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Prodigal Daughter
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| Joined: | Wed Nov 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 196 |
| First Name: | Deborah/PD | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptized Catholic, received First Communion, left during Confirmation year. ... |
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Posted: Mon Jun 4th, 2007 10:33 pm |
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I am considering becoming a volunteer for our RCIA program. I would love to have some feedback from other RCIA volunteers about what the experience is like. Please share good and bad experiences, what your role is/was, and what you've gained from the experience. Thank you.
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"Man should tremble, the world should vibrate, all Heaven should be deeply moved when the Son of God appears on the altar in the hands of the priest."
St. Francis of Assisi
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Ali
Member
| Joined: | Sat Jan 6th, 2007 |
| Location: | Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 660 |
| First Name: | Ali | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | JW, finally fully Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Jun 5th, 2007 10:27 am |
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My dh and I went through our parrish's RCIA program in 2005/06. It didn't seem to be the full RCIA I've seen others mention here.
It was us, and sometimes another older couple, and 4 leaders. I really appriciated the time and dedication the leaders had to meet with, usually just dh and myself, once a week for the year. It was a relaxed atmosphere, more of a round table discussion. We were free to ask any question, or bring any thought or line of thinking we wanted to the classes.
Personally speaking, I would have liked to learn more about prayers (especially the Rosary) and the communion of Saints. The class was more of an brief overview of Catholicism rather than an in depth study. I wanted more meat of an in depth study. Ours was led by the RED of the parrish, I wish it had been led by a priest (not that I have anything against the RED, he's coming from a different place, kwim?)
Dh and I liked the laid back way it was done, and how open everyone was. Sometimes the leaders disagreed with certain points, and that was fun to watch 
How I gained from the experience? Well considering I went from attending the first class, by taking my little JW bible, ready to dispute every single point thrown at me about Catholicism and prove them wrong, to being be beliver myself  I would say that's a pretty significant gain. LOL
All my best, and God's blessing, in this for you.
Ali
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Credo Catholic
Member
| Joined: | Sat May 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Greenville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 1271 |
| First Name: | Marsha | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Jun 5th, 2007 12:32 pm |
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I went through RCIA at the same time Ali did, 05-06, and joined the church on Easter Vigil, 2006. Our class was large, about 50-60 people. We had a class of instruction following a laid out curriculum, for about 45 minutes, then 15 minutes of personal stories given by recent converts/reverts, then 30 minutes of small group discussion and questions led by leaders called "shepherds." About 50 people joined the church when I did. This fall I began going to RCIA to help out, but wasn't able to continue because I had to begin driving my son from work on Wed. night during the time of RCIA. I went to the Easter Vigil this year to see everyone join that I had talked with in the fall and it was disappointing to see faces missing in the group. I think I needed to take a little time to become adjusted to being Catholic anyway. I was too eager to "talk people into joining" instead of just letting them listen and take their own time to make up their minds. I was so enthusiastic! I think now the Lord arranged my son's schedule to make me step back and mellow out a little. The one thing I remember saying that got a good response from the class was: don't assume anything about the Catholic Church that you have heard from sources other than the church. To know the truth you have to get it from the church itself. They liked that. I have listened to your "blog" (I hope that's the right word, I'm not web literate!) and I think you would make an excellent RCIA volunteer. Your voice is calm and assured and you obviously know what the journey is like, so if you're willing to share it with others, then go for it!
God bless
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BodRod
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 2nd, 2006 |
| Location: | Apple Valley, California USA |
| Posts: | 777 |
| First Name: | Cliff | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Raised an SDA, then Generic Christian, finally at home with ... |
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Posted: Tue Jun 5th, 2007 01:55 pm |
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Hi Deborah,
At the end of my RCIA experience, the leader invited anyone who wanted to return the following Fall, to do so. They could help out if they liked or they could just sit and join in the discussions when they liked. I had enjoyed my RCIA experience so much that I jumped at the chance to "do it" again. It seemed a little unrealistic to me to think that we could adequately cover 2000 years of Church history in nine months. I helped again last year and I am scheduled to help again this coming Fall.
Every year is different. The group is different every year, the leaders do it a little differently each year, we support team members assist in different ways each year. Some of it is serious and some of it is serious material presented in a fun way. For example, when we are studying the saints, some of us dress up like we think the saints did in their day and present ourselves in the first person. We have coffee, tea, chocolate, ice water and snacks available for the group which they can get up and go get anytime during the meeting. This is a BIG help to those who come to RCIA straight from work.
In addition to the regular activities and topics of RCIA, we (our parish) supply the group with the newsletter/worksheet, "Journey of Faith" and the monthly magazine "Magnificat". Each week we go over the Gospel reading for the coming Sunday, discuss it from the view of the Church and then share any other comments or questions members might have regarding the reading or anything they would like to bring up related to their thoughts about the reading.
I seemed to have rambled here. If you have any questions about what we do or how we do it, feel free to ask.
PS. I should admit, we have the "superduperist" RCIA leader of ALL TIME!!! 
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Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro.
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Prodigal Daughter
Member
| Joined: | Wed Nov 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 196 |
| First Name: | Deborah/PD | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptized Catholic, received First Communion, left during Confirmation year. ... |
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Posted: Tue Jun 5th, 2007 05:00 pm |
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Ali, Marsha, and Criff,
Thank you for your responses, they have been very helpful. I will continue to pray about it but am leaning in the direction of volunteering.
God bless,
Deborah
____________________
"Man should tremble, the world should vibrate, all Heaven should be deeply moved when the Son of God appears on the altar in the hands of the priest."
St. Francis of Assisi
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