RCIA – what is it, why is it important, what is the structure of the process, who’s involved, what is the time of initiation

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What is RCIA?

What is RCIA? Why is RCIA important? What is the structure of the RCIA process? Who is involved in RCIA? Time of initiation

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Overview

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)

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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

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What is RCIA?

Endorsed by the ancient practice of the Church

Designed for the preparation of a group of candidates, but can be adaptedby pastors for one person

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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”

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Why is RCIA important?

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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

What is the structure of the RCIA process?

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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• MissionKindly 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

Who is involved in

RCIA? 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

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Who is involved in

RCIA? 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

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Who is involved in

RCIA? 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)

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Who is involved in

RCIA? 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

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Who is involved in

RCIA? 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

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Who is involved in

RCIA? 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

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Who is involved in

RCIA? 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

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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

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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

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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 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of Lent, or other Sundays of Lent or weekdays if necessary

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Time of Initiation

Presentations – by ancient usage, take place after the scrutinies, celebrated during the week Creed – week after 1st scrutiny Lord’s Prayer – week after 3rd 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

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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

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End with a quote

St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (d.1942)

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“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.”

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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

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