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We must be very careful not to lump groups together when making our statements. There are many RCIA programs that are very good at preparing the catechumens for reception into the Catholic Family.

Our local Roman parish does indeed introduce their catechumens to the Eastern Churches. They visit my Ruthenian Byzantine parish and the Maronite parish that is up the street. We have many Eastern Churches in this area that the Director takes the catechuments to. Just because there are some weak RCIA classes out in some areas, it's not fair to say that all are a waste of time.

In Christ,
Michelle

ByzAscetic:

It's appears to me that you might be talking about the "CCD" and not the "RCIA," where Catholic teens, sometimes, volunteer as "teachers" in the former.

RCIA programs are maintained by each parish (almost 20,000) in the U.S.) for ADULTS desiring to enter/re-enter the (Roman) Catholic Church.

On the other hand, the "Confraternity of Christian Doctrine," known as the CCD, is a religious education program consisting of volunteer workers who provide religious instructions to all the students in the parish who attend PUBLIC ELEMENTARY schools.

The levels of instruction are quite different.

I really do doubt your sufficient "knowledge" about our RCIA.

AmdG

Dear: Amado,

Glory to Jesus Christ!

I was in RCIA for a little while then i stoped
going because i knew more then the teachers did, and because they taught what the catholic church doesnt in regards to Christian Morality, they more resemble the current anglican church. I never attend CCD.

FrDeaconEd.
I was not condemming the process of being recieved into the Catholic Church, i myself was in
RCIA left and became byzantine and attend Eastern Christian Formation (ECF). I was merely commenting on the recent failings of RCIA in many places.

Reznut i do agree not to genrealize people so much sorry if i did, but that fact is that
"RCIA is falling in many way across the boards".
I quote taken from a very knowledgeable priest at EWTN.

In Christ+
Daniel

I do agree that there are many cases where there are individuals who promote their liberal ideas in RCIA and CCD classes, which is indeed unfortunate. The RCIA I started at was very informative but there were other things that bothered me about the parish that prompted me to go to the Byzantine Church.

That's why those who are faithful to Church teachings in the Eastern Churches and the Western Churches need to become teachers for ECF, CCD and RCIA. We need to prevent the liberal free-thinking trend that has prevailed for the past 35-40 years.

That is what I am planning for. I want to be involved with our parish's ECF for teens and/or adults to make sure we end up with true Byzantines, no hybrid, no liberals, no New Age Christians.

In Christ, Michelle

If i decided to become a priest, i think i would be a good teacher. I would completly easternize my parish though.

In Christ+
Daniel

Yes, there are some RCIA programs that do try and integrate some material about the Eastern Catholics.

Fr. George Appleyard of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Parma wrote a book at the request of and specifically for RCIA programs called "Light of the East - A Guide to Eastern Catholicism for Western Catholics".

And I don't see why any well-rounded instruction in preparation for initiation couldn't include a brief primer discussion about the other lung of the Church.

Well, I am attending the RCIA program for my confirmation and I will defenitely mention this to everybody and I will ask the priest to explain to us some of the differences.

God Bless you all.

Another great booklet is the One Church and the Communion of Churches

Iliana, my dear. Since you are in Las Vegas, perhaps your class could pay a visit to Father Robert Pipta's parish St. Gabriel the Archangel Byzantine Catholic Church [archangelgabriel.org] . Fr. Pipta grew up in my parish in Anaheim ( Annunciation Byzantine Catholic Church [annunciationbyzantine.org] ) and his father is our parish's choir director. He's a really sweet man and a very important priest in our Eparchy -- he's our Eparchy's Vocation Director.

Even if your RCIA class doesn't go, please do yourself a favour and visit St. Gabriel's. Fr. Robert has wonderful Eastern Christian Formation classes if you get curious enough to learn more. Here is a link: ECF at St. Gabriel\'s [archangelgabriel.org] .

In Christ, Michelle

I will reznut, I will.

Thank you.