Hi Ann,

My two cents would be just to find a parishioner at the parish where you will be receiving instruction for RCIA . The pastor should be able to help you.

Hope this helps,

Mike

Hi Ann,

These are totally random ideas, but . . .

• Ask the priest at the parish, if you haven't done so. He may be able to help.
• Ask the RCIA people what to do.
• Get involved in the pro-life movement and make friends; it is bursting with practicing Catholics.
• If you live in Eastern Massachusetts, one of us can be your sponsor, but since Mike sent you a Catechism, I'm guessing he knows you don't live here.
• If you live in San Diego, call Catholic Answers (See www.catholic.com for a phone number).
• If you live in Pittsburgh, I know someone who could be your sponsor.
• Find an Extraordinary Form Mass. I am not a fan of this Mass but certainly anyone who goes to it is a practicing Catholic.
• I don't know how old you are but I'm guessing, based on your e-mail, that you were born in 1977.  Contact the diocese and see if they have any young adult groups. (Young Adult is generally defined as youth in their 20s and 30s.) These tend, in my experience, to be full of orthodox, practicing Catholics.
• I have heard that the Knights of Columbus is a reliable source of solid, practicing Catholics. I can't vouch for this myself, nor do I have an idea of how you might approach them, but I throw it out as something to look into.
• Get involved in the parish. No one will kick you out for not being a Catholic. Observe:
  • who's a habitual Mass attendee
  • who is living out the faith, and
  • so forth.
• Hang around a monastery.

Hope this helps,

Eric

Hi Ann,

You don't need a sponsor to enter an RCIA program. You will eventually need sponsor when you are confirmed.

I'm sure that one of the members of the RCIA team which run your local program will be more than willing to stand up with you.  The most important thing is for you to find a solid Catholic program that will actually teach something of substance and not a bunch of fluff.

When you receive Confirmation you are in essence swearing an oath to believe all that the Church teaches (because it is revealed by God who cannot be deceived and cannot deceive) in the areas of faith and morals. In order to do that, you need have an understanding of what the Church teaches.

RCIA is not meant to make you a theologian, but it should have sufficient doctrinal substance. On the other side of the equation, a good RCIA program should foster a sense of living out your faith as a Catholic in a community of faith. All of our doctrines mean nothing if all they are is mental abstracts that we agree with.

Depending on where you live, perhaps we can help you find a parish that has a good program.

John

Ann,

Yes, they provide a person to accompany you through the RCIA. That person is not a sponsor unless, and until, the RCIA person decides to enter the faith at the end of the program.

Mary Ann