BLOG POST | Hey Deacon!

Why do people who are interested in becoming Catholic need to attend classes?

By classes, I assume you are asking about the need to attend RCIA, the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults.

The RCIA process is all about conversion, communion, and discipleship. It is about growth and change taking place in our hearts and minds so that we can more fully live in relationship with God and each other. It is about living our faith and exploring what belief in God means for our lives.

RCIA is not about participating in a program or course of study. Instead, the Church recognizes that the initiation process is a period of formation and a time for prayer, catechesis, and ritual that prepares an individual to discern how best to grow in relationship with God.

The Catholic Church desires for all people to know Jesus and live a sacramental life. To fully understand what this means requires more than a welcome invitation and registration form. It starts with a renewed awareness of our baptism identity and how our souls change through the sanctifying grace of the sacraments. And it evolves toward a clear understanding of what Catholics believe and proclaim – our profession of faith.

In terms of required formation, what the Church asks of those who “inquire” about the faith is not much different than what it asks of Catholics sitting in the pew. For example, Catholics who desire to have their child receive the Sacrament of Baptism must attend baptism preparation classes. It is the parents who receive a “refresher” course on the importance of raising their child in the faith as they are the first teachers.

Likewise, when a Catholic is engaged to be married, to a Catholic or non-Catholic, the Church requires additional formation. Christian marriage is a sacrament and the Church wants couples to be well-prepared and to develop a better understanding of the sacrament; to evaluate and deepen their readiness to live married life and to gain insights into themselves as individuals and as a couple. This time of readiness and preparation goes beyond a weekend retreat. This sacramental preparation typically takes about six months.

Preparing oneself to participate more fully in the sacramental life of the Church is more than checking a box. It is a lifestyle change, an all-in (or should be). There is no Catholic graduation or certificate. Your walk with the Lord is empowered by receiving God’s grace from His sacraments. The RCIA process is simply a way that gives truth and a more abundant life of Jesus and His Church. When you enter into sacramental life, your Christian life will be transformed.




Author Bio:
Deacon Dan Vaughn