Dear Padre Artical - 28th June 2009

I’m a 75-year-old baptized Methodist. I been married to a Catholic for 45 years and would like to become Catholic however, my parish Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults takes a long time to complete (September through Easter). Is such a prolonged course of study necessary for a person of my advanced age? - Ready Right Now

Dear Ready Right Now,

The RCIA was designed to meet the needs of two main groups: those who have been baptized as Catholics or in a Protestant tradition but have received no additional instruction in the Catholic faith, and those who have not been baptized. Having been baptized and educated in a Protestant tradition, you have a different starting point from someone who has little knowledge of Christ or who has never participated in a church community.

RCIA programs use an instruction process called catechumenate, in which people seeking to become Catholic (catechumens) experience a worshiping community, pray, and reflect on God’s Word. The catechumenate is divided into steps that are marked by liturgical rites; some parts of the rites are optional, depending on each catechumen’s pastoral situation. Catechumens can be received into the Church at anytime of year.

You probably have a lot of questions about why Catholics say certain prayers, take Communion regularly, have a centralized, unified structure, and so forth. Writing out these questions will help you focus a discussion with your priest. Talk about your closeness to Catholicism since your marriage and how it has formed your faith. Together, you can determine the amount and type of preparation that is right for you.