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Forming those who form others

RCIA: Questions, Answers, and Advice

In this issue Bill Keimig answers the following questions:
Q. Is it liturgically appropriate to formally allow catechumens to choose a baptismal name earlier than the Holy Saturday Preparation Rites?

Q. The Code of Canon Law (CIC 865) says that adults to be baptized should be exhorted to have sorrow for personal sin. My pastor has the unbaptized elect and the baptized candidates both go to Confession prior to the Easter Vigil. His reasoning is that as adults even those not yet baptized would benefit from participating in this sacrament and would better understand how life-giving and freeing it is. Is there any problem with this?

Q. What would you recommend in terms of ensuring that a baptized participant has gone to Confession prior to making a profession of faith and receiving Confirmation and Eucharist?

Q. Where can the provision be found for Christian initiation of a person in danger of death?

Q. A person who is a strong, lifelong Christian meets with you about becoming a Catholic. He is absolutely positive that he wants to be a Catholic; he tells you that he has studied many books and listened to many tapes and is totally convinced that he wants to join the Church. He doesn’t have any close Catholic friends. He is upset by the idea that it might be many months before he is allowed to enter the Church and receive the sacraments. He asks if he really has to go through the entire RCIA process and all the rites.

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William Keimig serves as Assistant Director for The Catechetical Institute at Franciscan University. He formerly served as a Master Catechist in the Hearts Aflame Program and a teacher in the marriage preparation program for the Archdiocese of Washington, DC. Mr. Keimig was the Director of Religious Education at St. Mary’s Parish in Clinton, Maryland. His duties included directing adult education, RCIA, oversight of the youth group, sacramental preparation, catechist training, and catechesis of the parish’s children in the day school and Sunday school. Mr. Keimig served as the Director of the Association for Catechumenal Ministry (ACM) for many years. Mr. Keimig holds a Master’s Degree in Theology and Christian Ministry from Franciscan University in Steubenville, and Certification in Catechetics. He also holds a BA in Government and Politics and a Master’s Degree in Public Management from the University of Maryland.

This article is from The Sower and may be copied for catechetical purposes only. It may not be reprinted in another published work without the permission of Maryvale Institute. Contact [email protected]

Categorized Under

Categorized Under:

OCIA

Issue:

29.2

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About Franciscan Catechetics

The Catechetics Degree Programs and the Catechetical Institute (CI) at Franciscan University of Steubenville work in concert to prepare clergy, religious and laity to join the “army of catechists” called for by St. John Paul II, eager to help the Church in her mission of making all nations joyful disciples of Jesus Christ. We combine a thorough formation in Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and Magisterial documents with training in effective pedagogical techniques to help those we serve to grasp the truth, goodness, and beauty of the Father’s plan, and to bear witness to others faithfully of the wonderful life of grace in the Holy Spirit.

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