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Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Adults who are not baptized or who are baptized in another Christian faith tradition and seek to embrace the Catholic faith, participate in an initiation process called RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). Adults are fully initiated into the Catholic Church during this process, celebrating Baptism, if needed, Confirmation and First Eucharist. Holy Eucharist offers a year round RCIA process, so a person may enter the first phase, at any time throughout the year. Inquirers bring their questions about Christianity and Catholicism to the meetings, which are led by members of the RCIA team. For more information about the RCIA, or the process for children older than 7 who wish to come into the Church, please Contact the Parish Office. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the process for receiving new members into the Church. The process is guided by the liturgical calendar and led by scripture. RCIA is for anyone who is searching and may be thinking of becoming a Catholic Christian. RCIA is also for the Baptized Catholic who wishes to continue their own journey of faith and has not received the other Sacraments of Initiation (Eucharist and Confirmation). RCIA is a year round ministry. The RCIA process begins with the Period of Inquiry as a discernment period. RCIA meets after 8:30 Mass every Sunday. RCIA team members lead discussion that Anyone interested in becoming involved in this ministry is welcome. If you would like to stop in and join us on Sunday mornings, you are welcome. We look forward to seeing you scripturally based and supported by Church doctrine.
RCIA is bringing the "Good News" alive in the modern world ...
The letters "RCIA" stand for the "Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults", the document flowing from Vatican II which guides the process by which adults are initiated into our Roman Catholic community. The RCIA describes a process in which men and women are guided and cared for as they awaken in faith and are gradually introduced to the Catholic way of life.
The RCIA process is a series of carefully planned stages, marked by liturgical rites in the presence of the whole community, in which new Catholics embark on and join us in a continuing and deepening conversion into faith and discipleship. The RCIA takes the distinctive history and spiritual needs of each person into account, differentiating between the baptized and the unbaptized, the catechized and the uncatechized. The needs of mature, practicing Christians from other faith traditions are considered on an individual basis. (read history)
The RCIA draws its model from the "catechumenate" of the ancient Church. Becoming Christian in the early days of the Church involved a sharp break with the surrounding culture. New Christians entered into the joy of new life and a life-sharing community of faith, but also entered into a way of living which demanded deep commitment and entailed great risks. In the modern world, our faith also demands deep commitment -- our beliefs and the beliefs of our society are often in tension. The Church revived the catechumenate -- embodied in the RCIA -- because new believers in the modern world need careful preparation and caring support as they enter into the mysteries of Christ and the commitment of Christian living.
Conversion: a Journey of Mind, Heart and Spirit
To seek the RCIA process is the first step on a lifelong journey of intellectual, emotional and spiritual conversion. In her book, Turning: Reflections on the Experience of Conversion, Emilie Griffin reflected that "conversion" is the process of "turning over one's life and energies to God." While we know that the concept of "turning" is apt -- the root image of conversion is the proverbial "one hundred eighty degree change" -- we also know from our own lives and experience that conversion is an ongoing, lifelong process of personal spiritual growth as well as a social process in which we strengthen and draw strength from others. The RCIA recognizes both the ongoing quality and the communal nature of conversion, providing an intellectual and spiritual framework and a faith community in which an individual's conversion experience can be understood and supported. Caring for people in the midst of this life-changing experience is the goal of the RCIA ministry.
Preparation: Awakening, Growth and Formation
The full RCIA process consists of four periods of awakening, growth and formation marked by celebration of three major rites involving the whole Holy Eucharist community. (see more)
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