RCIA process - overview

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (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.

The full RCIA process consists of four periods of awakening, growth and formation marked by celebration of three major rites involving the whole community.

1. Inquiry

   During the first period of the journey, the inquiry period, seekers ask hard questions about Christianity and receive truthful, life-sharing answers from Catholic Christians. The informal discussions during the inquiry period help the seekers link their personal life stories to the Good News as witnessed and lived by the Roman Catholic community.

   As each inquirer desires to continue the conversion journey within our faith community, he or she is invited to experience the first major rite of the RCIA process, the Rite of Acceptance. Several times each year at Sunday Mass, inquirers enter the second period of the journey, the catechumenate, by being marked with the sign of the cross on the ears, eyes, lips, heart, shoulders, hands and feet -- a symbol of both the joys and the costs of Christian discipleship.

2. Catechumenate

   The word catechumenate means "time of serious study" and inquirers who become catechumens -- those who have not been baptized -- or candidates -- baptized Christians who have not been confirmed as Roman Catholics -- join us at Sunday Mass during the Liturgy of the Word, after which they move to the another room to continue reflecting on the Scriptures. The length of the catechumenate varies according to individual need. The norm is a year or more.

   Our catechumens and candidates do not travel alone during this period. Sponsors are chosen from the parish community to act as spiritual companions, providing personal support, sharing experience of Christian life and helping make the catechumens and candidates feel "at home" with Catholic religious practice.

   The catechumenate period ends when a catechumen or candidate is ready to begin the third period of the journey, the period of purification and enlightenment, which coincides with Lent each year. On the first Sunday of Lent, candidates & catechumens participate in the Rite of Sending. The catechumens travel to meet the Archbishop to celebrate the second major rite of the RCIA process, the Rite of Election, while candidates receive the Call to Continuing Conversion.

   Purification and Enlightenment

   The period of purification and enlightenment is a time of final preparation for initiation. The period is one of prayer, fasting and reflection for both catechumens, now known as the Elect, and candidates. During this period celebrated on the 3rd, 4th & 5th Sundays of Lent, the Elect experience scrutinies and exorcisms, special rites which seal their break with evil in preparation for baptism. These rites are for self-searching and repentance and have, above all, a spiritual purpose.

   Scrutinies are meant to uncover, then heal all that is weak, defective, or sinful in the hearts of the elect & to bring out, then strengthen all that is upright, strong, and good. They are celebrated in order to deliver the elect from the power of sin and Satan, to protect them against temptation, and to give them strength in Christ. Just as our entire community is called to journey with the catechumens throughout the Lenten season, we recognize the need we all share for freedom from evil and its effects.

   Easter Vigil

   The candidates and the Elect are initiated through the third and consummating rite of the RCIA process, the Sacraments of Initiation, at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. On that night, when light drives out darkness, joyful sounds fill the silence, and we proclaim and renew our resurrection hope, the Elect culminate their long journey to initiation in the waters of Baptism -- then, with the candidates, the newly baptized are sealed with the oil of Confirmation and share the bread and wine of the Eucharist as full members of the Roman Catholic community.

3. Mystagogia

   Initiation begins the fourth period of the RCIA journey, the mystagogia, which means "leading into the mysteries". The newly initiated meet weekly between Easter and Pentecost to explore and confirm the Easter experience. Mystagogia is the final stage of the RCIA process, but it is in turn the beginning of a pilgrimage of lifelong, continuous conversion in full communion with the Roman Catholic community of Christians.