The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is a process by which adults are brought into membership of the Catholic Church. It is a personal faith journey for those who have never been baptized, or those baptized in another faith.

Each person may journey towards full acceptance into the Catholic Church in their own time and will celebrate the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist when they feel ready and when others have validated this decision.

The RCIA can best be described as a journey of faith that passes through a number of doors, each leading to the next path and onto the next door. It is a chance to discover who you are as a daughter or son of a loving God, a time to reflect on what this relationship means to you and an opportunity to come to know Jesus more fully.

The PROCESS

There are three main phases in our RCIA process:

Precatechumenate – This is a time for inquiry and introduction to gospel values and the beginning (or perhaps a continuation) of a faith journey. This phase need not have a fixed duration nor structure as it is focused on the inquirers and their needs and understanding of faith. This is a good time for the inquirers to become familiar with the parish and to get to know its parishioners in an informal way.

Catechumenate – There are a number of doors within this phase all leading to the Sacraments of Initiation of the inquirers.

The end of the Precatechumenate phase leads to the acceptance of the inquirer by the community into the Order of Catechumens (Rite of Welcome). This door leads to a period of nurturing and growth of the individual inquirer (now called a ‘Catechumen’) and a deepening in their Journey of Faith and a conversion to God. At the end of this road the Church celebrates the readiness of the Catechumen to enter a more intense period prior to the Sacraments of Initiation.

Enrolment of Names (Rite of Election) is the door through which the Catechumens enter on their intense period of purification and enlightenment. It is a time of reflection centred on conversion and marked by the celebrations of the scrutinies and presentations. At the end of this road the Catechumens are ready for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist (Rite of Initiation).

Mystagogy – This is a time following the celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation during which the newly initiated experience becoming fully part of the Christian community.

The ACTIVITIES

Each phase of the RCIA Process brings with it a number of activities including:

group meetings sharing faith stories and learning more about the Catholic Faith; social evenings and gatherings; tours of the church and learning about the Catholic Mass; reflection days and retreats; home meetings deepening gospel values; and community Rites and Celebrations.

IS THE RCIA FOR YOU?

There are many reasons why you may want to become involved in the RCIA. Do any of these fit you?

• I am interested in learning more about the Catholic Church; what she teaches and why.
• I am a baptized Catholic, but have received little or no formal religious education.
• I am searching for a deeper spirituality in my life.
• I have never been baptized.
• I am married to a Catholic and attend Mass but just don't know what the next step might be.
• I have been baptized in another Christian denomination and wish to become Catholic.
• I have been baptized Catholic, but have not received any other sacraments.
• I am of a Non Christian faith background and desire to know more about Christianity.

The journey begins with one small step!

CURRENT PROGRAM DETAILS

We meet on Wednesday evenings in Parish Meeting Room 2 at 7.30 pm.  These evenings will provide you with more information about the Catholic Church, her traditions and beliefs.

CONTACT

For further information about the RCIA, contact Ina and Norman Heffernan on 4732 1751.