Saint Richard Catholic Church

Tour of The Church
What It Means To Be Catholic
A Walk Through The Mass
How The Bible Came To Be
Scripture and Tradition
The Creed
The Sacraments
Sacramentals
The History of The Church
Redemption and Salvation
Justification and Grace
Mary and The Saints
The Communion of Saints
The Sacrament of Baptism
The Sacrament of The Eucharist
The Sacrament of Confirmation
The Sacrament of Marriage
The Sacrament of Holy Orders
The Sacrament of Reconciliation
The Sacrament of Anointing of The Sick
The Season of Advent
The Liturgical Year
Catholic Social Teaching
Christian Morality - The Ten Commandments
Christian Morality - The Beatitudes
John 6 - The Bread of Life Discourse
Catholic Prayers and Devotions
The Season of Lent
Stations of The Cross
How To Go To Reconciliation
How To Receive Communion
Preparing For The Easter Mysteries
Scripture Study

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (commonly known as the RCIA) is the normal way in which adults become full, active, participating members of the Catholic Church.

The RCIA is not just a "convert class" with a new name. It is a spiritual journey of growing in your relationship with the Lord. This journey has many facets. First, the RCIA process is about learning the history, doctrines and teachings of the Catholic Church. Second, the RCIA process is about growing spiritually through worship at Sunday Mass, daily prayer, reading the scriptures and several retreat days. Third, the RCIA process is about mentoring each person in learning about the Catholic faith through the congregation's prayers, a sponsor's support and the RCIA Team's leadership.

This process is a gradual process and takes at least 6 months living, studying and praying with the Catholic community.

FIRST STEP: Period of Inquiry
How someone come to consider joining the Catholic Church is unique to each individual. Years of marriage to a Catholic spouse, conversations with a Catholic friend or coworker, or even something written or viewed in the media can move an adult toward membership in the Catholic Church. Informally, this can go on for year!

At some point, the person may contact a Catholic parish and begin to meet with other adults who are also inquiring about the Catholic faith. These adults, with members of the RCIA team, will take them to tell their own stories and connect them with the faith stories found in scripture.

SECOND STEP: Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens and the Period of Catechumenate. Some of the inquires become firm in their desire for initiation and decide that they would like to begin more formal study of the teachings and practices of the Catholic Church. They are admitted into the next step through a special ceremony call the rite of Acceptance in the order of Cathechumens. In this ritual the Church symbolically claims these men and women for Christ by signing them with the cross.

This is the first time that the inquires publicly declare their faith before the parish community. Because no one likes to do something like that on their own, each inquirer is accompanied by a sponsor. Sponsors may be chosen by the individual or provided by the parish. Sponsors provide support and companionship for the rest of the RCIA process.

After this rite, the inquirers are called catechumens or candidates.. This name indicates that they are learning the teachings of the Church and beginning to accept Catholic tradition and practices.

Even though they are not yet permitted to receive the sacraments, the catechumens do enjoy other important rights. They have a right to assistance as they grow in faith by learning about the teachings of the Church and participating in works of service in the parish. They also have a right to be married in the Church and receive a Christian burial.

THIRD STEP: Rite of Election and Period of Purification and Enlightenment
The period of the Catechumenate ends when the catechumens discern, with the help of their sponsors and the parish RCIA team, that God is calling them to receive the sacraments of initiation (baptism, confirmation and Eucharist) at the next Easter Vigil. Before they can be initiated they must be officially called to the sacraments by the bishop or someone designated by him. This Rite of Election is often celebrated on the First Sunday of Lent in the diocesan cathedral.

FOURTH STEP: Initiation and Mystagogia. On Holy Saturday, the parish assembles for the Easter Vigil. The Church has always recognized that in baptism we die to sin in Christ's death so that we may rise to new life with him. The Easter Vigil is the primary celebration of Lord's resurrection and is, therefore, the most appropriate occasion for the elect to celebrate their baptism, confirmation and first Eucharist.

For the newly initiated, now called neophytes, the time between Easter and Pentecost is a special opportunity to reflect on the commitment which they have made to the Lord, to the Church and to the local parish community. this time of unfolding the meaning of the initiation sacraments is called mystagogia.