RCIA
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THE PROCESS OF BECOMING INITIATED INTO THE CATHOLIC FAITH
Do you know someone who has expressed an interest in the Catholic Church? Do you know someone who, while baptized as an infant (whether as a Catholic or a non-Catholic), never had the opportunity to be catechized in the faith and receive the sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation?
You can be so instrumental in bringing others to faith in Christ through the community of the Catholic Church. You can inform that person about our RCIA process. The RCIA (The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is a process whereby those who are not Catholic or those Catholics who have never been fully initiated (that is those Catholics who did not receive Eucharist or Confirmation) can begin a wonderful journey of coming to know the Lord through our weekly Sunday morning meetings.
Way back in the past, an inquirer who wanted to become a Catholic attended "convert classes" -- usually instruction offered by the parish priest. The RCIA attempts to restore a much older and richer tradition of bringing an inquirer into a relationship with Jesus and to see how that relationship can be nurtured through the Catholic Community. It is not a matter of coming to know things about Jesus, but coming to know the Lord Himself and learning how to love Him more fully and serve Him through this community of faith.
This is why our RCIA process takes place on a Sunday morning. It has a catechetical component – that is, a part of the morning is spent in reflecting on the tradition of our faith, as we try to understand our faith in ways that are meaningful to the questions and struggles of our day-to-day living. After our session, we attend the Mass together so that we may be further nourished at the table of God’s word and by the presence and support of our community of faith.
If you know of someone who is interested in becoming a Catholic or someone who needs to know more about this wonderful process, we ask you to contact Father Tony at the Rectory (631-584-5454)