Comments on: 9-Month vs. Year-Round http://rciablog.com/2008/07/9-month-vs-year-round/ A Free Tool Provided by the Association for Catechumenal Ministry Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:05:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: SBG http://rciablog.com/2008/07/9-month-vs-year-round/comment-page-1/#comment-655 SBG Fri, 17 Sep 2010 17:44:45 +0000 http://rciablog.com/?p=67#comment-655 I am the RCIA director for a relatively small parish on an Army post. Military parishes, of necessity, are made up primarily of transients. Additionally, we are at war and many are deployed multiple times. The nine month regimen is our only choice and even that is difficult. We believe that the Holy Spirit gives us what we need to accomplish our goals but from a human perspective, it is a daunting task. I am always amazed how well it goes despite the apparent limitations. Gloria in excelsis Deo. I am the RCIA director for a relatively small parish on an Army post. Military parishes, of necessity, are made up primarily of transients. Additionally, we are at war and many are deployed multiple times. The nine month regimen is our only choice and even that is difficult. We believe that the Holy Spirit gives us what we need to accomplish our goals but from a human perspective, it is a daunting task. I am always amazed how well it goes despite the apparent limitations.

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

]]> By: DLM http://rciablog.com/2008/07/9-month-vs-year-round/comment-page-1/#comment-349 DLM Mon, 22 Jun 2009 02:56:40 +0000 http://rciablog.com/?p=67#comment-349 I have mixed feelings about it. Over a two-year period, I twice started RCIA at a church that did year round, but I was so alone in my process that both times I gave up and dropped out before the Rite of Welcome (I was a candidate). I finally went to another parish that did a 9-month RCIA with everyone together as a single group, and that worked better for me not feeling so isolated. As a result, I did not drop out, and eventually received my sacraments. I probably would have done better going year-round, in my case, if I still could have been a part of a larger group making the journey on the same schedule as myself. I have mixed feelings about it. Over a two-year period, I twice started RCIA at a church that did year round, but I was so alone in my process that both times I gave up and dropped out before the Rite of Welcome (I was a candidate).

I finally went to another parish that did a 9-month RCIA with everyone together as a single group, and that worked better for me not feeling so isolated. As a result, I did not drop out, and eventually received my sacraments.

I probably would have done better going year-round, in my case, if I still could have been a part of a larger group making the journey on the same schedule as myself.

]]> By: GBO http://rciablog.com/2008/07/9-month-vs-year-round/comment-page-1/#comment-37 GBO Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:22:33 +0000 http://rciablog.com/?p=67#comment-37 Nine months seemed like an eternity. In my experience in RCIA and in attending weekly meetings as a sponsor more than once, I found that catechumens/candidates entered RCIA with widely varying levels of understanding of the Catholic Church and its beliefs and practices. Given that we will not be going back to days of one-to-one instruction with a priest, I still would like to see more individualization in the RCIA program. I'm not sure that adding time and introducing new levels in RCIA is the way to do that. Thorough training for anyone dealing with inquirers at any level -- even an in-home Bible study -- would be essential. I think we are fortunate in our parish to have a longtime permanent deacon who is in charge of the program. He has assistance from lay members on the team, but there is no doubt about who is the authority on what the Church teaches. Perhaps with more men being ordained to the permanent diaconate, there will be more deacons involved in RCIA formation. Nine months seemed like an eternity. In my experience in RCIA and in attending weekly meetings as a sponsor more than once, I found that catechumens/candidates entered RCIA with widely varying levels of understanding of the Catholic Church and its beliefs and practices. Given that we will not be going back to days of one-to-one instruction with a priest, I still would like to see more individualization in the RCIA program. I’m not sure that adding time and introducing new levels in RCIA is the way to do that. Thorough training for anyone dealing with inquirers at any level — even an in-home Bible study — would be essential. I think we are fortunate in our parish to have a longtime permanent deacon who is in charge of the program. He has assistance from lay members on the team, but there is no doubt about who is the authority on what the Church teaches. Perhaps with more men being ordained to the permanent diaconate, there will be more deacons involved in RCIA formation.

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