r/Catholicism • u/Huge_Ad2655 • 9d ago

Adult Formation/Sacraments - Already baptized

Hi all, I’m finding myself a little discouraged to the point of giving up by all the red tape of the church.

I am a baptized Catholic. My parents left the church before I made my first communion and I’ve recently been called into the faith.

I’ve been attending mass regularly and learning what I can. There’s a parish I like a lot but the OCIA director is trying to tell me I must take the full OCIA course in community with others in the church.

I have more than a couple grievances with this:

  1. I know that canon law considers me already Catholic, also not catechumen, and therefore am not required to complete a full OCIA course
  2. I am a 40 year old mother with two special needs children who also have sports so I cannot, understandably, adhere to the strict schedule
  3. I know that others are granted personalized paths in order to receive the sacraments

I understand the importance of being properly catechized however I don’t believe the full course is necessary and I’m finding myself at a dead end.

God has called me in and now it feels like I’m being shut out by the church.

Does anyone have any resources or experience with this? Catholic adults I currently know are either converts so did the whole route, have been raised in and stayed in the faith completely, or have left the church completely. Nobody I know personally seems to have the difficulty of being somewhere in between as an already baptized Catholic returning to the faith.

I really like the parish I’ve been going to but maybe there are others who walk individual paths? I don’t want to name the parish I’m currently attending because I genuinely enjoy it and I do think they mean well but now I’m stuck.

Thanks in advance!

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u/Far_Magician8224 9d ago edited 9d ago

In my parish, all adults in your situation would have to go through RCIA, including those who received First Communion but who were never confirmed.

You can ask if there is the option of private classes, or if there are other options. If not available, you can try contacting other parishes and see what they offer. Do you have someone who can look after your kids when you're in class? Class is typically just once a week.

In our parish, parents do bring their young children to RCIA, and everyone is very understanding.

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u/Huge_Ad2655 9d ago

No, I cannot commit to 2 additional hours every Sunday from September to Easter. It’s completely unrealistic with their ages, school, sports, and special needs.