Paying for RCIA?

[Tigg]

I am very happy to say that I have found a new parish. I was welcomed with open arms. The service was amazing tonight! The parishioners where all so kind and right away I felt like I was at home. I spoke with the father after service and we talked as if we had known each other for years. Now I'm starting to think this whole paying for RCIA thing was a blessing in disguise as I am SO HAPPY I found this parish! I called and left a message about about RCIA classes. I pray this place is reasonable and wants to teach the Catholic faith, because I so badly want to be a part of the Catholic faith.

Good news indeed. God bless.

 

[Tallguy88]

That's great news!

The parish I converted in never charged for RCIA. It's a small parish and the priest runs another small parish as well. Even so, the priest led the RCIA class personally, never charged any money for anything, called to check up on us if we missed a few classes, etc.

It was much better than the big parish's RCIA program.

 

[Michie]

I have. I've been in parishes that have had very involved RCIAs AND RCICs. (I guess when RCIA came on the scene we could expect the different programs.) I've met folks that LOVED the specially made baptismal robes that seemed to the people to show that their sins WERE ACTUALLY "leaving them through the Baptismal waters" (the purple would bleed a bit in the waters but I've even spoken to some of those who loved the effect) and the white robes that were worn at Mass even a week later or the ones to the meeting of the different parishes in RCIA that year and the professional photographers on the Holy Saturday celebration (parents of the RCIC children particularly liked those.) I have met folks who were glad that a bus was available for the trip to the Bishop's seat (Cathedral) for the Rite of Election and later on too. Some of the different parishes (I taught CCD in one) would hand out free Bibles and inspirational books like Surprised By Truth and I never heard complaints about receiving the books. And I have never been to ANY Church meeting, CCD training, parish finance, parish social services, RCIA, Bible Study, etc. that DIDN'T incorporate a "fellowship coffee and donuts".

Said I liked the old way better and this way had to be explained to me by several parish DREs.

We have baptismal robes & they are borrowed from the Church. All these other things you mentioned are ridiculous. Everyone take their own pictures & parish pictures are taken by laity & submitted to the diocesan paper. Having all those frills at the expense of the convert is shameful. There are all sorts of ways to get around these expenses that would not take much imagination.

Again. RCIA should not charge. The extras are just that because somebody else wants them. Converts or just curious learners should never pay for RCIA. It a really rotten witness. I cant see Jesus or Pope Francis endorsing this.

 

[Anhelyna]

Surely each parish has their own ideas ? They are probably following guidelines from their Dioceses - so these comments are really not very helpful .

in the parish [ RC ] I used to attend - the RCIA candidates met in the meeting room round a table - they discussed things. They were given a Bible during the Scrutinies - not till then. There were no Baptismal Robes , no trips to places .

 

[G19shooter]

Got off the phone yesterday with the lady running the show for RCIA. She was super kind in answering all my questions. When asked if it cost anything she said, "Of course not!" =)

Thank you to everyone who chimed in on the matter of paying for RCIA, all the info helped guide me in the right direction.

God bless you all!

 

[Michie]

Got off the phone yesterday with the lady running the show for RCIA. She was super kind in answering all my questions. When asked if it cost anything she said, "Of course not!" =)

Thank you to everyone who chimed in on the matter of paying for RCIA, all the info helped guide me in the right direction.

God bless you all!

I'm hoping the parish that charges gets a swift kick in the tail from the Bishop.

 

[WarriorAngel]

Got off the phone yesterday with the lady running the show for RCIA. She was super kind in answering all my questions. When asked if it cost anything she said, "Of course not!" =)

Thank you to everyone who chimed in on the matter of paying for RCIA, all the info helped guide me in the right direction.

God bless you all!

 

[AMDG]

I'm hoping the parish that charges gets a swift kick in the tail from the Bishop.

Since as you said, it was for "frills" and NOT the "bare-bones"--the workbook, discussions, etc., I bet the Bishop already knows and has given his approval AS LONG AS THE COST IS NOT FOR THE THREE SACRAMENTS, particularly since the Rite of Election usually REQUIRES a trip to the Cathedral and that is something many of the parishes around here look forward to almost as much as the festivities after Holy Saturday and not everyone can drive there. The Bishop is intimately involved in the RCIA programs. (Three Sacraments are given out that night in RCIA/RCIC at Holy Saturday Mass. It's quite special.)

G19shooter, don't forget to bring a nice camera so you can capture this once in a lifetime event. My son wishes he had for his two girls when they went through RCIC (RCIA for children)--he didn't go the route of professional photographer.

 

[Michie]

Since as you said, it was for "frills" and NOT the "bare-bones"--the workbook, discussions, etc., I bet the Bishop already knows and has given his approval AS LONG AS THE COST IS NOT FOR THE THREE SACRAMENTS, particularly since the Rite of Election usually REQUIRES a trip to the Cathedral and that is something many of the parishes around here look forward to almost as much as the festivities after Holy Saturday and not everyone can drive there. The Bishop is intimately involved in the RCIA programs. (Three Sacraments are given out that night in RCIA/RCIC at Holy Saturday Mass. It's quite special.)

G19shooter, don't forget to bring a nice camera so you can capture this once in a lifetime event. My son wishes he had for his two girls when they went through RCIC (RCIA for children)--he didn't go the route of professional photographer.

I never said they were charging for sacraments. But it seems to be charging to become catholic or even just simply learning about the RCC... basically the same thing in a roundabout way.