This document provides an overview of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) program at the Church of St Francis Xavier in Petaling Jaya. It outlines the different periods of the RCIA journey, including the pre-catechumenate period for seekers, the catechumenate period for those learning about the faith, and the period after initiation called mystagogy. It also provides the schedule of sessions for the 2017-2018 program year, describing the topics that will be covered each date. The sessions are designed to help participants learn about Catholic teachings and prepare to become full members of the Church through the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil.

1. Church of St Francis Xavier, Petaling Jaya
RCIA SESSION 1
Opening Night
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
9 July 2017

2. You are here
neither by
chance nor
coincidence.
You are here
because of
Divine
Providence.
You are
here
because of
GOD.
Objective Truth
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 2

3. Our God is a
welcoming God.
It is He who has called you!!
Objective Truth
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 3

4. Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 4
(John 1: 38)
They came • They saw • And they stayed with Him

5. Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 5
Come to Me
all you who labour and are overburdened…
(Matthew 11: 28)

6. Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 6
Come back to Me
with all your heart (Joel 2: 12)

7. Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 7
Come down (Luke 19: 5)

8. Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 8
Come
follow me (Matthew 4: 19)

9. Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 9
Come and see
(John 1: 39)
Come to me
(Matthew 11: 28)
Come back
to me
(Joel 2: 12)
Come down
(Luke 19: 5)
Come follow me
(Matthew 4: 19)

10. From Love • By Love • To Love
Each of us is the result of
the thought of God.
Each of us is willed,
loved, each of us is
necessary…
Christianity is not n
intellectual system, a
collection of dogmas, or
a moral system…
Christianity is an
encounter, a love story,
an event…”
(Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI)
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 10

11. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
designed for adults
who, after hearing the mystery of Christ proclaimed,
consciously and freely seek the living God
and enter the way of faith and conversion
as the Holy Spirit opens their heart.
(RCIA no. 1)
What is RCIA?
Saturday, 8 July 2017 Facilitators' Formation Slide 11

12. What is RCIA?
“From the time of the apostles,
becoming a Christian has
been accomplished by a
journey and initiation in several
stages. 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.”
(CCC 1229)
Saturday, 8 July 2017 Facilitators' Formation Slide 12

13. ▪ It is the journey through which adults enter into full
sacramental communion with
❖ Jesus Christ (Head),
❖ and the Catholic Church (Body of Christ).
What is RCIA?
Saturday, 8 July 2017 Facilitators' Formation Slide 13

14. By the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
a human person is drawn into
the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit.
What is RCIA?
Saturday, 8 July 2017 Facilitators' Formation Slide 14

15. CHRIST-ian
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 15
Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty
idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a
new horizon and a decisive direction.
(Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI)

16. Spiritual
journey of faith
• Though you
have not seen
him, you
desire him (cf.
1 Peter 1: 8).
Spiritual
journey of
conversion
and renewal of
both heart and
mind
• We are
informed,
formed, and
transformed
through
Jesus, with
Jesus, and in
Jesus.
Spiritual
journey of
falling in love
with God and
His Church
• For God has
made us for
himself, and
our hearts are
restless till
they rest in
him (St
Augustine).
RCIA is a…
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 16

17. Nothing is more practical than finding
God.
▪ It will decide what will get you out of
bed in the morning,
▪ what you do with your evenings,
▪ how you will spend your weekends,
▪ what you read, whom you know,
▪ what breaks your heart,
▪ and what amazes you with joy and
gratitude.
Fall in love and stay in love (with God),
and it will decide everything.
Finding God…
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 17
(Fr Pedro Arrupe, SJ)

18. Finding God…
To fall in love with God
is the greatest romance;
to seek him
the greatest adventure;
to find him,
the greatest human
achievement!
(St. Augustine of Hippo)
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 18

19. Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 19

20. Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 20
Your journey to fall in love with God, your jouney to seek God,
and your journey to find God officially begin now…

21. Baptised Non-Catholic Christian
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 21
Rite of
Reception,
Confirmation &
Communion (at
Easter Vigil)
FULLY
INITIATED
CATHOLIC
CHRISTIAN
I am a
“Reception
Candidate”

22. Baptised Catholic Christian
But Not Yet Confirmed
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 22
Confirmation
(Subject to
Archbishop’s
Availability)
FULLY
INITIATED
CATHOLIC
CHRISTIAN
I am a
“Confirmand”

23. Not Baptised Person
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 23
I am an
“Inquirer”

24. Pre-
catechumenate
Catechumenate
Purification &
Enlightenment
Mystagogy
Not Baptised Person
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 24
I am an
“Inquirer”
▪ Listen
▪ Observe
▪ “Outsider”
▪ Pre-catechumenate Period:
❖ Period of evangelisation
❖ Story telling – scripture
stories, of the Church,
personal faith stories, of
the community

25. Journey of an Inquirer
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 25
Pre-
catechumenate
Catechumenate
Purification &
Enlightenment
Mystagogy
Do I accept
Christ & His
Church?
Rite of
Acceptance

26. Journey of an Inquirer
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 26
Pre-
catechumenate
Catechumenate
Purification &
Enlightenment
Mystagogy
I am now
“Catechumen”
Rite of
Acceptance
▪ Learn
▪ Participate
▪ One of us
▪ Catechumenate:
❖ Beginning to learn and
practise the Christian way
of life e.g. Mass & prayers
❖ Time of spiritual formation
and development as well
as intellectual learning
❖ Time of sharing and
reflecting upon the
Scriptures and teachings
of the Church
❖ Time of intense
questioning paralleling the
interiorization of what is
learnt.

27. Journey of an Inquirer
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 27
Pre-
catechumenate
Catechumenate
Purification &
Enlightenment
Mystagogy
I am now
“Catechumen”
Rite of
Acceptance

28. Journey of an Inquirer
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 28
Pre-
catechumenate
Catechumenate
Purification &
Enlightenment
Mystagogy
Should I
surrender to
Christ and His
Church?
Rite of Election▪ Customarily First Sunday of
Lent
▪ Inscribing the name:
surrendering of whole being
(body, mind and soul) to
Christ and His Church
▪ “What it means to be
Catholic!”

29. Journey of an Inquirer
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 29
Pre-
catechumenate
Catechumenate
Purification &
Enlightenment
Mystagogy
I am now
“Elect” Rite of Election
▪ Intense reflection
▪ Diligent prayer
▪ Vigorous
Preparation

30. Journey of an Inquirer
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 30
Pre-
catechumenate
Catechumenate
Purification &
Enlightenment
Mystagogy
I am now
“Elect” Rite of Election
▪ Intense reflection
& prayer
▪ Vigorous
Preparation
▪ Intense reflection, diligent
prayer and vigorous
preparation for Easter Vigil
(Baptism, Confirmation and
Holy Communion)
❖ Journey from head to
heart.
❖ Allow the teaching and
experience to sink deeper
into the soul.

31. Journey of an Inquirer
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 31
Pre-
catechumenate
Catechumenate
Purification &
Enlightenment
Mystagogy
I am now
“Elect” Rite of Election
▪ Intense reflection
& prayer
▪ Vigorous
Preparation

32. Journey of an Inquirer
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 32
Pre-
catechumenate
Catechumenate
Purification &
Enlightenment
Mystagogy
Do I want to
“marry” Christ
and His
Church?
Rites of Initiation

33. Journey of an Inquirer
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 33
Pre-
catechumenate
Catechumenate
Purification &
Enlightenment
Mystagogy
Yay, I am
now a
“Neophyte”!
▪ Go • Grow • Glow
▪ Fully initiated but not fully grown:
❖ Reflecting on the sacraments received
❖ Live the sacramental and prayerful life based on the
teaching of Christ (Scripture) and the teaching of the Church
(Apostolic Tradition)
❖ Enter more fully into the life of the Church and community
▪ Our challenge:
❖ Poor attendance
❖ Keeping the momentum

34. Sending Off
Saturday, 8 July 2017 Facilitators' Formation Slide 34
▪ Our challenge:
❖ Out of sight, out of mind
❖ “Graduation” = end of journey?
❖ Ceasing to be Catholic
❖ Going back to the old self

35. Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts
which we are about to receive
from Thy bounty through Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Prayer Before Meal
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 35

36. Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 36
Be open-minded Be punctual
Attend sessions
regularly and attend
the replacement
classes
Personal journal
Sharing & table
etiquette
(confidentiality)
Questions
General Guidelines

37. Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 37
Carpark Handphones
Toilets Garbage disposal
Administrative Guidelines

38. Praise and Worship
Enthronement of the Bible (Proclamation of the Gospel &
Prayer)
Presentation
Fellowship
Sharing/ journaling
Closing Prayer
Tidying Up (Mess up, Break, Use)
Weekly Session
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 38

39. ▪ Not an excuse for candidates to skip the normal
Sunday experience.
▪ NOT ONLY for those who have missed the normal
session.
▪ For those wanting to know more, understand better,
ask questions, or discuss further on the topic.
▪ For Facilitators to:
❖ “Journeying together”
❖ Learn to articulate our faith
❖ Befriend others and support the Presenter
❖ For our own information, formation and
conversion.
Replacement Class
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 39

40. Not an excuse
for candidates
to skip the
normal Sunday
experience.
NOT ONLY for
those who have
missed the
normal session.
For those
wanting to
know more,
understand
better, ask
questions, or
discuss further
on the topic.
Replacement Class
Saturday, 8 July 2017 Facilitators' Formation Slide 40

41. Core Activities:
• Rite of Acceptance
• Rite of Anointing with Oil
of Salvation
• Rite of Election
• Rite of Scrutinies
• Sacraments of Initiation
• Confirmation
Additional Activities:
• Day of Prayer &
Fellowship
• Special focus
weekends: Mary and
the Saints, ESS
• Outreach programmes
Parish Activities
• Pre-baptismal Retreat
• Church decorations
• Fundraising
“Other” Activities
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 41

42. Pre-catechumenate Period
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 42
Date Description
9 July 2017 Opening Night
16 July 2017
In Search for the Meaning of
Life
23 Jul 2017
SFX FAMILY DAY
(No Session)
30 Jul 2017
Our Faith Experience &
Response and Need for
Community
AND
Briefing of (s)ponsors
13 Aug 2017 (5.30PM Mass)
RITE OF ACCEPTANCE
(2nd Round: 26 Nov 2017)
13 Aug 2017 Introduction to the Bible

43. Catechumenate Period
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 43
Date Description
20 Aug 2017 God’s Plan for Salvation 1
27 Aug 2017 God’s Plan for Salvation 2
3 Sep 2017
The Old Testament & the
Messiah and the Introduction
to the Gospels & the New
Testament
10 Sep 2017
Who is Jesus? His Birth, Life,
Divinity and Humanity
17 Sep 2017
Message and Teaching of
Jesus – Mission
24 Sep 2017
The Pascal Mystery –
Passion, Death and
Resurrection

44. Catechumenate Period
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 44
Date Description
1 Oct 2017 Death, Judgement and
Eternity
8 Oct 2017 DAY OF PRAYER
15 Oct 2017
The Holy Spirit and The Holy
Trinity
22 Oct 2017
History of the Church – Acts
of the Apostles to
Reformation
29 Oct 2017
History of the Church – the
Church in the Modern World,
the Vatican II and Church
Documents

45. Catechumenate Period
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 45
Date Description
5 Nov 2017
The Uniqueness of the
Catholic Church
12 Nov 2017 Liturgical Calendar
18 & 19 Nov 2017
Weekend with Mary and the
Communion of Saints
26 Nov 2017 (5~6PM at
Chapel)
RITE OF ACCEPTANCE (2nd
Round)
26 Nov 2017
Introduction to the
Sacraments (Grace and
Introduction)

46. Catechumenate Period
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 46
Date Description
3 Dec 2017
The Sacraments of Initiation
(Baptism & Confirmation)
10 Dec 2017
The Sacrament of Initiation
(Eucharist)
17 Dec 2017
The Sacrament of Holy
Orders
24 & 25 Dec 2017 CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY
31 Dec 2017 & 1 Jan 2018 NEW YEAR HOLIDAY

47. Catechumenate Period
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 47
Date Description
7 Jan 2018 The Sacraments of
Reconciliation and Anointing
of the Sick
13 & 14 Jan 2018
Experience in the Spirit
(ESS)
21 Jan 2018
The Sacrament of Holy
Matrimony
28 Jan 2018
The Moral Teaching of the
Catholic Church – The
Beatitudes and the Ten
Commandments

48. Catechumenate Period
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 48
Date Description
4 Feb 2018
Lent and Holy Week
AND
Briefing of Godparents/
Sponsors
10 Feb 2018 (SATURDAY)
The Mass Explained and
Tour of the Church
14 Feb 2018 (WEDNESDAY) ASH WEDNESDAY
16-18 Feb 2018 CNY HOLIDAY
25 Feb 2018 RITE OF ELECTION

49. Purification & Enlightenment Period
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 49
Date Description
4 Mar 2018 (5.30PM Mass)
FIRST SCRUTINY followed
by session
9-11 Mar 2018
PRE_BAPTISMAL RETREAT
and SECOND SCRUTINY
18 Mar 2018 (5.30PM Mass)
THIRD SCRUTINY followed
by session
AND
Rehearsal for Easter Vigil
25 Mar 2018 (8.30~9AM
Mass)
PALM SUNDAY
31 Mar 2018
EASTER VIGIL
(BAPTISM, RECEPTION,
CONFIRMATION,
COMMUNION)

50. Mystagogy Period
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 50
Date Description
8 Apr 2018
Looking Back at Our Baptism
and the Precepts of the
Church
15 Apr 2018
A People Sent – Church on a
Mission
22 Apr 2018 New Way of Being Church
28 Apr 2018 (SATURDAY)
Social Teaching of the
Church
AND
RCIA Outreach

51. Mystagogy Period
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 51
Date Description
6 May 2018
Sacrament of Reconciliation
(Actual Confession with
Priests)
13 May 2018
Presentation by Parish
Groups
20 May 2018
(at 5.30PM PENTECOST
SUNDAY Mass)
SEND-OFF

52. Pope Francis
(266th Pope,
265th successor of St Peter)
Archbishop
Julian Leow
Fr Lawrence
Andrew
Fr Alvin Ho Fr Norris
Our Shepherds
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 52

53. Position Name
Chief Coordinator Edwin Lim
Assistant Chief Coordinator Alex Chan
Secretary Vivien Lim
Treasurer Kitson Fong
Programme Christina Kok
Replacement Class John Kwan
Liturgy Daniel Tan
Logistic Anthony Hiew
Intercessory Mrs Leong
Music John Chong
Fellowship Rubyann
Pre-baptismal Retreat Francis Pereira
RCIA Core Team
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 53

54. Table
Facilitators
Not to Forget!!
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 54

55. THANK YOU
“Seek, and you shall find.”
(Matthew 7: 7-8)
Sunday, 9 July 2017 Opening Night Slide 55