RCIA

[Honour]

Yikes, now what.
So there are two churches in my immediate area. One is 15-20mins away, and one is within walking distance.
I visited the one closer first....but could hardly understand anything due the priests thick phillipino accent. After that I visited that church I visited the one thats futher....I liked the service and in the bulletin there was an announcement about a special inquiry class, so I went and met with the deacon twice, and then called him back and signed up for RCIA.
But I was running late to mass last week, so I went to the one close to my houset was great....the place was packed, the people were really nice, and they are even building a new church building, and the other pastor had a really great homily. It was my best experience in a Catholic service yet...and though they don't have perptetual adoration, they do have adoration once a week, and they also have theese small group meetings...like charismatic prayer group, and a crafting group....which would be good for me to get "plugged in" Also it would be a lot easier for me to attend daily mass.

Now I don't know what to do...should I go here or there...how do I know where I can get better teaching, what should I ask to find out more about the parish....I don't want to end up in a situation like Gal 5:22-23.
Advice anyone?

[philothea]

You can attend mass at both, or either church, regardless of where you're taking your RCIA class. All masses are open to everyone. As is adoration, of course.

Do you know who will be teaching each RCIA class? How you get along with that person should be the deciding factor, I think.

They will, of course, both be teaching the same material.

[Honour]

[quote name='philothea' date='Jul 29 2005, 08:35 AM']You can attend mass at both, or either church, regardless of where you're taking your RCIA class.  All masses are open to everyone.  As is adoration, of course.

Do you know who will be teaching each RCIA class?  How you get along with that person should be the deciding factor, I think.

They will, of course, both be teaching the same material.
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[/quote]

Yeah, good point.
Do they really teach from standard material?
I haven't spoke to the new person, in person. I guess I just want to get good and edumacated. But I don't know how to figure out which place is best. I guess I have to leave it up to God.

[homeschoolmom]

no, they don't use stardardized material... though I've often wondered why they don't...

[journeyman]

The lack of standardized material is one of the reasons I started lurking here. While the materials and program were informative and interesting, they did not go into the background as deeply as I wished. As HSMom mentioned in another thread, she learned more about the whys and wherefores of vestments and church decorations from a Bible Study of Exodus than she had learned before. (or at least that's how I heard the comment )

Given that you can supplement anything and everything you learn through the RCIA program (for instance, here at PhatMass), I think the suggestion to seek the RCIA formation where you have the best relationship with the program head makes sense. Another aspect to consider is that you will be asked to name a sponsor, or one will be assigned to you by the head of the program. This person should also be someone with whom you can develop a strong mentoring relationship. If you attend Mass and get involved at a parish other than where you are enrolled in RCIA, you may find the "perfect" sponsor at Mass, but they will be unable to participate at the RCIA location.

[homeschoolmom]

I don't think that last statement is true... Can't someone from a different parish be your sponsor?

As for the Exodus comment... (thanks for reading and remembering my posts. ) I should clarify. I learned more about vestments etc. during that Catholic study then I did during any previous (Protestant) study. We joined RCIA in February after they'd covered much of that kind of thing. But knowing our RCIA instructor (who also was the Bible study leader) he covered that in RCIA quite thorougly. We have a great RCIA program.

What continues to astonish me about various RCIA programs is the lack of uniform curriculum. For a church with one faith, that seems rather odd.

[theculturewarrior]

I just go to church in the parish in whose territory I reside. It's not always the parish I would like to go to, but when you are Catholic, you're parish priest can do things for you that other priests cannot.

Of course, that's not for everybody.

[journeyman]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' date='Jul 30 2005, 07:40 AM']I don't think that last statement is true... Can't someone from a different parish be your sponsor?

As for the Exodus comment... (thanks for reading and remembering my posts. ) I should clarify. I learned more about vestments etc. during that Catholic study then I did during any previous (Protestant) study. We joined RCIA in February after they'd covered much of that kind of thing. But knowing our RCIA instructor (who also was the Bible study leader) he covered that in RCIA quite thorougly. We have a great RCIA program.

What continues to astonish me about various RCIA programs is the lack of uniform curriculum. For a church with one faith, that seems rather odd.
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[/quote]


Sorry, I wasn't clear . . . someone from another parish may serve as sponsor, but I was thinking of someone with medical/transportation or other issues that couldn't get to the RCIA program parish

I'm a little amazed at the lack of uniform curriculum myself . . . however, I have to admit I prefer my program of self study to the rote memorization of the Catechism . . . which is where I suspect a uniform program might end up

(ps, I haven't mentioned the Bible and Catechism reading thread lately . . . and that was my self appointed job . . . however, since my own reading is behind, consider this a query or reminder, rather than a nag . . . )

[homeschoolmom]

I quit at the end of January. I have too many Scripture systems going... especially with my kids.

[journeyman]

This is sad news . . . . . . how long until your kids are big enough to sign up?

The door is always open if you want to dip you toe back in . . . I'm only posting a week at a time . . . . . . and the Bible isn't likely to change much any time soon

we're doing proverbs right now in the wisdom section . . . really short verses, no story line to follow

[Honour]

oops I quit a looooong time ago. I am bad.

BTW...This RCIA lady won't return my phone calls. I hope she is on vacation or something...because I'm not even sure when the class starts!

[journeyman]

ok, I know there haven't been any talking jackasses - or goats exchanged for gratification outside the bounds of matrimony - or even a simple love story - lately - but that's half the fun . . . . what's next?

I'd jazz up the thread with commentary, but the phorum pretty much dissed the clown mass over in open mic . . . and me talking about theology is like a clown as presider

You can drop back in anytime - I'll keep the coffee pot on

[theculturewarrior]

[quote name='Honour' date='Aug 5 2005, 04:28 PM']oops  I quit a looooong time ago.  I am bad.

BTW...This RCIA lady won't return my phone calls.  I hope she is on vacation or something...because I'm not even sure when the class starts!
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[/quote]

Don't give up!

When I was converting, the parish secretary told me I had to marry to convert. I ended up taking lessons at the Newman Center. Keep calling! If that doesn't work, visit the parish office.

[journeyman]

[quote name='theculturewarrior' date='Aug 6 2005, 01:06 PM']Don't give up!

When I was converting, the parish secretary told me I had to marry to convert. I ended up taking lessons at the Newman Center. Keep calling! If that doesn't work, visit the parish office.
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[/quote]

yeah, what tcw said . . . missing one of the early sessions is not likely to be a barrier, the earliest sessions are generally "inquiry" in nature . . . for those considering Catholicism . . . since you're past that stage, just keep calling or visiting (pick up the bulletin, or the parish calendar and see if RCIA is mentioned in those) (if they have a website, you may be able to find the info there) . . . or call the main parish number and see if the parish secretary has the schedule information (since she usually types the bulletin and calendar, odds are she will) . . . and may also know if the DRE or RCIA leader is on vacation, and get a message to them to call you on their return