Are you someone, or do you know someone who...
Has never been baptized and is interested in becoming Catholic?
Was baptized in another Christian denomination, and has expressed interest in the Catholic faith?
Was baptized Catholic, but has not received the sacraments of Eucharist and/or Confirmation?
The RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) is a spiritual and educational process that provides an opportunity for these individuals to ask questions, learn more about the Catholic faith, and above all, discover God’s burning desire and relentless pursuit for an intimate relationship with them, as they seek full initiation in the Catholic Church through the Easter sacraments.
"It is not you who chose me, but I who chose you" (John 15:16).
The RCIA gathers on Sundays after the 9:30 a.m. Mass (approx. 10:30 a.m.) in the Parish Center West Room from September through the Easter season. Special instruction is offered for children over the age of seven, and other arrangements can be made depending upon need.
Please contact Fr. Rich Samide for more information.
Invite someone you know to explore the mystery of God’s great love through the beauty of the Catholic faith!
What is the RCIA Process?
For anyone who wishes to become a Catholic Christian, the RCIA process includes several steps (periods) that lead to your initiation into our “Catholic Christian” community.
Our journey begins in the fall with our first stage of formation. We meet weekly to begin to reflect on how God is calling us and what it means to have faith in Jesus. There is plenty of time to ask questions and discern if this is the right step for you.
In October or November, we celebrate our first ritual which publicly marks our desire to officially enter formation for initiation into the Catholic Church. This ritual moves us into our second stage of formation. From this point on, we also attend Sunday Mass together, in addition to continuing our weeknight sessions. We reflect deeply on the Sunday scripture, and examine related Catholic beliefs, teachings, customs and traditions.
At the beginning of Lent, (the 40 days prior to Easter), we celebrate another ritual to recognize our progress of being formed in the faith and signals our readiness to begin final preparations for receiving the sacraments. This third period of formation, which coincides with the season of Lent, is more reflective and prayerful, including many special celebrations and rituals passed down from the early Church.
We celebrate the Sacraments and our full initiation into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil Service (after sundown on Holy Saturday – the evening before Easter Sunday) and the Sunday after Easter! However, this is not the end, but rather the beginning of your life as a fully initiated disciple! We continue to meet for a fourth stage of formation, gathering a few times during the Easter Season (the 50 days after Easter) to help launch us into the next step of our faith journey and the rest of our lives as Catholic disciples of Christ.
What is the goal of RCIA?
The RCIA process is all about conversion – about growth and change taking place in our hearts and minds so that we can more fully live in relationship with God and each other. It is about deepening our faith, and exploring what belief in God means for our lives and how it is reflected in our actions. The purpose of this process is not to be able to check off a class requirement or to see how much information you can learn about the Catholic Church, but rather to assist you in becoming a living, breathing, active disciple of Christ.
Questions? Want to talk More About This process?
Contact our parochial vicar, Fr. Rich Samide, at (440) 333-2133.
