RCIA

RCIA is the process of coming into full communion with the Catholic Church (“converting” to Catholicism). The intent of the process is to develop an individual’s faith formation within the framework of the Church community. The RCIA process allows participants to grow in their faith as well as their understanding of Catholic teachings so they are able to make an informed and responsible commitment to the Church.  RCIA consists of two parts (“semesters”) known as the Period of Inquiry (participants are known as Candidates) and the Catechumenate (participants are known as Catechumens). RCIA culminates with the Easter Vigil Mass the night before Easter when the Catechumens are accepted fully into the church through the sacraments of Baptism (if not previously baptized), Confirmation, and Eucharist.

Inquiry Period: The first period of the RCIA. It usually begins with a telephone call to the parish office, and might involve individual and group meetings. A time when a person’s initial questions about becoming Catholic are answered.

Rite of Acceptance: This is the first ritual in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. Inquirers who have experienced and initial conversion to Catholic Christianity celebrate this ritual, usually during a Sunday Mass and are publicly welcomed for the first time. They declare their intention to the Church and the Church in turn accepts them as persons who intent to become members.

Catechumenate: This second stage of the initiation process is the extended period of time when those to be initiated receive their more formal training in the Catholic Christian way of life. There are two groups: catechumens and candidates. During the catechumenate stage, those to be initiated learn more about the sacred Scriptures and the doctrines of the Church. The candidates also learn about the prayer and worship life of the Church.

Catechumen: A person in the period of the catechumenate who has not been baptized.

Candidate: A person in the period of the catechumenate who has been baptized either in a Catholic or Protestant Church, but who has not been fully initiated.

Rite of Election: This second major ritual of the RCIA usually occurs on the First Sunday of Lent. The catechumens have been elected (chosen) by God to receive the sacraments of initiation. The Church gives voice to God’s election and calls each one of the catechumens by name to sign the Book of the Elect. This is a diocesan celebration and the presiding celebrant is the diocesan bishop.

Sacraments of Initiation: At the Easter Vigil after sunset on Holy Saturday, the elect and possibly some previously baptized candidates celebrate the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism (for the unbaptized), Confirmation and Eucharist.

Neophytes: The newly initiated.

Period of Mystagogy: The process of initiation continues even after the Easter celebration, during the Easter Season period of mystagogia. The word comes from an ancient Greek word signifying a deepening understanding of the mysteries of our faith. During the Easter season, the neophytes gather each week to deepen their grasp of the great paschal mystery into which they have just been incorporated. These new Christians have received the Body of Christ and have indeed become part of the Body of Christ through their Baptism. The Church uses the period of mystagogy to help the neophytes understand and live out their new lives as part of the Body of Christ.