Catholics/Returning Catholic

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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 7/27/2009


Question
As a returning Catholic do I have to go through RCIA in order to receive communion and the other sacraments?

Answer
Hi, Tom:
Thanks for the question.
My easiest answer would be to recommend that you simply ask this same question of your local Parish Priest; but since I don't know your exact circumstances, I can make the following observations below...
1. If you left the Catholic Church by a formal act, then you need to make a public profession of the Catholic Faith with at least an implicit renunciation of the errors you had embraced by which you removed yourself from full communion with the Catholic Church.
2. If you just sort of fell out of the regular practice of the Catholic Faith, and you have resolved to return again to the practice of the Faith then you could simply make a good general sacramental confession and be reconciled back to God and the Church, and move onward from there by the help of God's Grace.
3. Nevertheless, some people find attending the RCIA Program beneficial for some good information and formation, and as a support to getting back into the regular practice of the Catholic Faith.
So, from this point onward, as it always has been, you must decide whether or not you will be serious about practicing the Catholic Faith, and then take whatever steps will be most beneficial toward that end.  I wish you the very best!

Fr. Timothy Johnson

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Fr. Timothy Johnson

Expertise

A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.

Experience

I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.

Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)

Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology; MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary; 2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality. BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy; BA - Liberal Arts; AA - General Studies.

Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15. Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office. I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church. Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.

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