STEP 1
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Into the Catacombs-
The pre-catechumenate
is a preliminary step in the journey of faith. It is a time for
inquirers to hear the Word and it is a time for community members to
listen to the inquirers and answer their questions. When the inquirers
are ready to proceed tome next phase, the catechumenate. a ritual called
The “Rite of Entrance to the Catechumenate” takes place, during the
Sunday Mass, so that the community can welcome the inquirers to The
second step of their journey of faith.“Catechumen”
in the
early Church was the name applied to one who had not yet been initiated
into the sacred mysteries, but was undergoing a course of preparation
for that purpose. In other words, those who elect to enter into full
communion with the Catholic faith but have not been Baptized are called
the Catechumen
Candidates are Baptized Catholic Christians who have not
received catechetical instruction and whose Christian initiation has not
been completed by Confirmation and Eucharist and also Baptized
Christians who have been members of another Church or ecclesial
community and seek to be received into the full communion of the
Catholic Church.
Rituals: Rites
allow people to enact or ritualize shifts in human social relationships
that result from changes in position within the life cycle. Christian
Initiation is a rite of passage. It marks the movement of people from
non-belief to belief, or from belief within one denomination to belief
within another. All major rites are celebrated on Sunday so that the
community of the faithful can participate.
The Rite of Acceptance:
This rite marks the public movement of non-baptized adults from pre
catechumenate to the catechumenate.
The Rite of Welcome:
This is an adapted version of the Rite of Acceptance and marks the
movement of individuals who have been baptized but have not received the
sacraments of Eucharist and/or Confirmation or have been baptized in
another Christian faith.
The Dismissal:
The catechumens/candidates are dismissed as a form of hospitality
because they cannot join us at the Eucharistic table. They meet with an
RCIA team member to be nourished by the lectionary based catechesis. By
leaving, they remind the whole assembly of the dignity of Baptism and
the importance of the Eucharist.
Sponsors/Godparents:
Sponsors are people who are chosen by the RCIA team to get to
know the candidate/catechumen and assist them through the RCIA process.
They stand as witness to the individual’s moral character, faith, and
intention. Godparents become the sponsor of record at the time that
sacraments are received. Godparents are selected by the
candidate/catechumen.
Discernment:
This is an ongoing process that the candidate/catechumen, team members,
and sponsors engage in until the receipt of sacraments. It is a
prayerful process of determining if this is truly a call from God to
become a Catholic.
Rite of Election:
This is for catechumens only and occurs on the first Sunday of Lent.
The Rite of Election calls the catechumen into a time of intense
preparation by prayer and spiritual recollection for the celebration of
Baptism at the Easter Vigil. The Bishop hears the affirmation of
Godparents and sponsors and declares them ready for the celebration of
the sacraments at the next Easter Vigil. The catechumen is now called
the “elect.”
The Rite of Calling Candidates to Lenten
Renewal:
This Rite is celebrated on a Sunday near the beginning of Lent. They
are preparing to complete their initiation by the sacraments of
Eucharist and Confirmation.
