RCIA
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) - names the process by which interested persons gradually become members of the Roman Catholic Church. The R.C.I.A. is primarily a journey of faith:
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the spiritual journey through which adults become full, active, participating members of the Catholic Church. During this RCIA process, those interested in becoming Catholic attend weekly meetings where the team helps them to grow in their relationship with God, become familiar with Catholic teachings and practices, get acquainted with people in the parish, and get involved in service within the parish. The RCIA team assists people in their decision to become Catholic, as well as Catholics who wish to be renewed and updated in their faith. RCIA team members serve as sponsors and catechists.
Ministry Description
During the RCIA process, those interested in becoming Catholic attend weekly meetings where the team helps them to grow in their relationship with God, become familiar with Catholic teachings and practices, get acquainted with people in the parish, and get involved in service within the parish.
There are four phases of the RCIA process beginning with the period of inquiry when the person contacts the Catholic parish and begins to meet with other adults who are also inquiring about the Catholic faith. With the members of the RCIA team, these adults tell their own stories and relate them to faith stories found in scripture.
When the inquirers become firm in their desire for initiation and decide to continue the journey, they are admitted into the next phase through a special ceremony called the Rite of Acceptance. In this ritual, these men and women are signed with the cross, as the Church symbolically claims them for Christ. This is the first time that the inquirers publicly declare their faith before the parish community. They are accompanied by a sponsor for the team as well as by a Catholic of their choosing. These sponsors provide support and companionship for the rest of the RCIA process. In addition to the weekly meetings, inquirers attend Mass each Sunday. At the conclusion of the Liturgy of the Word, they are dismissed with one of the team members who will go with them to a separate room for a further reflection on the three Scripture passages proclaimed at Mass.
When the catechumens (not baptized) or candidates(baptized in another denomination) discern, with the help of their sponsors and team, that God is calling them to receive the sacraments of initiation at the next Easter Vigil, they are called to the sacraments by the Bishop or someone designated by him. These sacraments are Baptism (for Catechumens), Confirmation, and First Eucharist. The Rite of Election is celebrated on the first Sunday of Lent at St. Thomas More Cathedral in Arlington.
The catechumens and candidates are now called the Elect. The weeks of Lent are a time of intense prayer as they prepare themselves to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord at Easter and to receive the sacrament of initiation. On three Sundays in Lent before the Rite of Dismissal, the elected are prayed for in a special way to help them prepare more fully for the sacraments.
The Easter Vigil is the Great Night. The entire parish assembles for the primary celebration of the Lord’s resurrection, and this night is, therefore, the most appropriate occasion for the elect to celebrate their Baptism (for catechumens) Confirmation, and First Eucharist. The church has always recognized that in Baptism, we die to sin in Christ’s death, so that we may rise with him to new Life.
The newly initiated, now called "neophytes" are given the special opportunity to reflect on what God has done in them. From Easter to Pentecost they take the time to "unfold" the meaning of the initiation sacraments in the final phase called "Mystagogia." The sponsors, team, and Neophytes continue meeting weekly, using the Sunday scripture readings to help them deepen the meaning of the resurrection and of Baptism. This is also a time to discern how the grace of the Easter Sacraments is directing the new Catholic to serve others as Jesus did. The journey of faith lasts a lifetime. These weeks after Easter are special moments for new Catholics to seek out their place and ministry in our parish family.
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) - names the process by which interested persons gradually become members of the Roman Catholic Church. The R.C.I.A. is primarily a journey of faith:
- "From the awareness of stirring of faith and curiosity within one's heart,
- through all those stages of asking and seeking,
- through beginning involvement with Roman Catholic people,
- through hearing the Gospel proclaimed and by faithful reflection and prayer on this Word of God,
- through study and discussion about the Catholic experience,
- through doubts and hesitations,
- through discernment of God's call for them as individuals,
- through the steps of commitment,
- through the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist)
- to a life of faith, love, and justice lived in communion with Catholics throughout the world."
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the spiritual journey through which adults become full, active, participating members of the Catholic Church. During this RCIA process, those interested in becoming Catholic attend weekly meetings where the team helps them to grow in their relationship with God, become familiar with Catholic teachings and practices, get acquainted with people in the parish, and get involved in service within the parish. The RCIA team assists people in their decision to become Catholic, as well as Catholics who wish to be renewed and updated in their faith. RCIA team members serve as sponsors and catechists.
Ministry Description
During the RCIA process, those interested in becoming Catholic attend weekly meetings where the team helps them to grow in their relationship with God, become familiar with Catholic teachings and practices, get acquainted with people in the parish, and get involved in service within the parish.
There are four phases of the RCIA process beginning with the period of inquiry when the person contacts the Catholic parish and begins to meet with other adults who are also inquiring about the Catholic faith. With the members of the RCIA team, these adults tell their own stories and relate them to faith stories found in scripture.
When the inquirers become firm in their desire for initiation and decide to continue the journey, they are admitted into the next phase through a special ceremony called the Rite of Acceptance. In this ritual, these men and women are signed with the cross, as the Church symbolically claims them for Christ. This is the first time that the inquirers publicly declare their faith before the parish community. They are accompanied by a sponsor for the team as well as by a Catholic of their choosing. These sponsors provide support and companionship for the rest of the RCIA process. In addition to the weekly meetings, inquirers attend Mass each Sunday. At the conclusion of the Liturgy of the Word, they are dismissed with one of the team members who will go with them to a separate room for a further reflection on the three Scripture passages proclaimed at Mass.
When the catechumens (not baptized) or candidates(baptized in another denomination) discern, with the help of their sponsors and team, that God is calling them to receive the sacraments of initiation at the next Easter Vigil, they are called to the sacraments by the Bishop or someone designated by him. These sacraments are Baptism (for Catechumens), Confirmation, and First Eucharist. The Rite of Election is celebrated on the first Sunday of Lent at St. Thomas More Cathedral in Arlington.
The catechumens and candidates are now called the Elect. The weeks of Lent are a time of intense prayer as they prepare themselves to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord at Easter and to receive the sacrament of initiation. On three Sundays in Lent before the Rite of Dismissal, the elected are prayed for in a special way to help them prepare more fully for the sacraments.
The Easter Vigil is the Great Night. The entire parish assembles for the primary celebration of the Lord’s resurrection, and this night is, therefore, the most appropriate occasion for the elect to celebrate their Baptism (for catechumens) Confirmation, and First Eucharist. The church has always recognized that in Baptism, we die to sin in Christ’s death, so that we may rise with him to new Life.
The newly initiated, now called "neophytes" are given the special opportunity to reflect on what God has done in them. From Easter to Pentecost they take the time to "unfold" the meaning of the initiation sacraments in the final phase called "Mystagogia." The sponsors, team, and Neophytes continue meeting weekly, using the Sunday scripture readings to help them deepen the meaning of the resurrection and of Baptism. This is also a time to discern how the grace of the Easter Sacraments is directing the new Catholic to serve others as Jesus did. The journey of faith lasts a lifetime. These weeks after Easter are special moments for new Catholics to seek out their place and ministry in our parish family.