/r/RCIA

Photograph via snooOG

Sub for discussing OCIA (formerly RCIA).

Purpose

A small community for those considering, entering, or participating in RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults), or similar adult conversion programs in the Catholic Church.

Expressly doctrinal questions may be more suited to /r/Catholicism due to the number of readers they have. That said, the moderators will not prevent questions or topics suited to /r/Catholicism from being presented here, if OP desires it.

Rules

Aligned with the rules of /r/Catholicism.

/r/RCIA

855 Subscribers

3

What will confirmation look like?

Just curious, is it like a standard mass or?

4 Comments
2024/11/30
19:49 UTC

7

Starting RCIA soon I dot have a question however.

Which Bible would you recommend reading? I have a NABRE and the NRSV catholic edition.

5 Comments
2024/11/20
21:43 UTC

2

RCIA/OCIA classes online, or on Saturdays or Sundays?

Does anyone know of any RCIA / OCIA classes that are available online in Canada, US or UK? It doesn't matter what country as long as it's available in English, as long as the parish does allow individuals from other countries to participate, too. Or, any in-person classes that meet on Saturdays or Sundays?

All of the ones I know of meet once a week in the evenings (at 7 pm), and that time is not feasible due to other commitments.

Most of them started at the end of September. Thanks in advance.

PLEASE DON'T TELL ME TO CALL ALL THE PARISHES!!! THAT DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF THIS POST!!!! MOST OF THE PARISH OFFICE FOLKS ARE RUDE AND HOSTILE TO BEGIN WITH. AND, IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO CALL ALL OF THE PARISHES IN THE WORLD. I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN DOING IT ONLINE.

6 Comments
2024/10/05
23:34 UTC

4

My biggest advice for those starting RCIA/OCIA

My biggest advice for RCIA/OCIA is to be prepared for unsubstantiated attacks on the faith.

https://youtu.be/b50zpOcTSiQ?si=dKZwhDVjkjrxvnCb

0 Comments
2024/09/21
23:34 UTC

4

Is this sub still active???

Hello, I just began my classes the beginning of September. I was hoping to have a community that I can discuss questions or learn others experiences. Is this still active I see the latest post being 45d ago

18 Comments
2024/09/19
02:09 UTC

6

Beginning RCIA in October

Looking forward to it.

I’m curious if there is any preparatory reading or resources people recommend?

4 Comments
2024/08/04
10:05 UTC

2

Book recommendations? Eastern Ortho practice (R/O)CIA?

My partner is ordained Roman Catholic, and grateful to sponsor me in OCIA this fall. We are seeking to become members within the Orthodox tradition in Twin Cities, MN. However, I am only able to locate *CIA programs in Roman Catholic masses in Minnesota. Does anyone know if Orthodox practices *CIA?

Further, does anyone have books for studying RCIA/OCIA until September?

Thank you, blessed be your households.

0 Comments
2024/07/30
06:20 UTC

2

Im new

I am new to church, need to go to rvia, but i have issues that make it hatd to leave my home is there ogher ways to get classes

0 Comments
2024/07/13
08:03 UTC

1

Tracking down my Baptismal certificate from an Anglican Church

Not easy at all, when they never answer the phone haha. Bring confirmed this year though.

4 Comments
2024/05/06
16:52 UTC

3

Confirmation Name

Curious to hear what Saint everyone else chose for their confirmation! I will be baptized and confirmed this weekend at the Easter vigil and I am choosing Saint Margaret of Scotland. I feel like she isn't talked about much but she did so many wonderful things for the poor and those less fortunate.

1 Comment
2024/03/27
17:12 UTC

6

RCIA First Confession

I will officially become a member of the Catholic Church after the Easter vigil in a few weeks and I am very excited! My RCIA classes have been wonderful and I have been attending Mass weekly for a little over a year. Right now however I am worried about my first confession. I will also be baptized at the vigil but will need to attend confession sometime before all of this which means 26 years worth of sins to admit. Seems very intimating and like it would take awhile. I am just very nervous and any advice would be appreciate. Thank you in advance!

5 Comments
2024/03/19
19:01 UTC

11

I’m so excited to become a Catholic through RCIA!

After a lot of time exploring religions and pathways, I feel like God has called me to look closer into Catholicism. I feel so much peace and excitement at the idea of pursuing my newfound faith through RCIA, which starts in September at my new parish. I can’t wait!

2 Comments
2023/06/24
15:04 UTC

5

RCIA First Class

Hello, I am starting my RCIA classes this week and looking for any helpful advice. I am pretty nervous, mostly because I don’t have much of a religious background and I don’t do well in social situations due to anxiety. I am worried I will make a fool of myself for not knowing much about the Bible. I also am worried about having to do much talking in front of others.

But I am very excited to start the process to getting baptized and becoming Catholic. I have been praying about it and asking God to help me on this journey and allow me to put my pride aside and not worry what others think or how I feel I may be perceived. What’s important is starting this step into my religious life.

Any advice is appreciated or a run down of what to expect in my classes, thanks!

7 Comments
2023/06/20
22:38 UTC

3

Several Questions for anyone who can answer them

Hello All,

I am starting my journey into Catholicism through the RCIA program and I am having fantastic time with it. I do have some questions that I have been trying to get through my RCIA director but unable to do so! With that out of the way let us start:

  1. I know that Mass is required on either Sunday or Saturday, but I was wondering how to navigate such a thing if for example I had to go to work on either or both days for the week.
  2. When in the process would I be able to select a Godparent, are they the same thing as a Sponsor?
  3. As the cost of living is increasing and rent in general is going up, one of the better options to save money is to find a roommate. What is allowed and is not allowed for cohabitation?

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day!

God Bless!

2 Comments
2023/05/16
17:38 UTC

4

Preparing to inquire at my Parish about joining the RCIA program

Hello all - I'm sure you get this post fairly often.

Before I send a letter of inquiry to my church - I'm wondering if there is anything I should know? I was baptised and confirmed as a Presbyterian, but other than that I'm going in blind.

Do I need a sponsor from inside the church before I inquire?

2 Comments
2023/01/02
22:35 UTC

3

Student Presentations for RCIA

For those who are currently in or have recently completed RCIA, were you required to do student presentations to the class? I just found out that we are being asked to prepare 2 different presentations over the course of the year. The idea of this is causing me a lot of discomfort and stress to the point of wanted to discontinue attending class. Is this a requirement of the RCIA program in general or is it possible to find a program that does not have that requirement,

12 Comments
2022/11/06
15:22 UTC

5

Observations about my RCIA course

I will start this by saying I really like the people coming to teach the course as people and my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. I text them often and we enjoy our conversations. I pray for them and their families.

That said, I am concerned that the course is not being taught by a priest, decon, brother, or sister. It is just all randoms from the congregation, some who converted as late as two easters ago. One is barely not a teenager. Some are much older and have PhDs, but in Protestant theology. That's great and all but I need someone trained in the Catholic persective where I can have somewhat authoritative answers. The things they say contridict each other. One person taught God is not some old man sitting on clouds in the sky. Another came in and said He absolutely was. Which is it, because both said that was what the Church taught.

I attend mass regularly and had to teach myself how it works as it hasn't come up at all in class yet. My parish swings between NO and TLM based on whatever (no set times or anything), so the learning curve is steep. I am learning how to pray the rosary as that hasn't come up either. These things should come up fairly soon because I firmly believe attending mass is important even if you can't take communion. You can talk about the intellectual meaning of the Trinity all day, but in mass you can actually experience it.

I learned that I was invaildly baptized, but I had to find this out on my own and confirm with a priest. I found out it might be invalid based on googling and finding a handout given in other RCIA courses.This should really be given out first day or before the class is started so the convert knows what they are fully getting into.

Is this just how this is? I understand having the congregation willing to support and sponsor, but actually teching doctrine and rite and whatnot? Why is that allowed? Why do most parishes require group RCIA where they don't even have more than a handful in a class?

2 Comments
2022/11/03
22:05 UTC

4

Feeling Annoyed by RCIA

I have been attending RCIA for a few weeks. Prior to attending I read some catholic theology and I have a background in philosophy. When it comes time for questions, many seem annoyed by the questions I ask and many have on multiple times hinted that the questions I ask are hubristic and not in line with the proper attitude of faith which to them involves submission rather than inquiry and humility to accept the mystery. Before attending RCIA, I was convinced of catholicism and was eager to get bapitized, confirmed and receive the sacrements. After attending RCIA for a few weeks I am less convinced. The attitude of many people is intellectually vicious. Not knowing an answer to a question does not and should not be a reason to reject the subject of the question as false. For example, I am currently researching debates on the eternity of the world from the 6th century. I am not totally convinced of the arguments for a beginning of the world or of creation ex nihilo. Yet I still believe in a beginning from ex nihilo on the basis of faith. This is also true for me of other aspects of the catholic faith. But many in RCIA act in a hostile and passive agressive manner when questions are brought up they have an answer to. I am open to the possibility I am in the wrong here somehow.

8 Comments
2022/10/21
07:38 UTC

4

Change from RCIA to OCIA

Hello,

Friendly neighborhood mod here.

Technically speaking, the name of this sub is no longer valid, as the correct name is not Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, OCIA.

That said, this community already exists, and I don't see a reason to get rid of it.

I'm a fairly hands off mod, for now. I'll be working on a few minor updates in the next few weeks. So, if you have any suggestions, reply here, and I'll see what I can do.

As always, r/Catholicism is an amazing place to seek general information about the Church. r/AskAPriest is a good resource for more specific questions.

1 Comment
2022/10/12
14:46 UTC

2

Catholics attending RCIA to learn

Should Catholics attend RCIA to learn more about their faith?

2 Comments
2022/08/25
17:50 UTC

8

Asked to join our RCIA team today

I was my wife’s sponsor this past year and love having her be able to fully experience Mass with our family. At our parish festival this evening, I was asked to be on the RCIA team for the coming class. I know it’s a big time commitment but I am so honored that our parish leaders think enough of me to ask me to do this. I am so looking forward to it!

3 Comments
2022/08/14
04:02 UTC

5

Atheist to Catholicism

Good morning all! As by my title I’m going through the conversion. I can’t start RCIA for a bit bc I’m moving out of state. I’m so so so brand new to religion. Never been baptized or anything so I’m excited to learn! I was wondering if this bible Could follow me to CO for RCIA (posting a pic in comments)? Also after RCIA should I purchase a new one?

Thank you all so much!

4 Comments
2022/07/26
14:06 UTC

6

Gift for a sponsor

What is a typical gift for a sponsor? I would like to thank mine for being with me through this journey.

0 Comments
2022/04/09
05:13 UTC

10

Confused

Good morning everyone.

I am currently going through RCIA and will be getting confirmed and have my first Eucharist on Easter Sunday. (Already baptized).

I am wondering if anyone is feeling the same way. I have learned a lot in RCIA but I feel like I still know little to nothing about the mass order, when to sit/stand, what everything means etc…. I follow along the book at mass but honestly feel dumb because no one else is following it. Even the book is confusing at times.

Is there anyone else who feels this way or has any resources on how to better understand mass?

6 Comments
2022/02/25
13:19 UTC

3

Suggestions for first Bible

Hello me again. RCIA is going really well but I definitely would like to get my first Catholic Bible ASAP. Any suggestions on what version or edition would be great, thank you!

1 Comment
2022/01/22
02:36 UTC

3

Mass and RCIA

My RCIA meets for Mass but then is dismissed by the priest before communion to go to our class. Does this fulfill my Sunday obligation? Or should I be going to the Saturday vigil as well so I get a complete service? Thank you!

10 Comments
2021/10/10
17:47 UTC

5

Questions about RCIA and what Parish you end up joining.

Currently attending RCIA, feeling a little spread out. My son attends school at one parish so he obviously wants to go there. We are active duty so my husband wants to go to the base chapel (does not offer RCIA). The one we currently go to (and also attend RCIA) is the furthest away and has a much older community. Are you supposed to join the closest parish? Would it be rude to go through RCIA, recieve the sacraments and then join a different parish? Thank you for any and all advice.

5 Comments
2021/09/28
19:28 UTC

2

RCIA on Long Island, NY?

Hello! I'm a young woman seeking help in finding an RCIA class near me on Long Island. I live near Stony Brook, but would be willing to travel up to 15-20 minutes if need be. I've sought help from my nearest parish, but I haven't heard back. I was raised in and confirmed in the Episcopal faith, but I've felt drawn to Mother Mary and several saints in recent years and I'm seeking something deeper than what I've been raised in. I'm looking for a community that is accepting and willing to be patient with me, as well as people who would be willing to help me get into church activities. I've tried other parishes than the ones closest to me and submitted inquiries, but the places I've tried don't offer RCIA. I would love some direction, please.

God bless and thank you for reading!

1 Comment
2021/09/11
19:08 UTC

5

Online and reading books too

I'm just now starting my third time thru online (YouTube) RCIA.

The simple sacred space (shelf) is slowly coming into reality. Today I got "immaculate Heart of Mary" statue from eBay.

Last addition is the rose window puzzle. The oil lamp and praying hands are from my mom.

Today I was listening to "the dark night of the soul". Also I have the book, "true devotion to Mary". Last night I read first few pages. Today I listened to the audiobook of the same.

8 Comments
2021/08/17
03:44 UTC

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