The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the process through which a person who desires to be fully incorporated into the Roman Catholic Church proceeds. The process begins with a period of inquiry, moves through a period called the Catechumenate (if one has not already been baptized) or a candidacy (for the baptized) toward full incorporation through the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil. The ministry of those on the team is to accompany the participants in this journey by providing prayer experiences, scriptural and theological explanations, and a sense of parish community.

We invite:

• Non-Catholics who are interested in learning about the Catholic faith
• Catholics who have been baptized but never cathecized
• Catholics who have never received the Sacrament of Confirmation

For more information please contact  Sister Marie Garman, IHM, Director of Religious Education,
610-363-6530 extension 152.

---

What is RCIA?

Thinking of joining the Roman Catholic Church? The Catholic RCIA stages are a good model of basic faith development.

Where do you begin?

Well, you just begin from where you are now! Many adults entering the Catholic Church, or those just thinking about it, follow a process known as the RCIA — the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. The RCIA process has several distinct stages.

Stage 1: Just Looking
In the inquiry stage, you're just finding out about Jesus, Christianity, and the Catholic Church.

Your main task here is to explore and develop your faith enough so you can make an informed initial decision about entering the Catholic Church. The final decision won't come for a long time, when you actually enter the Church at Easter and receive the sacraments of initiation.

Stage 2: Learning about the Faith
In the catechumenate, your faith has begun to develop. Now you need to learn and grow more. You focus on catechesis in this stage: learning about the faith, how to live as a Christian, and developing your interior life. Your job now is to come into closer contact with the Living God and learn more about the Catholic Faith.

Stage 3: Getting ready for rebirth!
This period of purification and enlightenment is the final stage before receiving the Easter sacraments of initiation into the Church: baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist. (Those already baptized with a valid baptism in another Christian church aren't baptized again). This stage of intense reflection calls you to deeper conversion in preparation for your renewal at Easter. This is what the season of Lent is for, but it has a special intensity for you this year as you're entering the Church and receiving the sacraments of initiation.

Stage 4: Reflecting on the Mysteries of the Mass
This stage of mystagogy during Easter is for continued reflection on the sacraments you have received at Easter, especially the Eucharist. Specific catechesis on the Mass, the Sacraments, and especially the Eucharist are the focus of this stage. The Mass and the Eucharist are the source and summit of the Christian life in the Catholic Church, and this period is designed to help you understand, appreciate, and live more deeply this center of Catholicism.

Source: beginningCatholic.com