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 What is the RCIA?
By Frank C. Sokol
Used with Permission
THE RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS
The
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the process by which
people
become members of the Roman Catholic Church. The process is
concerned
with the total formation of the person into believing with the Church
community
(doctrinal formation), living with the Church community (practical
formation),
praying with the Church community (liturgical formation), and serving
with the
Church community (apostolic formation). This gradual development
culminates in the celebration of the initiation sacraments of baptism,
confirmation, and the Eucharist at Easter time.
The
central and unifying principle of the Rite is conversion. By
entering into
the conversion journey through the RCIA, people join the paschal
journey of
Jesus Christ and are introduced to Church doctrine, life, liturgy, and
apostolic work. The Rite thus broadens the practice of “convert
instruction” to allow for an all-inclusive and ongoing formation in the
faith. The gospel message of conversion is the reason for
becoming a
Catholic Christian and the reason for remaining one.
The Rite is designed primarily for those seeking baptism; that is,
those not
baptized previously. However, because of the nature of conversion
as an
ongoing reality, the RCIA can be adapted for those baptized in other
Christian
denominations, now seeking membership in the Roman Catholic
Church.
As such, the RCIA is a flexible process which respects the faith
development of
each individual while maintaining the ideals and visions of the
Catholic
community.
The
Rite of Christian Initiation can be likened to the “making” of a new
family
member. As the new member grows into the particular ways of a
family's
living, the various members share their values, beliefs, and
visions. In
this interaction the family creates itself anew; it creates its own
identity. This “making” necessarily involves not only the
formation of a
new member, but the formation of the family itself.
By way of another example: in the making of an American, one
applies for
citizenship in a country defined by certain geography and given
principles. In “becoming” a new citizen, one appropriates the
“meaning”
of America,
and
in the process, America
realizes itself by the passing on and living out of its system of
meanings. When Americans are “made,” therefore, so is America.
In a parallel vein, when Christians are made, the Church is born again,
by the
passing on and living out of its system of meanings. In a strict sense,
the
RCIA is the process to be followed for becoming a Catholic Christian as
an
adult. But in fuller sense, this process for becoming is also the
model
for remaining a Catholic Christian.
Are you in search of a deeper relationship with God?
Are
you interested in learning about Christian initiation, Christianity,
the
Catholic Faith?
Have
you been attending the Catholic Church, Mass, for years but just never
“gotten
around” to joining?
Would
you like to be Baptized? Most Catholic Churches offer an opportunity to
help
you answer these questions and more. We call it the RCIA, or
the Right
of Christian Initiation of Adults. The RCIA consists of:
Meeting
with other inquirers to pray and share questions and concerns of
faith
within the confines of Christianity.
Catholic
RCIA, Right of Christian Initiation is an opportunity to share life's
experiences and the time to reflect on them. Learn about the tradition
and
history of the 2000 year old Catholic Church, while experiencing our
beliefs
and worship. Being connected to a community that worships together,
seeks to
serve others, and joins in fellowship.
Search for Catholic Churches
Parish Search
If you think you might be interested or know someone whom you think
would be
interested in the Catholic RCIA Classes, please, feel free to call the
Roman
Catholic church in your area. In most
communities you
will find Catholic Churches. There are thousands of people who convert
to
Christianity each year and there are just as many reasons. But they all
usually
go through the same procedure. They may have a spouse, family member or
a
friend that is Catholic and attends Mass. Some feel as if they have heard an inner
calling that they
do not quite understand. Some simply can't put there finger on it. They
just
came in out of the rain so to speak, to take a closer look at
Christianity
through the Catholic Church.
To become Roman
Catholic,
you don’t have to be any certain age. People can convert at any age and
time during
their life. I have seen some people go through the process and fall
short of
baptism only to show up the next year and go through it again. I
myself
attended Mass a few times a year with my Catholic wife for 18 years
before I
attended the Catholic RCIA, Right of Christian Initiation
classes. It is
a place with a clearly marked exit sign if you wish to use it. You can
come and
you can go as you wish. We are a Church that does not revel in numbers.
Nor do
we pride ourselves in converting another. At least we try not to.
Conversion to
Christ can't come to you by way of one of us, it has to be from Christ,
the
only one that can truly pierce a heart as the twelve apostes confirmed.
Most members of the Roman Catholic Church are baptized as infants. They
grow up
in Roman Catholic homes, receive some form of religious education and
gradually
come to share in the full sacramental life of the church with God, His
Son
Jesus, Their most Holy Spirit, along with Mary and all the
Saints..
Others who were previously baptized in other Christian
traditions
-- become Catholics after making a solemn profession of faith,
receiving
communion and sharing Eucharist with the Catholic community. And still
others
-- those who were not previously baptized - enter into a process that
includes
all three of the sacraments of Initiation. The process by which these
persons
prepare to receive the sacraments is called
....the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults,
or the Catholic RCIA. Before converting to any religion, you should
immerse
yourself in knowledge. Although this is not required! This is your
journey,
these are your classes. There is no passing nor failing at the end of
the
Catholic RCIA Classes. Although inquiring about about
the
Roman Catholic, Apostolic faith should not be taken lightly, as there
are
25,000 different Christian off shoots from the Catholic Church all
clamoring
for your Soul. If God is calling you to come to know Him through Jesus,
by the
Holy Spirit I can't think of a better place to start than the Church
Jesus
Himself Established 2002 years ago.
The
church recognizes that faith cannot be artificially accepted, that
motives must
be questioned and evaluated, and that the whole community needs to be
renewed.
Roman Catholic RCIA is not a program nor part of a Religious Education
instructional course of study. It is a gradual process that takes place
within
the community of the faithful.
"From the time of the apostles, becoming a Christian has been
accomplished
by a journey and initiation in several stages. The apostles journeyed
with
Jesus for three years before they were rewarded with the last
supper-Holy
Communion. And then Pentacost where they were given the Holy Spirit to
guide
them. This journey can be covered rapidly or slowly, but certain
essential
elements will always have to be present: proclamation of the Word,
acceptance
of the Gospel entailing conversion, profession of faith, Baptism
itself, the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and admission to Eucharistic communion
with
Mary, the Apostles and all the Saints.. This initiation has varied
greatly
through the centuries according to circumstances. In the first
centuries of the
Church, Christian initiation saw considerable development. A long
period of
catechumenate included a series of preparatory rites, which were
liturgical
landmarks along the path of catechumenal preparation and culminated in
the
celebration of the sacraments of Christian initiation." (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1229, 1230) The RCIA classes are usually
held once a
week. At these classes, you will learn the fundamentals of Catholicism.
As you
learn, you will see there is much to learn about being a Roman Catholic. The RCIA stresses the connections
between the
three sacraments of Christian initiation, Baptism, Confirmation,
and Eucharist. During the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday
night,
the elect are welcomed into the Church and receive these sacraments.
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