The RCIA is a journey for those who are interested in becoming
Catholic or simply for finding out more about the Catholic faith.
The RCIA is a process of sharing Catholic teaching, prayer, Scripture,
spiritual formation, rituals and coming to know members of the
church community.
The process consists of the following stages:
PRE-CATECHUMENATE (Inquiry)
This is a “Come and See” time – a
time for questions, finding out more about the Lord, the Catholic
faith
and the Catholic Church.
CATECHUMENATE
Those persons who are still interested after their initial
inquiry are formally welcomed and begin a Catechumenate period
of learning more about Jesus, the Catholic Church, the
Sacraments, Catholic
morality and daily living as a Catholic.
PURIFICATION AND ENLIGHTENMENT
During Lent, the Church calls those who have discerned that
God is calling them to be Catholic to make their final
preparation
for their initiation into the Church through Baptism (or
Reception into Full Communion for the already baptized),
Confirmation and Eucharist. Lent is a period of a more intense
spiritual preparation.
SACRAMENTS OF INITITATION
At the Easter Vigil, the Catechumens (unbaptized) and the
Candidates (already baptized) are baptized or received
into the Church,
confirmed and receive the Eucharist for the first time.
MYSTAGOGIA
This period for fifty days from Easter to Pentecost is a
time for unfolding the meaning of the Easter Sacraments.
It is also
a time for celebration and for the new Catholics to find
a place in our parish community.
The RCIA process will begin
this year with the Inquiry sessions on Thursday, September
15, 2011, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m., in Little Flower School second-floor
music room.
All persons are most welcome.
There is no obligation to become Catholic.
