace the word non-Catholic with non-Christian, I think my point remains the same.

In my RCIA class there are people who were baptized in another church…I think Methodist who leaves as well.

God Bless
ww
 
waxwing said:
Thanks Br. Rich, ok replace the word non-Catholic with non-Christian, I think my point remains the same.

In my RCIA class there are people who were baptized in another church…I think Methodist who leaves as well.

God Bless
ww
Click to expand...
Well that is why it gets confusing, the Baptized should not be leaveing.
 
Steve_Andersen said:
I know they go off to class
I wasn’t making any assumptions about the feelings of the converts
I was just expressing the feelings I had as a congregant
You’re right it is a very welcoming ceremony and then they leave
I was just confused as to why

PS funny semi-related story
A Methodist friend came to church with me once. It was her first time at a Catholic mass. When the Priest asked everyone to extend their hand over the converts she said it reminded her of the Nazi salute. :eek:

She started attending Methodist bible study after that.
Lost that one. :o
Click to expand...
Was it a charismatic congregation?

CDL
 
In my parish all the candidates and catechumens are dismissed. We go up and get blessed and file out to class and then socialize with each other and then with those leaving Mass at the regular time. We have just two more dismissals, and then we can stay.😃
It’s a good time to ask questions and learn more. I have seen the entire Mass. I look forward to staying (hence my ticker), but I have so many questions still.
 
I was a bapitzed Christian when I joined RCIA, though I had not been practicing Christianity for about 5 years.

In my parish, we were required to attend Breaking Open the Word every Sunday from October through Easter. We started breaking open the word after the Rite of Welcoming in October. And yes, candidates as well as the cathechumen were dismissed after the homily, even though the rite says baptized Christians should stay and participate in the mass.

We were required to come each Sunday or call the RCIA director with a valid excuse for not being there
 
I’ve never heard of anything like this at any of the Catholic services I’ve gone to. Is this a typical practice? Or maybe it’s that the Catholic services I’ve gone to most recently were held in my college’s chapel/church.

At the Orthodox church I attended for a year, the catechumens were asked to depart right before the equivalent of the offertory. However, no catechumens were actually expected to leave – it was in there because it had been in there for a long time, and when my family started leaving we had concerned church members telling us we really didn’t have to leave…
 
I didn’t read the entire thread but just so you know, not all churches make the candidates & catechumens leave. Our parish does not. I personally think it is more beneficial to stay the entire time. But I’m not the boss!!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top