What Is RCIA

RCIA – what is it, why is it important, what is the structure of the process, who’s involved, what is the time of initiation What is RCIA? June 28, 2009

What is RCIA?
Why is RCIA important?
What is the structure of the RCIA process?
Who is involved in RCIA?
Time of initiation
Overview June 28, 2009 Before we begin, please join me in prayer

Prayer
“ Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Rev 3:20)
June 28, 2009
Almighty God, grant that we may hear your voice and respond faithfully to your call with an open heart. Amen.

What is RCIA?
RCIA stands for “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults”
The Second Vatican Council prescribed a revision of the rite of baptism of adults
Christian initiation of adults is…
Divided into several steps
Intended as “a period of well-suited instruction”
Sanctified by liturgical rites to be celebrated at successive intervals of time
June 28, 2009

What is RCIA?
Endorsed by the ancient practice of the Church
Designed for the preparation of a group of candidates, but can be adapted
by pastors for one person June 28, 2009

What is RCIA?
Contains usual rites and those for special circumstances, to include optional rites and combined rites
RCIA is a “gradual process that takes place within the community of the faithful”
June 28, 2009

Why is RCIA important?
Baptism incorporates us into Christ and forms us into God’s people, it is the door to life and to the kingdom of God
“ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” ( Matt 28:19 )
The Church believes that it is its most basic and necessary duty to inspire ALL to be baptized
June 28, 2009

What is the structure of the RCIA process? June 28, 2009 Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
First hearing of the Gospel
Beginning of faith
Stirrings of repentance
Practice of Prayer
Sense of Church
Evangelization
Formed by
Word
Community
Liturgy
Mission
Kindly Dismissed
Faith Formation/ Catechesis
Spiritual Formation Intensified
Prayer
Fasting
Almsgiving
Prayer & Discernment
Post-baptismal Catechesis
Easter Season liturgies
Homilies
Special place in the assembly
General Intercessions
Participation in parish ministries
On-going Formation

Inquirers seeking Christ – non-baptized adults, or previously baptized Christian adults from non-Catholic Christian communities, or adult Catholics who are not fully catechized (educated in the faith)
All the baptized -- Initiation of adults is the responsibility of ALL the baptized—to give help to those who are seeking Christ
June 28, 2009

Sponsor – accompanies any candidate seeking admission as a catechumen
Sponsors are persons who have known and assisted the candidates
Stand as witnesses to the candidates’ moral character, faith, and intention for rite of acceptance and period of catechumenate
June 28, 2009

Godparent(s) – may be different person from sponsor for rite of acceptance and period of catechumenate
Accompanies the candidate on the day of election, at the celebration of the sacraments of initiation, and during the post-baptismal catechesis (mystagogy)
June 28, 2009

Godparent(s) continued…
Chosen by the candidate before election, on the basis of example, good qualities and friendship, delegated by the local Christian community, and approved by the priest
June 28, 2009

Godparent(s) continued…
Responsibility of the godparents
Show the candidates how to practice the Gospel in personal and social life
Sustain the candidates in moment of hesitancy and anxiety
Bear witness and guide the candidates’ progress in the baptismal life
June 28, 2009

Bishop - in person or through delegates
Provides pastoral formation for catechumens and admits the candidates for election and sacraments
Priests - minister of baptism, confirmation, & Eucharist; also attends to the pastoral and personal care of the catechumens
Provide instruction for the catechumens
Approves the choice of godparents
June 28, 2009

Deacons – assist in the ministry and instruction to catechumens
Catechists – help others to believe in Christ
Active part in the rites, whenever possible
When deputed by the bishop, perform minor exorcisms and blessings contained in the ritual
Provide instruction in the faith, filled with the spirit of the Gospel
June 28, 2009

Time of Initiation
General rule - sacraments are celebrated at the Easter Vigil; rite of election on the First Sunday of Lent
Pastoral needs – can be arranged differently
June 28, 2009

Time of Initiation
Rite of Acceptance into the order of catechumens
Not to be celebrated too early
Delayed until candidate has had sufficient time to conceive an initial faith and to show the first signs of conversion
Should be delayed until group is formed that is sufficiently large for catechesis and liturgical rites
June 28, 2009

Time of Initiation
Rite of Acceptance (cont.)
Two or three dates of the year are to be fixed as the usual times for this rite
Rite of Election – generally celebrated on First Sunday of Lent, or other times for pastoral reasons
Scrutinies – on 3 rd , 4 th , and 5 th Sundays of Lent, or other Sundays of Lent or weekdays if necessary
June 28, 2009

Time of Initiation
Presentations – by ancient usage, take place after the scrutinies, celebrated during the week
Creed – week after 1 st scrutiny
Lord’s Prayer – week after 3 rd scrutiny
May be transferred for pastoral reasons
Holy Saturday – elect refrain from work and spend time in recollection
Various rites, recitation of Creed, ephphetha rite, choosing of Christian name
June 28, 2009

Time of Initiation
Sacraments of Initiation – should take place at Easter Vigil; may be transferred to days within Easter octave
Confirmation may be postponed until near the end of the post-baptismal catechesis, e.g., Pentecost Sunday
Masses for neophytes – celebrated on all Sundays of Easter after Easter Sunday
Even if above times are changed, the structure of the entire rite remains the same
June 28, 2009

End with a quote
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (d.1942)
June 28, 2009
“ By its own power, [grace] can, at best, come up to his door but never force its way inside…All-merciful love can thus descend to everyone. We believe that it does so ....faith in the unboundedness of divine love and grace also justifies hope for the universality of redemption … ”

End with a quote
“ Human freedom can be neither broken nor neutralized by divine freedom, but it may well be, so to speak, outwitted [by grace] . The descent of grace to the human soul is a free act of divine love. And there are no limits to how far [grace] may extend. ”
June 28, 2009 St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Carmelite Nun, Doctor of Philosophy, Arrested by the Gestapo and gassed at Auschitz in August 1942 Read more here: http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_19981011_edith_stein_en.html

Further Study June 28, 2009 Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults: Study Edition Liturgical Press, 1988 ISBN:978-0-8146-1593-5 Paper, 378 pp., 7 1/4 x 10 1/2 Price: $29.95 http://www.litpress.org/Detail.aspx?ISBN=0814615937

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What Is RCIA

by David Jensen on Jun 28, 2009

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