RCIA

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Opportunities for Adults

The Liturgical Rites and the Vision of Christian Initiation

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is a liturgical ordo, or order, that includes a series of separate but interrelated rites, both major and minor. The major rites are celebrated at the culmination of each period of the initiation process. Likewise, each of the major rites points to, or anticipates, the next period in the process. The rites serve as "doorways" through which the candidates pass as they proceed to the next stages, or periods, in the initiation process.

Period of Evangelization and Precatechumenate: This is a time, of no fixed duration or structure, for inquiry and introduction to Gospel values, an opportunity for the beginnings of faith. It is a time of evangelization: faithfully and constantly the living God is proclaimed. From evangelization come the faith and initial conversion that cause a person to feel called away from sin and drawn into the mystery of God's love. During this period, priests and deacons, catechists and other laypersons give the candidates a suitable explanation of the Gospel. Opportunities are provided for them to meet families and other groups of Christians.

First Step: Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens: This is the liturgical rite, usually celebrated on some annual date or dates, marking the beginning of the Catechumenate proper, as the candidates express and the Church accepts their intention to respond to God's call to follow the way of Christ.

Period of the Catechumenate: The Catechumenate is an extended period during which the candidates are given suitable pastoral formation and guidance, aimed at training them in the Christian life. In this way, the dispositions manifested at their acceptance into the Catechumenate are brought to maturity. This is achieved in four ways:

• A suitable catechesis is provided by priests or deacons, planned to be gradual and complete in its coverage, accommodated by the liturgical year, and solidly supported by the celebrations of the word;
• As they become familiar with the Christian way of life and are helped by the example and support of sponsors, godparents and the entire Christian community, the catechumens learn to turn more readily to God in prayer, to bear witness to the faith, to keep their hopes set on Christ, to follow supernatural inspiration in their deeds, and to practice love of neighbor
• The Church helps the catechumens on their journey by means of suitable liturgical rites, which purify the catechumens little by little and strengthen them with God's blessing.
• Since the Church's life is apostolic, catechumens should also learn how to work activelywith others to spread the Gospel and build up the church by the witness of their lives and by professing their faith.

Second Step: Election or Enrollment of Names: This is the liturgical rite, usually celebrated on the First Sunday of Lent, by which the Church formally ratifies the catechumen's readiness for the sacraments of initiation and the catechumens, now the elect, express the will to receive these sacraments. This step is called election because the acceptance made by the Church is founded on the election by God, in whose name the Church acts. The step is also called the enrollment of names because as a pledge of fidelity the candidates inscribe their names in the book that lists those who have been chosen for initiation.

Period of Purification and Enlightenment: This is the time immediately preceding the elects' initiation, usually the Lenten season preceding the celebration of this initiation at the Easter Vigil. It is a time of reflection, intensely centered on conversion, marked by celebration of the Scrutinies (rites for self-searching and repentance, celebrated on Sundays) and Presentations (the presentation of the sacred texts of Catholicism, the Creed and the Lord's Prayer, following the celebration of the Scrutinies) and of the preparation rites on Holy Saturday.

Third Step: Celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation: This is the liturgical rite, usually integrated into the Easter Vigil, by which the elect are initiated through Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist. The catechumens are graced with adoption as children of God and are led by the Holy Spirit into the promised fullness of time begun in Christ and, as they share in the Eucharistic sacrifice and meal, even to a foretaste of the kingdom of God. The sacraments are ordered as follows:

• Renunciation of Sin and Profession of Faith
• Baptism
• Celebration of Confirmation
• First Sharing in the Celebration of the Eucharist

Holy Spirit Parish warmly welcomes new members and tries to provide appropriate spiritual formation according to each person’s need.  This call to teach others by our words and actions is one that the Lord offers us because of our baptism and our personal commitment to respond to the invitation to serve God by serving each other.  Most of us learn of this call to ministry and commitment from our family who shared their faith with us and began to teach us of God’s love and care from the time we were infants.

The Order of Christian Initiation, or Catechumenate, is the formation process the church uses to help members of the community come to share in the full sacramental life of the church.  It is an ongoing process within the life of the parish community designed to welcome new members and, at the same time, to lead every Catholic to deeper belief and renewal of his or her faith.  It is guided by the needs of those who seek membership and is specifically designed for :
·           Unbaptized adults requesting membership in the Catholic Church
·           Persons baptized in other Christian Churches who wish to join the Catholic Church
·           Baptized Catholics who have not completed the Sacraments of Initiation        

The RCIA catechetical sessions are held on Thursday evenings.

Contact: Deacon Bob Durel                                     468-3600, ext. 111

Period of Post-Baptismal Catechesis or Mystagogy: This is the time, usually during the Easter season, following the celebration of initiation, during which the newly initiated experience being fully a part of the Christian community by means of pertinent catechesis and particularly by participation with all the faithful in the Sunday Eucharistic celebration.