Rite of Christian Initation of Adults (RCIA)
What is RCIA?
RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is the process through which adults enter into the Catholic faith. RCIA is a spiritual journey designed in phases and implemented through various rites. The participants' spiritual growth is encouraged and enhanced through weekly reflection on God's Word and the teachings of Catholic doctrine and traditions.
Who typically attends RCIA?
•
Those married to Catholics
• Those visitors who are interested in Catholicism
• Those who have not gone to church but are looking
for a faith experience
• Inactive Catholics who wish to return to Church
• Those separated from the Sacraments for any reason,
i.e., not married in the Church or re-married
• Those who missed the Sacrament of Confirmation
• Active Catholics wishing to increase their
understanding of the Catholic faith.
When
is RCIA held? How long does it last?
At
St. Monica Parish, we have a year around process.
Informational sessions are held each Sunday at 9:00 –
10:00 (in the Brides Room). A nursery is available. During
this time, the catechetical (teaching) “Inquiry
team” answers any questions pertaining to the
Catholic faith and presents the Catholic belief as it
pertains to faith and morals.
After a period of time those who wish to make the next step
on the journey, will begin to attend Sunday Mass. This is
required for those who wish to join us by baptism or
profession of faith. After the homily, these inquirers --
now referred to as catechumens if unbaptized or candidates
if already baptized in a Christian church by the ordinary
rite -- will leave the congregation for a further
examination of the scriptures. A facilitator will assist in
this "breaking open the Word" for the remainder of Mass
with a Session on doctrine following.
If I choose to join the Catholic Church, who will sponsor
me?
Shortly before moving into Catechumenate, each inquirer
will be assigned a Catholic parishioner to be their
sponsor. The role of the sponsor is vital. Basically, the
sponsor becomes a friend of the inquirer. Each sponsor will
receive support and help from our RCIA Core Team. We do
expect the sponsor to be more than the ceremonial sponsor
for baptism, confirmation, or reception into the Church.
Some sponsors have enriched their own faith life by
attending the weekly sessions. Some have shared their own
prayer life and introduced the inquirer to some of our
Catholic devotions, activities and ministries in our parish
life. All of this helps our potential new member become an
active and vital part of our large Catholic family.
What are the final preparations for joining the Catholic
Church?
A Saturday day of retreat and an penance celebration will
take place in the last few weeks before the formal joining
our Catholic faith.
Will I still get support after joining the Catholic
Church?
After
joining our Catholic church, the new members will be
offered an opportunity to continue meeting in a small group
beginning at Pentecost and then quarterly during the year
following their reception into the Catholic Church.
This is
an option to continue experiencing friendship and support
in our never-ending faith journey.
Why would someone who is already Catholic attend
RCIA?
This journey of faith is an opportunity for adult Catholics
to prepare for the sacrament of confirmation. It is also
quite informative for any Catholic who wishes to learn more
about their faith.
Who is responsible for running RCIA?
Jaimee
Zorio (751-3748) is the Coordinator for RCIA at St. Monica.
Jaimee is supported by an RCIA Core Team of ten members who
serve as teachers (facilitators and catechists),
hospitality, facilitators,
and sponsor trainers. Parishioners from St. Monica also
assist by presenting talks on Catholic Doctrine and sharing
their personal experiences of living a Catholic faith.
What are the formal names for each stage of
RCIA?
RCIA is a journey, which gently leads adults -- those
unbaptized and those baptized in other faith traditions --
into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ within the
Catholic Church. It is a time of discernment broken up into
four distinct stages:
1. The Period of Evangelization or Precatechumenate - a
time of inquiry and reflection to help discern God's call.
Weekly sessions help you to better understand the teachings
of Christ, the foundation of the Catholic Church. At the
conclusion of this period, inquirers are invited to
celebrate a Welcoming Rite (Rite of Acceptance), asking to
become catechumens or candidates and thus formally
requesting membership in the Church.
2. The Period of The Catechumenate - a deepening of faith
centered around the study of, sharing of and reflection
upon the Sunday Gospel readings with the intent of full
initiation into the Catholic church. This period concludes
with the Rite of Election.
3. The Period of Purification and Enlightenment - final
preparation for the sacraments of initiation (Baptism,
Confirmation and Holy Eucharist). The catechumens, the
candidates and the entire parish community are called to
reform their lives according to the demands of the gospel.
This period, marked by soulful prayer and reflection,
concludes with the reception of the Sacraments of
Initiation.
4. Mystagogy (Leading into the Mysteries) - a time for the
community and the newly initiated Catholics to grow
together: to gain a fuller and more effective understanding
of mysteries through the gospel message and through the
experience of receiving sacraments. Typically,
this includes a meeting at Pentecost for a reflection of
the Easter sacraments of Initiation and quarterly sessions
and activities within the Catholic tradition, which may
include participation in a small faith-sharing group or in
parish ministries. Mystagogy
is the beginning of a lifelong pilgrimage. It is a
continuous conversion of the heart, mind, and spirit as we
strive to be closer to Christ.
What is the basis for teachings at the RCIA
sessions?
The faith and moral teachings of the Catholic Faith will
follow the Liturgical Calendar with a focus on the
doctrines, which flow from the Gospel readings at each
Sunday Mass with weekly references from the Catechism of
the Catholic Church.
Should
I expect to be ready to join the Catholic Church after
attending these sessions?
The
amount of time spent in each stage of discernment is
dependent on individual needs and feelings. Conversion
occurs in God's time, not ours.
Why
would I consider joining the Catholic Church, especially if
I am already Christian?
Many
converts experience a return to the roots of Christianity
when they join the Catholic Church as we emanate from the
unbroken traditions established by Christ with his
apostles. They find unity and consistency between our
beliefs and practices and the Gospel message. They are
inspired by the lives of St. Francis, St. Augustine and
other outstanding believers in Christ. They also find joy
in the Sacraments, God's gift of abundance to us all. The
sacraments are the strength of the Church and a focal point
of our Catholic Christian lives. Sacraments in the Catholic
Church occur through signs and rituals, which affect a
grace from God through the Church. We believe that
sacraments confer God's assistance in our attempts at
holiness, thus marriage and religious vocations, which are
not sacraments in most other Christian churches, are
sacraments in the Catholic Church.
Are
prior marriages an obstacle in becoming a
Catholic?
Catholics
believe that marriage is a sacred covenant, freely entered
into by mature individuals. When both persons are baptized,
we also believe that this sacred covenant is a sacrament.
Sacred scripture clearly teaches that marriage should be
fruitful, faithful, and permanent.
Because of these beliefs, the Catholic Church requires that
Catholics be duly prepared for entering into this sacred
union. For a Catholic to be validly married and eligible to
receive the Eucharist, a Catholic priest or deacon must
witness their marriage, unless they have received a
dispensation from this form.
The Catholic Church recognizes as valid all marriages of
non-Catholics, if this is the first marriage for both
persons. However, when prior marriages exist, the Church is
very concerned about helping individuals become eligible
for receiving the sacraments in our Church. This is
accomplished by presenting a petition for annulment of all
prior marriages. Our parish priest will assist anyone
preparing his or her petition to our archdiocesan tribunal.
This process is free and confidential. The length of time
for the tribunal to process this petition varies in each
case. Much depends upon the presentation of all necessary
documents -- e.g., marriage licenses and divorce decrees --
and the cooperation of witnesses designated by the
petitioner to provide information (two are required).
Using this information as the basis for the question of
prior marriages, a favorable decision from the tribunal is
necessary before one is eligible to receive sacraments in
the Catholic Church. After such a decision, a renewal of
marriage vows is also required, thus sacramentalizing the
present civil marriage. When this has been completed, then
reception into the Catholic Church can take place. If the
present spouse is Catholic, then that Catholic is eligible
for the sacraments, as well.
If a divorced person wishes to join our Church and they are
currently living a single life, there is no impediment to
joining the Church. If there is some intention to marry
again, a petition for annulment should be prepared and
submitted, as the future union would have to be witnessed
by a Catholic priest.