RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA)
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, or RCIA, is the formal process through which adults, who are interested in embracing the Catholic faith, are introduced to the Catholic way of life with a view to possibly being received into the Church.
The RCIA program has run in our parish for several years. It is strictly speaking only open to non-Catholics, although Catholics who have not been confirmed are also admitted to the program. The RCIA is not a “course” which candidates must pass to join the Church!
It is very much a faith journey for those who have heard the call of Christ to follow him in the visible unity of the Catholic Church.
The process has four distinct phases: an inquiry phase, which as its name denotes is to introduce interested individuals to the Catholic faith; a catechumenate phase, during which candidates are instructed in Catholic doctrine and practice; the Lenten phase, a period of purification and reflection on what it means to be a follower of Christ; and a mystagogy phase, which is a sustained reflection on the mysteries that we celebrate. The mystagogy phase follows the formal acceptance of candidates into the Church at the Easter Vigil.
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, or RCIA, is the formal process through which adults, who are interested in embracing the Catholic faith, are introduced to the Catholic way of life with a view to possibly being received into the Church.
The RCIA program has run in our parish for several years. It is strictly speaking only open to non-Catholics, although Catholics who have not been confirmed are also admitted to the program. The RCIA is not a “course” which candidates must pass to join the Church!
It is very much a faith journey for those who have heard the call of Christ to follow him in the visible unity of the Catholic Church.
The process has four distinct phases: an inquiry phase, which as its name denotes is to introduce interested individuals to the Catholic faith; a catechumenate phase, during which candidates are instructed in Catholic doctrine and practice; the Lenten phase, a period of purification and reflection on what it means to be a follower of Christ; and a mystagogy phase, which is a sustained reflection on the mysteries that we celebrate. The mystagogy phase follows the formal acceptance of candidates into the Church at the Easter Vigil.
