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k@lliOpee217
Member
| Joined: | Mon Jan 21st, 2008 |
| Location: | Waycross, Georgia USA |
| Posts: | 7 |
| First Name: | Ashlyn | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, currently going through RCIA to become Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Jan 25th, 2008 04:10 pm |
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I guess it's best to tell everyone what I've been going through before I actually get to the question that is concerning me, first thing I haven't been to Church since I was a small child and then it was a Baptist Church I attended because that's where my Mom went at the time. I've really been wanting to start back attending a church for a while now, but for some reason going back to a Baptist Church didn't feel right for me. So I've been doing a lot of research on the Internet and a lot of reading and I've decided I want to become a Catholic. I spoke with someone who told me about RCIA and I contacted our Parish here. I actually didn't start attending classes until November 2007 and from what I've been reading those classes start a lot earlier than that, so I was afraid I had missed too many classes already. The Priest is actually teaching the classes, but I've only been to a total of 3 classes since I started, not because I've missed any, but because of the Holidays and other activities going on within the Church that has prevented classes from being taught. The classes only last an hour and I feel like I'm not learning enough or what I need to learn to become confirmed at Easter. I haven't been baptized so I was hoping that all of that could be done come Easter...confirmation and Baptism. Now.......here's my question???? should I wait until 2009 to be confirmed, that way I will have learned more or go ahead if they let me be confirmed this Easter?
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Annie
Banned
| Joined: | Wed Feb 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | Columbus, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 731 |
| First Name: | Annie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nothing, Quaker, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Jan 25th, 2008 04:37 pm |
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You may be learning more than you realize. If they let you in at Easter come on in. Being Catholic, or being serious about any faith journey for that matter, is a lifetime learning experience. You don't have to know EVERYTHING to be Catholic, just the basics and you have to submit to the authority of the Church in the areas which you don't know about or understand. Let the priest decide if you are ready, he has the experience with it.
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Annie
Ora et labora
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5345 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Fri Jan 25th, 2008 05:04 pm |
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k@lliOpee217 wrote: I actually didn't start attending classes until November 2007 and from what I've been reading those classes start a lot earlier than that, so I was afraid I had missed too many classes already.
The formal beginning of the Catechumenate is on the first Sunday of Advent, which was on December 2nd this year. The period prior to that, Inquiry, is intended to help you decide whether to attend. You obviously made your decision, so the purpose was served.
When Easter comes, you and your priest together will decide whether you are ready to make a faith commitment. If you both agree, there is no reason to wait any longer. However, if there is any hesitation from either of you, it is best to wait for another time. You will know if you are ready, and I strongly suspect you will be.
Last edited on Fri Jan 25th, 2008 05:05 pm by CajunRick
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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sewnsew
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Arizona USA |
| Posts: | 842 |
| First Name: | Kim | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | cradle Anglican, Episcopal /Catholic-04/07/07 |
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Posted: Fri Jan 25th, 2008 10:06 pm |
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| I joined the RCIA class in progress on January 28th but becuase of my backround I was allowed to join the Church at Easter.
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Michelle1982
Member
| Joined: | Tue Nov 6th, 2007 |
| Location: | California USA |
| Posts: | 23 |
| First Name: | Michelle | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | protestant services at military chapels, Bible, Baptist, Berean, Calvary Chapel, ... |
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Posted: Tue Jan 29th, 2008 07:45 am |
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I hate to be rude or blunt, so forgive me. I am still trying to get in the hang of talking like a "Catholic." First of all, if they let you come in the church this spring, then do it. But here is my concern. You said that you are coming into the church to become Catholic. I guess my concern is, your reason should be more than to become Catholic. Obviously, they should talk about that to you in RCIA. But, through RCIA, you will learn hopefully, how to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Coming into the Catholic church is experiencing the fullness of the faith. You get to experience all the Christ wants you to experience as Catholic Christians vs. Baptist or Presbyterian Christians. All three of them have a personal relationship with Christ, but Baptist and Presbyterians do not experience the fullness of the faith. Hopefully, I am making a little bit of sense. I will be praying for you!
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"..............From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more." Luke 12:48
"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." J
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k@lliOpee217
Member
| Joined: | Mon Jan 21st, 2008 |
| Location: | Waycross, Georgia USA |
| Posts: | 7 |
| First Name: | Ashlyn | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, currently going through RCIA to become Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Jan 29th, 2008 12:26 pm |
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Michelle1982 wrote: I guess my concern is, your reason should be more than to become Catholic.
Hi Michelle..........I'm not taking your comment as being rude or blunt. I just wanted to respond to your post. My reasons behind wanting to join a Catholic Church is far more than just wanting to become a Catholic. So don't be concerned. Maybe I worded some things incorrectly in my post, I need to definitely be more careful as to how I say things. Oh, and thanks for your prayers.
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Ali
Member
| Joined: | Sat Jan 6th, 2007 |
| Location: | Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 656 |
| First Name: | Ali | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | JW, finally fully Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Jan 29th, 2008 12:34 pm |
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k@lliOpee217 wrote: Michelle1982 wrote: I guess my concern is, your reason should be more than to become Catholic.
Hi Michelle..........I'm not taking your comment as being rude or blunt. I just wanted to respond to your post. My reasons behind wanting to join a Catholic Church is far more than just wanting to become a Catholic. So don't be concerned. Maybe I worded some things incorrectly in my post, I need to definitely be more careful as to how I say things. Oh, and thanks for your prayers.
Hey Ashlyn,
Relax  It's hard to get stuff to come across right online, we can't see each other to know body language or facial expressions. Don't worry about wording so much. Just remember to give others the benifit of the doubt as well
I love hearing about other people's journey. So keep us updated on your RCIA classes!
Ali
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Parodyonlife
Member
| Joined: | Mon Jan 14th, 2008 |
| Location: | Corning, New York USA |
| Posts: | 113 |
| First Name: | John | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | NEW CATHOLIC!!! W( ) ( )T!!! |
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Posted: Tue Jan 29th, 2008 01:03 pm |
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I don't know why but my church is seeming more and more liberal. There are people who have showed up for about 2 classes and can still get baptized or confirmed. What is that all about? Is it just the rule the church sets or are my RCIA teachers not doing good for their students.
All my best,
John G
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Annie
Banned
| Joined: | Wed Feb 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | Columbus, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 731 |
| First Name: | Annie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nothing, Quaker, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Jan 29th, 2008 01:34 pm |
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Parodyonlife wrote: I don't know why but my church is seeming more and more liberal. There are people who have showed up for about 2 classes and can still get baptized or confirmed. What is that all about? Is it just the rule the church sets or are my RCIA teachers not doing good for their students.
All my best,
John G
It could be that they were previously baptized and had already had some kind of instruction. In those cases they are interviewed by a priest and might be brought into the Church right away. Things might not be as they seem.
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Annie
Ora et labora
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sewnsew
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Arizona USA |
| Posts: | 842 |
| First Name: | Kim | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | cradle Anglican, Episcopal /Catholic-04/07/07 |
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Posted: Tue Jan 29th, 2008 02:17 pm |
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| I was allowed in with only an abreviated RCIA becuase in part I have been a life long Anglican and had being doing an online study course on my own from Catholic homestudies for several months before I joined. In the RCIA class that I attended I was the only person who had been attending church rpior to the decision to become Catholic, I was the only one familiar with the LIturgy and so forth... If our Msr. had felt that I needed to attend the following year then I would have of course but I am very greatful that I did not have too. As it was I had been used to recieving communion in my old church but once I realized that it was a sham I stopped until I could vaildly take communion in the Catholic Church. February-Until April 7th was the longest "dry" period of my life with out the sacraments to have had to wait and go through the whole process a year later woiuld have been very very hard.
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Parodyonlife
Member
| Joined: | Mon Jan 14th, 2008 |
| Location: | Corning, New York USA |
| Posts: | 113 |
| First Name: | John | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | NEW CATHOLIC!!! W( ) ( )T!!! |
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Posted: Tue Jan 29th, 2008 02:49 pm |
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No they havent been baptized and have no previous instruction. Trust me. I know em. So i just dont get all churches must be different.
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5345 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Wed Jan 30th, 2008 12:09 am |
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Parodyonlife wrote: I don't know why but my church is seeming more and more liberal. There are people who have showed up for about 2 classes and can still get baptized or confirmed. What is that all about? Is it just the rule the church sets or are my RCIA teachers not doing good for their students.
John, "RCIA" is intended for those who have not been baptized. The program, and in fact the whole liturgical year, revolves around their entrance into the Church on Holy Saturday.
Those who have been previously baptized are not supposed to be a part of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. They are already Christians, and already partly initiated. Presumably they have already developed a commitment to Jesus Christ. Their readiness should be judged individually.
Those who are coming from an Orthodox background need virtually no preparation. High-church Anglicans probably need very little. Even those from evangelical or fundamentalist backgrounds, who have often spent several years studying the Catholic faith before reaching their decision, which often involves abandoning their families and careers to seek the truth, may need little preparation. Others who may have said a sinner's prayer or answered an altar call but had little formal study may be only slightly ahead of the unbaptized in their preparation.
As an example, I had a man a few years ago who had never been baptized, but he was married to a Catholic, had been a faithful member of our parish for 30 years, and was very active with our youth group and in a supprt role with our religious education program. He chose to go through the entire program even though our pastor was ready to baptize him on the spot.
Some parishes, especially those in rural or impoverished areas, may have no choice but to group everyone together due to a shortage of staff or trained volunteers. And some, frankly, just don't do a very good job. But if your parish is indeed considering each person individually, they are doing exactly what they're supposed to be doing.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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