WHAT IS THE RCIA?

The letters stand for Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. It's a process by which people interested in becoming Catholics come together with Catholics to study, pray, share with one another.

WHO JOINS THE RCIA?

Those interested in becoming Catholic.
Those who might be interested but aren't sure.
Those Catholics who want to support others coming to the faith.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS LIKE?

The first part is the Inquiry or for the non-baptized, the pre-Catechumenate. This is time for introduction to the practices, doctrine, prayer life, community. This is time for the inquirers to ask questions, to share their faith and to learn more about the Catholic Church.

After a period of time the inquirers who know they want to join the Church take part in a ritual called the Rite of Welcoming or the Rite of Acceptance where the parish community promises them their prayers and support and the candidates promise to join them in the weekly liturgy, prayer and further study.

The next phase is a time for deeper involvement with Scripture and the teachings of the Church and also involvement with the community.

This phase ends on the First Sunday of Lent with the Rite of Election. The Bishop presides at this ceremony and calls the candidates to Baptism at the Easter Vigil or, in the case of those already baptized, to Full Communion with the Catholic Church.

The next phase is a formal time of delving deeper into the mysteries of the Church and participating more fully in the ministry of the Church. This phase continues in a less formal way for all Catholics as this is our call to be the Body of Christ and to share the Body of Christ.

WHEN DOES THE PROCESS START?

When the person feels called to start. There is no specific time. Usually a group starts in September, another after Christmas and often a new group during the summer. But individuals can start at any time. When persons respond to God's call we try to be here for them.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?

That depends. Here are some examples.

Jill has had no experience with any church. She was never baptized. She works with some Catholics and is impressed with the way they live. Their faith is important to them and gives direction to their lives. She decides to try to see more about their Church. She goes to church with them a few times and then decides to find out more about the Church. She begins the RCIA process. For Jill it may be two or three years before she is ready for baptism. Or she may decide this is not the path she chooses to follow.

Joe has never been baptized but his wife is a practicing Catholic. He frequently goes to Mass with her on Sunday and takes part in some church social functions. He knows many Catholics. When his children started to go to Religious Education classes he decided he wanted to become Catholic. He begins the formal process in September and is ready for baptism the following Easter.

Jim was baptized in a Christian Church and was very active in his church. He was transferred to a new town and began going to Mass with some of his friends. He began studying about the Church and decided he wanted to become Catholic. He was encouraged by his friends to join the RCIA. So after a few years of participating in the liturgies and community of the Church he joined the RCIA. Jim might want to study, pray and participate in the process for a few months or for a year. Baptism of adults can only take place at the Easter Vigil but making a Profession of Faith and coming to full Communion in the Catholic Church has no timeline. Jim joins the process in March and makes his Profession of Faith in June.

Joan was baptized as a child but never really practiced any faith. She recently volunteered to help out at a home for abused women. Several other volunteers would leave at noon to attend daily Mass at a nearby Church. Their dedication and commitment both to the poor and to their Church interested her. She decided to find out more about this Catholic Church. Joan joined the RCIA and began a process that eventually led her to join the Church. Her process took a year and a half.