Adults who feel called to join our Catholic faith are encouraged to participate in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. This process, better known as the R.C.I.A., consists of sessions of inquiry, catechumanate, and mystagogy.
Sessions begin mid September or the first week of October. Dates and times usually depend on those going through the process. Inquiry is designed to help interested individuals become more aware of the beliefs and practices of the faith. There is no pressure for a commitment to join the faith. All are welcomed to participate as much or as little as they prefer.
After one inquires and discerns that they are ready to move into a deeper discussion of the faith, the individual will start meeting weekly with a team of individuals who will discuss in more detail our faith traditions and practices using prayer and scripture. The individual has now entered into what we call the catechumanate.
Once the individual has made a firm commitment to join the Catholic faith, they enter into full communion with the Church through the sacraments of Baptism (if one has not been baptized in a Trinitarian tradition), Confirmation, and Eucharist at the Holy Saturday Vigil. After receiving the sacraments of initiation, the neophytes (newly initiated) individuals meet weekly to grasp the paschal mystery and discover how to make it a part of their daily life. As the neophytes begin to strengthen their walk in the Catholic faith, all are encouraged to discern what ministry in our parish family they feel called to serve. This is called the period of Mystagogy.