Why is RCIA Only Offered Once/Year?

[JRKH]

JRHK, I think the two points above is where there is contention for me. RCIA is not an education program. It should be about conversion. When I started RCIA it was in late October and I almost didn’t “get in” because they had already performed the Rite of Welcome. I had a very quick conversion (too the point of a sense of physical shock/violence). God wanted me in the Church; now. I don’t know why, but I certainly know what was written in my heart. When I talked to the RE Director I told them that I wanted to go to confession and asked if I could pray in the Adoration chapel. The answer: “no, not until we get closer to Easter.” If you have someone that walks in and professes the faith and is burning for the sacraments, then to what purpose should the sacraments be withheld? Luckily I found another parish in the neighboring diocese that understood that God calls us each in our own time.

Faith is not an education process. Education informs faith, but it does not produce faith. That is the biggest problem with RCIA being under the religious education banner; it’s treated like school. My take on it was that when the Lord calls my job was to help the person understand the call, not to say jump through hoop x, y, z. We are not talking about getting an engineering degree, we are talking about people answering the call in their heart. We had some people that were in RCIA for 6 weeks and others that were there for 4 years. We made sure they understood the pillars of the faith and could fully embrace the truth when they said “I believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches, and proclaims to be revealed by God.” That is not to say they got a theology degree, but that they understood the non-negotiables (i.e. birth control, marriage, the Eucharist, Sunday obligations, etc. [the “sticking points” for many both in and out of the Church]). We covered “advanced topics” as part of on going mystagogy (most continued meeting with us and new candidates for 6 - 18 months after they were received). For us confirmation and the eucharist were not the destination, but the begining of the journey.

What was important was that they followed the Lords schedule for them, not something lain out in a lesson plan. The result; Of the 18 people that were there when I started in the second parish I know at least 12 that still regularly attend mass after 5 years. The first parish had 90 people and expected that less than a third would still be there in 3 years. Now which route seems to have produces better results?

Many good points in the above. Thanks for posting it.

You are right. My comparison of the two things contains flaws and I probably didn’t express it very well either. That sometimes happens with my thoughts…

My main point that I was trying to express is that, a person who is seeking something far less (an engineering degree for example) is willing to conform to the necessary requirements of the “system”, but those who are seeking the “pearl of great price” are not willing to wait just a bit??

That said, I agree wholeheartedly with your post and perhaps there are things that should be changed.
Also, as your own experience shows, the process can vary from place to place. I’m also aware that in some instances, where a person has already done a lot of study or perhaps is a trained minister who is converting, the RCIA process is waived…The priest meets with them a few times and then they are received into the Church.

In the end though I think what would help the process the most is the active involvement of the friend, or friends of the person inquiring. These people should be willing and available to do more than just point somebody at RCIA. They should be right there. Talking, reading, studying, answering questions etc.

Anyway - just my 2cents worth…

Peace
James

 

[JRKH]

I’m surprised that someone would be discouraged from going to adoration.

Me too - that seems weird on the face of it…

Peace
James

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Personally, I cannot imagine running RCIA on an academic year model. Someone who inquires in January shouldn’t be told to wait until September. At the same time, I can understand people feeling like they need a break sometimes.

If the formal program doesn’t start until the Fall, there should be something in place for people who inquire before then. One suggestion would be to have faithful Catholics ready to meet informally with inquirers.

What if someone showed up in January, had an initial interview with the RCIA director, and then was referred to Mary or Sally or Bob?

Mary and the inquirer could be introduced and could start to get together occasionally, maybe every couple of weeks over coffee. They could talk about how things are going and the inquirer could ask questions about the faith. Mary might invite the inquirer to join her rosary praying group on Wednesday and see what it’s like, or to come to the park and offer sandwiches to the homeless on Saturday. The inquirer might also want to attend the Mass Mary normally attends so that there will be someone familiar to sit with.

Those months from January to September would be filled with learning about the Catholic faith in a very informal way and would introduce the inquirer to the parish.

In my parish we have inquiry year round (just as we have the catechumenate year round), so if I meet with someone today I can invite them to start right away. But if I couldn’t offer it that way, I’d be looking for a few people who could be those initial contacts.

 

[friendlymomma]

I would like to start RCIA much sooner. But the Catholic Church is not going to lose me, unless my Protestant family kidnaps me and locks me up. I have already been studying my heart out and am afraid my husband and I will know more than the RCIA director. (Praying for a good, orthodox RCIA!)
I am impatient to join at Easter. Almost a whole year away!
People on the forums say “Come on in!” and I want to yell back, “I can’t! Ya’ll won’t let me!” But I mean that in a light-hearted way.
I do wish we had the sacraments available to us now though, as my husband and I are going through a very tough time.
I just trust that since that is the way it is, that God will bring about some benefits to the long wait. If anyone reading this would be willing to pray for us, I would much appreciate it!

 

[friendlymomma]

Also I would like to say that I agree with “True Light.”

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I would like to start RCIA much sooner. But the Catholic Church is not going to lose me, unless my Protestant family kidnaps me and locks me up. I have already been studying my heart out and am afraid my husband and I will know more than the RCIA director. (Praying for a good, orthodox RCIA!)
I am impatient to join at Easter. Almost a whole year away!
People on the forums say “Come on in!” and I want to yell back, “I can’t! Ya’ll won’t let me!” But I mean that in a light-hearted way.
I do wish we had the sacraments available to us now though, as my husband and I are going through a very tough time.
I just trust that since that is the way it is, that God will bring about some benefits to the long wait. If anyone reading this would be willing to pray for us, I would much appreciate it!

Praying for you! Hope you receive peace from simply attending Mass and praying at the tabernacle.

 

[Melchior_1]

Protestants with a valid Baptism (ie; Anglicans, Lutherans) technically don’t even need to take RCIA. RCIA is designed for people who are hitting for the cycle (Baptism, Confirmation, First Eucharist, and prepping them for what to expect the first time they hit the Sin Bin).

In the States (and Canada), people figured it would be easier to have those who are “just” getting Confirmed take RCIA, so there wasn’t a need to duplicate the teaching. A lot of times it was stuff they needed to learn anyway, right?

The “one size fits all” model doesn’t work well sometimes, and I do wish people were less rigid with some of these things. We experienced that with my wife, who was a hardcore non-denominational Christian for 8 or 9 years. When she wanted to convert, we went to one church in December, and they turned us away. She was DEVASTATED, saying to me this was just like something that happened in her Catholic high school. Her non-denominational mother was VERY not impressed.

I told the both of them this; “I’ve been involved in Catholic ministry for (at the time) four years in this city, I know some people. This is going to get done. You’ve been a Christian for this long, so this isn’t rocket science. You are not getting baptized, you are making a profession of faith proclaiming you believe in Catholicism. We’re going to find someone to do this, even if we need to call my retired Uncle from the Diocese of Pembroke and get him involved. This is going to happen”.

I talked to our parish priest, who referred me to another parish. I talked to the Deacon there, he asked two or three questions and said “start coming in January, we’re starting the instruction/teaching on the Sacraments then. We’re going through the Apostles Creed right now and the Bible, but you have that covered obviously”.

Good man, Deacon Jeff. Good, smart man. My wife got confirmed a few months later. Five years later, I’m STILL doing youth ministry (nine years and still going!), including running RCIA for youth and young adults at my parish. I’ve been given a large degree of flexibility when it comes to scheduling the program, and determining how long the program is. A 25 year old coming from a traditional Anglican parish will not receive the same instruction as a 15 year old who never went to church in their lives until five months previous.

EDIT: My Uncle is a retired Priest, by the way. We would have went to him and seen if he knew people within his Diocese who could have helped.

 

[TrueLight]

Protestants with a valid Baptism (ie; Anglicans, Lutherans) technically don’t even need to take RCIA. RCIA is designed for people who are hitting for the cycle (Baptism, Confirmation, First Eucharist, and prepping them for what to expect the first time they hit the Sin Bin).

In the States (and Canada), people figured it would be easier to have those who are “just” getting Confirmed take RCIA, so there wasn’t a need to duplicate the teaching. A lot of times it was stuff they needed to learn anyway, right?

The “one size fits all” model doesn’t work well sometimes, and I do wish people were less rigid with some of these things. We experienced that with my wife, who was a hardcore non-denominational Christian for 8 or 9 years. When she wanted to convert, we went to one church in December, and they turned us away. She was DEVASTATED, saying to me this was just like something that happened in her Catholic high school. Her non-denominational mother was VERY not impressed.

I told the both of them this; “I’ve been involved in Catholic ministry for (at the time) four years in this city, I know some people. This is going to get done. You’ve been a Christian for this long, so this isn’t rocket science. You are not getting baptized, you are making a profession of faith proclaiming you believe in Catholicism. We’re going to find someone to do this, even if we need to call my retired Uncle from the Diocese of Pembroke and get him involved. This is going to happen”.

I talked to our parish priest, who referred me to another parish. I talked to the Deacon there, he asked two or three questions and said “start coming in January, we’re starting the instruction/teaching on the Sacraments then. We’re going through the Apostles Creed right now and the Bible, but you have that covered obviously”.

Good man, Deacon Jeff. Good, smart man. My wife got confirmed a few months later. Five years later, I’m STILL doing youth ministry (nine years and still going!), including running RCIA for youth and young adults at my parish. I’ve been given a large degree of flexibility when it comes to scheduling the program, and determining how long the program is. A 25 year old coming from a traditional Anglican parish will not receive the same instruction as a 15 year old who never went to church in their lives until five months previous.

Kudos to you and your wife for persevering!

 

[Melchior_1]

Kudos to you and your wife for persevering!

Thank you! But it’s all due to the Grace of God, my friend. Grace of God. She was hysterically crying over it at the time, and there’s fewer things that hurts a man when he sees the woman he’s going to marry breaks down like that.

We did it though, and it certainly impacts how we run our program. We try to avoid what happened with her, so we do what we can to make things work. If we have to meet more than once a week with someone, we’ll do that too.

That’s the benefit of educated laypeople with proper formation doing RCIA - we have flexibility Deacons and Priests may not have when it comes to scheduling.

 

[Bix]

I remember you telling me this when I was going through the process, but I had checked with three churches and none of them made special provisions for baptized Christians at all. I wish they had.

I just want to comment on some of the posts I see on here expressing agreement with the length of RCIA or expressing support for RCIA hard workers.

I don’t think the OP is commenting on that. The OP appears to be discussing the lag time between once someone wants to convert and when they are able to start RCIA or get any type of support from other Catholics (because of course God is present).

That lag time can cause some too falter and it doesn’t mean the person has to be undecided to falter. The Enemy is alive and well and looks for all sorts of openings.

I believe if someone expresses interest in converting, there should be some sort of support system in place, even if it means volunteers who will sort of “adopt” the person and check on them or invite them to parish events, special masses etc.

I would certainly volunteer for something like that.

So, true. This is what I’m referring to.

 

[Bix]

Have you started doing those things at your parish? Can you give more examples of what you mean? Many parishes do have Bible studies, presentations by various groups, and other things like that for folks to join even before they are official Catholics. However, the person asking has to do a little work too and not expect everything to be arranged for their convenience.

I guess the biggest problem … Or issue is in an area with so few Catholics, many people aren’t familiar with RCIA and if they do feel called to the Catholic church it is very difficult if they don’t know or live near other Catholics. So, it can very much feel very … I don’t really know what to type as I’m concerned someone could take it the wrong way.

If someone calls during a time with no RCIA, we need other options or help in place. That would mean more volunteers as I’m sure many are handling all they can. Some point of contact to keep us in touch with that person and/or something that we give them to keep the Church in mind. Maybe even just a little prayer booklet and rosary. Anything would help. More than anything, it can be quite overwhelming to a new convert without knowing anyone or how things work.

 

[TrueLight]

If someone calls during a time with no RCIA, we need other options or help in place. That would mean more volunteers as I’m sure many are handling all they can. Some point of contact to keep us in touch with that person and/or something that we give them to keep the Church in mind. Maybe even just a little prayer booklet and rosary. Anything would help. More than anything, it can be quite overwhelming to a new convert without knowing anyone or how things work.

I would have been lost without CAF, honestly.

 

[Melchior_1]

A simple solution would be to have the RCIA team be available year round. Not necessarily to teach, but to be in contact with people. Also letting newcomers know who to seek out. We have a nice little informal system; “by the percussion stuff you’ll see a guy in a Core shirt. After Mass he’ll be holding onto a one year old boy. Talk to him about wanting to receive Sacraments”.

Done and done, they’ve found someone to talk to and to welcome them into the community.

Having a “newcomers” ministry wouldn’t be a bad idea either.

 

[Phemie]

A simple solution would be to have the RCIA team be available year round. Not necessarily to teach, but to be in contact with people. Also letting newcomers know who to seek out. We have a nice little informal system; “by the percussion stuff you’ll see a guy in a Core shirt. After Mass he’ll be holding onto a one year old boy. Talk to him about wanting to receive Sacraments”.

Done and done, they’ve found someone to talk to and to welcome them into the community.

Having a “newcomers” ministry wouldn’t be a bad idea either.

It could be as simple as dismissing the catechumens each Sunday, with volunteers taking turns. You don’t have to do formal teaching but breaking open the Word each Sunday would keep the catechumens going and they would be getting the so important readings of ordinary time

 

[Cat]

I asked my husband the question that the OP asked.

My husband’s reply: “If you aren’t willing to go along with traditions, you probably aren’t going to be very happy in the Catholic Church.”

Short and pithy.

Some of you who read my posts know that my husband and I came out of the evangelical Protestant churches, and we are not traditionalists and prefer a more modern Mass and music in our own language. I think that becoming Catholic has been good for us because we are learning that our own personal preferences are not necessarily what is best. God is using the Church to make us more obedient, open-minded, and malleable.

 

[achmafooma]

Is there not a shorter series that could be done for those who are already baptized and well versed in the Bible or a group or anything to help out? What do you suggest they read? Do you give the RCIA books out early? Or, how about a short intro class a few times before summer break and give them the books to be reading and assign them a summer sponsor? A prayer booklet and inexpensive rosary, just something.

Anything to make them feel as if they are more “officially” welcomed into the Churh and their journey. It might surprise you, but do a test and call parishes asking about joining the church/ RCIA for their response. I’m not saying they’re negative, but there is nothing tangent for them to have with them during this time and no one follows up. I understand that is the way it works and to a degree understand why… However, it saddens me and maybe that’s just because of my Protestant backgound, but there are many small things that could be done that would make a difference.

Excellent questions. I’ll try to answer as well as I can.

As far as a shorter program for those already-Baptized (and with a certain amount of knowledge of the faith), we do sometimes have an abbreviated summer session at my Parish. We had one last year (with three participants), but we don’t have any folks in this situation this year. It is usually for people with a fairly good knowledge of the Church already – two of the three last year were non-Catholic Christians married to Catholic spouses, so they had already had a lot of exposure to Catholicism.

We also try to be very accommodating of people with a particular need for an accelerated program. We had a gentleman present himself at the end of January this year, a non-Christian (un-Baptized) engaged to a Catholic woman with a pre-scheduled Church wedding in the fall. During their engagement, he decided he wanted to become a Catholic, and he and his fiance both desired for him to be part of the Church before their wedding. What a joy! So I worked with the gentleman and my Pastor to arrange a supplemental study program to get him caught-up, and he was Baptized and Confirmed at the Vigil.

Usually when folks inquire with me, I send them a lot of general information about the RCIA program, an example of our class schedule (from the previous year if we haven’t planned the next one yet), the reading list so they can get a head-start if they want, and encouragement to attend Mass and any other Church functions in the mean time. I also emphasize my willingness (and our Priests’ willingness) to answer any questions they might have, either about RCIA or the Mass or Catholicism in general. I also keep an email list of people who have expressed interest in RCIA, so as I get next year’s plan in place I can send them reminders and information as it becomes available.

But this is, admittedly, mostly pretty passive on my part – I send them a bunch of stuff at initial contact, and then that’s the last they hear from me proactively until they start getting some reminder emails in mid-to-late summer (or until they contact me with questions).

Perhaps, if nothing else, I could send a ~monthly email with some ‘here’s what’s going on in the Church and/or Liturgy, you’re always welcome to participate!’ kind of stuff…maybe with a short message from our Pastor included. I will talk to my Pastor about this next time I meet with him about RCIA and see what he thinks. I agree that I (and probably many, many other RCIA coordinators) could do a better job of making prospective RCIA participants feel welcomed and involved while they wait for the next cycle.

God bless.

 

[asd72]

It hurt my feelings very badly when I was told to wait. I came to the Bascilica in February so I was going to have a long wait. I tried for a while but no confession, no communion, no time with the Priest, I felt like a total outsider. I ended up going back where I felt welcome. My home denomination. At least there they welcome new people and you don’t need to prove anything to anyone before they let you sit down to the table at the Lord;s Supper. Jesus said Knock and the door eill be opened unto you. I think the Catholics have it a little wrong on this one. RCIA is good but if you are baptized and can pass some testing, you should be welcome and come in for your classes as a new Catholic just my opinion. It totally turned me off and I felt like I was not worth their time or something until Fall came. Just my experience.

I also came to realise Catholism was the original Church early in 2011 and waited until that September to start RCIA. Non Catholic’s are welcome to go to Mass every day if they wish, you can go to Adoration, read up on books on Catholism, read Church documents, pray and ask God to have mercy on you until to are able to receive the sacraments. You can approach other parishioners if you’re brave and get to know people. You can get involved in offering your time and experience to improve the support systems of enquirers for those coming after you once you are received into the Church.

When you are called to Catholism and truely understand what the Church is, not just your particular Parish, but the Church which spans heaven and earth, you will persevere!

 

[Hmgbrd]

I also came to realise Catholism was the original Church early in 2011 and waited until that September to start RCIA. Non Catholic’s are welcome to go to Mass every day if they wish, you can go to Adoration, read up on books on Catholism, read Church documents, pray and ask God to have mercy on you until to are able to receive the sacraments. You can approach other parishioners if you’re brave and get to know people. You can get involved in offering your time and experience to improve the support systems of enquirers for those coming after you once you are received into the Church.

When you are called to Catholism and truely understand what the Church is, not just your particular Parish, but the Church which spans heaven and earth, you will persevere!

This is very similar to what I experienced this year! In the beginning I also didn’t understand why the wait? But then when I got into the process I understood that it just takes time.

Everyone starts at a different point. Some are just curious and want to learn, others have already committed in their hearts. Even baptized christians enter at different levels of knowlege and experience. It is a discernment process for many and a “growing into the faith” for others. By the end of the process we were all on the same page and had grown together as one as sisters and brothers in Christ. We had 2 priests teaching our RCIA. They are so busy that I was humbled that they could devote so much time to our formation. I cannot imagine that having 2nd and 3rd parallel classes within a year would be possible considering their responsibilites. (Our parish has 12,000 members and only 4 priests to shepherd all of those souls!) On a purely practical level, the paperwork in preparation takes time as well. Some need to look into previous marriages with documentation, annullment paperwork having to be started, and others need to find baptism documents lost or forgotten.

Sponsors are not employees. They are dedicated friends/lay people who devote their time and love into sharing the faith with you. RCIA is a time that devotes itself not only to knowlege, but also to revelation and spiritual growth. By joining the Body of Christ you are not joining a club, or completing an academic course, but are realigning your life by putting Christ first, truly coming into communion with the angels and saints. This is a decision of the heart and most importantly one of the soul. Just my 2 cents.

 

[figs]

This is very similar to what I experienced this year! In the beginning I also didn’t understand why the wait? But then when I got into the process I understood that it just takes time.

Everyone starts at a different point. Some are just curious and want to learn, others have already committed in their hearts. Even baptized christians enter at different levels of knowlege and experience. It is a discernment process for many and a “growing into the faith” for others. By the end of the process we were all on the same page and had grown together as one as sisters and brothers in Christ. We had 2 priests teaching our RCIA. They are so busy that I was humbled that they could devote so much time to our formation. I cannot imagine that having 2nd and 3rd parallel classes within a year would be possible considering their responsibilites. (Our parish has 12,000 members and only 4 priests to shepherd all of those souls!) On a purely practical level, the paperwork in preparation takes time as well. Some need to look into previous marriages with documentation, annullment paperwork having to be started, and others need to find baptism documents lost or forgotten.

Sponsors are not employees. They are dedicated friends/lay people who devote their time and love into sharing the faith with you. RCIA is a time that devotes itself not only to knowlege, but also to revelation and spiritual growth. By joining the Body of Christ you are not joining a club, or completing an academic course, but are realigning your life by putting Christ first, truly coming into communion with the angels and saints. This is a decision of the heart and most importantly one of the soul. Just my 2 cents.

Very well stated post.
As someone who is part of an RCIA team, I agree whole heartedly with your statement. Thanks

 

[Daizies]

So everyone who wants changes made is going to go to their parish and volunteer to help right?

Seriously though, our RCIA is run by volunteers, and there is never enough people willing to invest themselves into the process (you put a lot more into it than just the time for the classes themselves after all). If you want things to be different, then find out who runs the RCIA at your parish and volunteer to help. Or, if you are not yet part of the Church, volunteer next year I went through RCIA last year, and now I volunteer helping with the hospitality for our group. And besides, as converts ourselves, who better to understand the struggles of new converts?