RCIA is the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults into the Catholic Faith
Who is it for?
It is for adults who have never been baptized who seek to be baptized and received into the Catholic Church.
It is for adult Christians who were baptized outside of the Catholic Church and desire to enter into full communion with the Church.
It is for Catholic adults who were baptized into the Catholic Church, but who never received their First Communion or their Confirmation.
RCIA is for those who are simply interested in learning more about Jesus and/or about His Church, for those who are interested in the idea of becoming Catholic, or those who want to receive Baptism, First Holy Communion, or Confirmation as an adult. All are welcome! There is no obligation to become Catholic or to finish the process. Feel free to only come to the first few meetings, but you are always welcome to all of them. All are invited! Invite a friend or family member! Thank you and God bless!
Adrian Perez, RCIA Coordinator
RCIA Sundays (Begins with 10:00 am Mass in the Church)
11:00 am-12:00 pm
Classes begin August 21, 2022
Registration takes place in class.
The Process of RCIA
Inquiry
RCIA starts with a period of inquiry, where those interested in learning more about Jesus or about His Church begin seeking answers. Classes provide the opportunity to ask questions and to have the faith explained in a welcoming and open environment. If a person decides that they want to seek entry into the Catholic Church, they then are asked to state their intentions before the parish community to enter into the Catechumenate. There is no obligation to move forward.
Rite of Admittance
During this Rite, the inquirer stands amidst the parish community and states that he or she wants to become a baptized member of the Catholic Church. The parish assembly affirms this desire and the inquirer becomes a Catechumen.
Catechumenate
The Period of the Catechumenate can last for as long as several years or for a shorter time. It depends on how the person is growing in faith, what questions they encounter along the way, and how God leads them on this journey. During this time, the Catechumens consider what God is saying to them in the Scriptures, what changes in their life they need to make to respond to God's inspiration, and what Baptism in the Catholic Church means. There is no obligation to move forward. When a Catechumen and the priest and the parish team working with him or her believes the person is ready to make a faith commitment to Jesus in the Catholic Church, the next step is the request for baptism and the celebration of the Rite of Election. Even before the Catechumens are baptized, they have a special relationship to the Church.
The Rite of Election
The Rite of Election includes the enrollment of names of all the Catechumens seeking baptism at the coming Easter Vigil. Typically, on the first Sunday of Lent, the Catechumens, their sponsors and families gather at the cathedral church. The Catechumens publicly express their desire for baptism to the diocesan bishop. Their names are recorded in a book and they are called the Elect.
Purification and Enlightenment
The days of Lent are the final Period of Purification and Enlightenment leading up to the Easter Vigil. Lent is a period of preparation marked by prayer, study, and spiritual direction for the Elect, and prayers for them by the parish communities.
The Rite of Full Initiation
The Celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation takes place during the Easter Vigil Liturgy on Holy Saturday when the Elect receives the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist. Now the person is fully initiated into the Catholic Church.
Mystagogy
As a newly initiated Catholic, they continue their formation and education continue in the Period of the Post Baptismal Catechesis, which is also called Mystagogy. This period continues at least until Pentecost. During the period the newly baptized members reflect on their experiences at the Easter Vigil and continue to learn more about the Scriptures, the Sacraments, and the teachings of the Catholic Church. In addition they reflect on how they will serve Christ and help in the Church's mission and outreach activities.
Please call the parish office for information on joining RCIA. 361.882.7912
Information from:
http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/who-we-teach/rite-of-christian-initiation-of-adults/
