Ellenita Posted November 27, 2003 Share Posted November 27, 2003 I bought 'Catholicism for Dummies' today - seems like a good book. Anyway, it says that converts are brought into full communion at the Easter Vigil, once they have made a Profession of Faith and attended RCIA classes. However a Catholic friend of mine recently told me that I would not need to attend RCIA classes as I am a Christian already. Who is right? Is it obligatory and how long do the classes last (weeks, months?). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted November 27, 2003 Share Posted November 27, 2003 Although many, perhaps even most, RCIA programs require those who are Christian already to go through the program, your friend is correct in that they're really not supposed to be required to do that. As for how long the programs last, it varies from parish to parish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellenita Posted November 27, 2003 Author Share Posted November 27, 2003 Thanks! Another question for you - is the Profession of Faith only ever done at the Easter Vigil? What about someone who has a burning desire to convert and doesn't have the patience to wait until Easter? Hypothetically speaking of course!!! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted November 27, 2003 Share Posted November 27, 2003 Thanks! Another question for you - is the Profession of Faith only ever done at the Easter Vigil? What about someone who has a burning desire to convert and doesn't have the patience to wait until Easter? Hypothetically speaking of course!!! :D The profession of faith is done whenever someone enters the Church -- Easter Vigil or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foundsheep Posted November 27, 2003 Share Posted November 27, 2003 I bought 'Catholicism for Dummies' today - seems like a good book. Anyway, it says that converts are brought into full communion at the Easter Vigil, once they have made a Profession of Faith and attended RCIA classes. However a Catholic friend of mine recently told me that I would not need to attend RCIA classes as I am a Christian already. Who is right? Is it obligatory and how long do the classes last (weeks, months?). thats a good book by the way. I just finished it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foundsheep Posted November 27, 2003 Share Posted November 27, 2003 I bought 'Catholicism for Dummies' today - seems like a good book. Anyway, it says that converts are brought into full communion at the Easter Vigil, once they have made a Profession of Faith and attended RCIA classes. However a Catholic friend of mine recently told me that I would not need to attend RCIA classes as I am a Christian already. Who is right? Is it obligatory and how long do the classes last (weeks, months?). A good way to look at it is in terms of being reborn. You know how some use the term being born again loosely. But really what is required of being born. 9 months of development of body in your mothers womb. RCIA was my womb for the church. I was born again at my full communion with the church after my time of development and study and realization of what it really means to be a full of the truth christian. I didnt just say "Im born again" and figured that would be my change. It takes work and true change. My RCIA experience will be something Ill never forget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaustinaVianney Posted November 27, 2003 Share Posted November 27, 2003 Ellentia~I'm a convert myself and I didn't have to wait until the Easter Vigil to enter the Church and I wasn't even baptized. You must first get in touch with a priest and talk to him about your desires. I don't know how much you know about the faith, but my priest wanted me to have a basic knowledge of what the Church believes and why the Church does some of the things that it does and a desire to continue learning after entering the Faith. So GO talk to a priest. He's the one that will say whether or not you can enter the Church before the Vigil. Veritatem dare summa caritas :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyful Posted November 27, 2003 Share Posted November 27, 2003 Hey Ellenita! It's cool that you're soooo excited about becoming Catholic. About RCIA~ I suggest you go through it. I will teach you sooo much about your faith and also help you to meet other new Catholics. I also think it's cool to do the whole Easter Vigil thing. Knowing that so many others are joining with you that night making a decision that changes your life for all eternity. Then again... If I were in your position I wouldn't want to wait either. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Good Friday Posted November 27, 2003 Share Posted November 27, 2003 Ellenita, I am a convert, and although I was already a Christian I went through with the RCIA process and was confirmed on the Easter Vigil. I recommend that you do the same, as RCIA will help you learn more about the Catholic Faith. It was an amesome experience for me, and if I had the choice between going back and doing it again or just skipping it, I would definitely do it again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleflower+JMJ Posted November 27, 2003 Share Posted November 27, 2003 wow ellenita! please keep us updated on all of this. we will keep you in our prayers. follow the advice that all have mentioned above. it will be most beneficial, even after RCIA that we're always learning more about the faith, throughout our lives to be enriching ourselves with the beauty and truth of the Catholic Church. i think you are so amesome ellenita. your openess and sincerity of your faith and learning. God will never hide the truth from one who is truly seekingit, if one is looking for truth, seek and you shall find. B) ask and you shall recieve, knock and it shall be opened unto you. and if you do all, you will find truth. "a city set on a hill cannot be hidden" (Matt. 5:14) in the catholic church. God bless you ellenita. and many blessings and prayers on your journey home to the Catholic Church. +JMJ Our hearts, O Lord, were made for You, and they are restless until they rest in You." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PedroX Posted November 27, 2003 Share Posted November 27, 2003 Am I the only one with RCIA horror stories? And how come I had to go through that horrible experience when I was already a Christian? Ellenita, If you have read about Catholicism, if you understand the Mass, if you in your heart feel Catholic, you may want to consider skipping RCIA. For me it was nine months of frustration. I would have been much better off meeting with a priest a few times to get a few specific questions answered. That being said, Easter Vigil and the confirmation rite are extremely beautiful and I am so glad I was part of them. Hope thats clear as mud! peace... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmotherofpirl Posted November 27, 2003 Share Posted November 27, 2003 RCIA is not perfect, it depends on the quality of the instructor. Our RCIA offers group and individual instruction every Sunday from September until after Easter. However I think the rituals connected to it are important. It can be very a moving experience when they are presented to the parish Church as people on the journey and meet all the people who are praying for them daily. In our diocese, all members of RCIA go to the cathedral to be personally welcomed by the bishops, who record their names in the book of life. In my year of sponsering we had 800 converts and had to do the ceremony on 2 successive weeks just to accomodate all the people involved. After being together in little groups for many months ,it was amesome and moving to be all together in the cathedral as they called people up from all the parishes of Western Pa.to the front of the Church. THen in your individual parish you are baptised, confirmed with the people you have spent months growing with. After Easter vigil, you go back to several more classes where you learn more about putting your faith into daily action. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatholicAndFanatical Posted November 28, 2003 Share Posted November 28, 2003 800 people!! Praise Be To God! Thats amesome. Ellenita, I am a convert as well, 4 years this easter. I would encourage you to go through it, there will never be another experience like it. Its kinda like graduating High School, that feeling of accompolishment you have that you just finished your development as a new Catholic. The Rites that you go through while in it are very moving, man I wish I could go through that again. You dont want to try to do this yourself, let the Church guide you and God will use them to bring you more fully to Him. RCIA is there for a reason, you will know more and have a better appreciation for the Church if you attend it. You will be in my prayers, and I truely hope you decide to join RCIA, my prayers will also be for those that instruct the class's, because your experience and knowledge is in the hands of those that teach it. Dont get discouraged if its not what you thought, talk to them about it and bring it up to the Priest, they want you to get the most out of it as you can. Keep communications open with them. God Bless, CatholicAndFanatical Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VeraMaria Posted November 28, 2003 Share Posted November 28, 2003 800 people!! Praise Be To God! Thats amesome. yes it is!! we had 1200 people last year here in Miami!!!!!!!!! I thought that was pretty kewl. I'm trying to scan the article that appeared about it in the "Florida catholic". :D B) B) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Posted November 28, 2003 Share Posted November 28, 2003 Wow, you guys make the RCIA experience sound so amesome, I want to go through it. No, wait a minute. I'm a cradle Catholic! Pedrox, Sometimes people with their own agendas really foul up the works. Sounds like maybe that's what happened in your RCIA experience. I'm sure glad you stuck with it and entered the bark of Peter! Welcome aboard! :wub: Pax Christi. <>< Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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