RCIA

 THE RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA)

What is RCIA?

RCIA is intended to instruct in the Catholic Faith those who are seeking to enter into Full Communion with the Catholic Church through Baptism and/or Confirmation and Holy Eucharist. RCIA is your compass to the Catholic Faith.

For who is RCIA?

  • Anyone not yet baptized, over the age of 7.

  • Anyone baptized but not as a Catholic, and want to enter into Full Communion with the Catholic Church.

  • Anyone baptized as a Catholic, 18 or older, who did not yet celebrate First Eucharist(Communion) or Confirmation.

  • Fully initiated Catholics seeking fuller catechetical knowledge of their Catholic Faith.

  • Anyone at all looking to learn more about Christianity.

RCIA Classes are on Wednesdays

Time: 7:00PM to 8:30PM

Registration open, July through August

LEARNING MORE ABOUT RCIA

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, known as the R.C.I.A., is a process through which the non-baptized, those baptized in other Christian traditions, and baptized Catholics receive formation in the Church's teachings (spiritual, pastoral, catechetical, liturgical, and moral), and are prepared to receive all or some of the sacraments of initiation, namely, Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist (Holy Communion). For non-Catholics, there is a period of inquiry, encouraging one to fully explore and question any Catholic beliefs and practices held during the Church's 2000 years of existence. 

Once this inquiry period has ended, a commitment may be made. This commitment to proceed begins the period of pre-sacramental instructions which will culminate in the celebration of the sacrament desired. Thereafter, each person, like the other members of the Church, commits to lifelong faith formation and growth (spiritual, moral, intellectual, and pastoral). This is done through attending as many parish retreats, bible studies and doctrinal instructions, as is possible; also engaging in active stewardship of time, talent and treasure. Simply put, the person makes a lifelong commitment to follow the Lord Jesus as a practicing Catholic Christian. 

The group process is facilitated by a team trained and qualified Catholic women and men of different vocational backgrounds – medicine, real estate, law, military, and education, and people originally from different religious backgrounds – Buddhist, Jewish, Protestant, and cradle Catholics. This diversity, coupled with various methods of presentation on numerous topics, is a rich source of interest for adults so much so that fully initiated Catholics have sat in on sessions just for enrichment. You, also, are invited and most welcomed to join us. 

Biblical Reference:

So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers (Acts 2 41-42). 

Teaching of the Church: 

The rite of Christian initiation presented here is designed for adults who, after hearing the mystery of Christ proclaimed, consciously and freely seek the living God and enter the way of faith and conversion as the Holy Spirit opens their hearts. By God's help they will be strengthened spiritually during their preparation and at the proper time will receive the sacraments fruitfully [(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1232, footnote 35; Cf. RCIA (1972)]

LEARNING MORE ABOUT FAITH FORMATION:

St. Pope John Paul clarifies catechesis in greater depth in his Apostolic Exhortation, Catechesi Tradendae, paragraph 5):

At the heart of catechesis we find, in essence, a Person, the Person of Jesus of Nazareth, "the only Son from the Father...full of grace and truth," who suffered and died for us and who now, after rising, is living with us forever. It is Jesus who is "the way, and the truth, and the life," and Christian living consists in following Christ, the sequela Christi.

The primary and essential object of catechesis is, to use an expression dear to St. Paul and also to contemporary theology, "the mystery of Christ." Catechizing is in a way to lead a person to study this mystery in all its dimensions: "to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery...comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth ...know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge... (and be filled) with all the fullness of God." It is therefore to reveal in the Person of Christ the whole of God's eternal design reaching fulfillment in that Person. It is to seek to understand the meaning of Christ's actions and words and of the signs worked by Him, for they simultaneously hide and reveal His mystery. Accordingly, the definitive aim of catechesis is to put people not only in touch but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ: only He can lead us to the love of the Father in the Spirit and make us share in the life of the Holy Trinity.

To this end, Catechesis is an ecclesial act; namely it is the Church that teaches us through the agents of the Church – our faith formation team (Priests, Deacons, Catechist/Director, Lay Teachers and Parents).  It is not an individual project where anyone teaches one’s opinions, or whatever anyone likes or prefers according to one’s political, cultural, or ideological leaning, affiliation or orientation.  Absolutely not!  Rather, it is about faithfulness to the official teaching expounded by the magisterium (The Pope, the Ecumenical Councils and the Catholic Bishops) as contained in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition (cf. 1Timothy 3:14-16; 2Timothy 3:16; 2Thessalonians 2:15; 2Peter 1:20-21). This is what the General Directory of Catechesis explains in paragraph 78, as follows:

Catechesis is an essentially ecclesial act. The true subject of catechesis is the Church which, continuing the mission of Jesus the Master and, therefore animated by the Holy Spirit, is sent to be the teacher of the faith. The Church imitates the Mother of the Lord in treasuring the Gospel in her heart. She proclaims it, celebrates it, lives it, and she transmits it in catechesis to all those who have decided to follow Jesus Christ. This transmission of the Gospel is a living act of ecclesial tradition: 

– The Church transmits the faith which she herself lives: her understanding of the mystery of God and his salvific plan, her vision of man's highest vocation, the style of evangelic life which communicates the joy of the Kingdom, the hope which pervades her and the love which she has for mankind and all God's creatures.

– The Church transmits the faith in an active way; she sows it in the hearts of catechumens and those to be catechized so as to nourish their profoundest experience of life. The profession of faith received by the Church (traditio), which germinates and grows during the catechetical process, is given back (redditio), enriched by the values of different cultures. The catechumenate is thus transformed into a center of deepening catholicity and a ferment of ecclesial renewal.