RCIA - Interested in becoming Catholic?

Are you curious or interested in knowing about how one becomes a fully-initiated, practicing member of the Catholic Church?  Well, the Second Vatican Council labored over this question and proclaimed that every parish needed to provide a process of initiation for any eligible adults and children of catechetical age.  Anyone who has never been baptized is welcome.  The same is true for those who were validly baptized in another Christian community.  One may have even been baptized Catholic and yet have not received formation in the faith nor received any other sacraments. RCIA stands for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.  It is a process of initiation whereby Catechumens and Candidates (unbaptized and baptized) learn the truths, teachings, and rituals of our faith revealed in Scripture and Tradition.  This takes place in our parish community among all the baptized.  Particular individuals agree to be special companions called Godparents and Sponsors.  Others take roles as Catechists and Scripture Facilitators.  Still others take up the role of ministers of Hospitality and Retreat Team members.  It takes all of us to build up the Kingdom of God according to his divine will.

Through a process of Four Periods and Three Steps, RCIA offers “information” to a group of inquirers who are “in FORMATION.”  Through God’s invitation and grace they experience a conversion of heart and mind and through conversations, thoughtful questions, and prayerful discernment they come to know God’s faithful love and mercy and choose to live out their Christian identity in the Catholic Church.

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is designed to bring one to the mission of discipleship.  Here at St. Francis de Sales Parish we have always offered a year-round process of initiation as the Rite encourages.  That means that the (1) Precatechumenate period is always available and ongoing throughout the year.  As soon as someone expresses an interest in the Catholic Church, they are interviewed and then immediately join other Inquirers who have been meeting on a regular basis. Whenever a few people in the Precatechumenate are ready to move into the (2) Catechumenate period, we celebrate with a Rite of Acceptance/Welcome. Those who are not ready yet to move into the Catechumenate period, remain in the Precatechumenate period, while those who celebrate the Rite of Acceptance/Welcome, join other Catechumens and Candidates who have been meeting weekly.

About one month before the first Sunday of Lent, the Director and the RCIA Team share a Retreat Day with those Catechumens and Candidates who have spent several months in the Catechumenate period to evaluate and prayerfully discern whether or not they are ready to receive the Easter Sacraments. That decision is made through dialogue and prayer between the Director and the Catechumen/Candidate, the Sponsor and the Catechumen/Candidate, the Director and the Team and the Director and the Sponsor. (If the Director, Team and Sponsor believe that the Catechumen/Candidate is not yet ready, time and care are given to help the Catechumen/Candidate arrive at that decision also.)

On the first Sunday of Lent, those who desire to receive their Sacraments at the Easter Vigil will celebrate the Rite of Election/Call to Continuing Conversion, and begin the (3) Purification and Enlightenment period of their journey.  Those who are not ready to receive their Sacraments will remain in the Catechumenate period.  Those remaining in the Catechumenate can continue in that period until they are ready to receive sacraments. Prior to their reception of the initiation sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, they should move into a modified Purification and Enlightenment period and celebrate a Penitential Rite. They can then be received into the Church at any of the regularly scheduled parish Masses.

Reception of the initiation sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil marks the transition into the final period of (4) Mystagogia.  This is a season of discovery and sharing.  Now the Neophytes (new members) fully experience the life of the Church and gradually experience the connection between the celebration of the Eucharist and the eucharistic lives they live as they take up the mission to bring “Good News” to the world.

If someone you know is interested in more information about becoming Catholic, ask them to call the RCIA Office (345-9874 ext. 210), or bring them to a Sunday session and introduce them to the initiation process.