Second Step the end of formal study of the teachings and

Rite of Acceptance into the Order of practices of the Church. The catechumens are now Rite of Christian Initiation
Catechumens and the Period of the called the elect.
On the Sundays of Lent, special prayers are
for Adults
Catechumenate
Some of the inquirers become firm in their desire offered at the Eucharist for the elect, called
The letters "RCIA" stand for the "Rite of
for initiation and decide that they would like to begin Scrutinies. These prayers are for strengthening in
Christian Initiation of Adults", the document
more formal study of the teachings and practices of grace and virtue, and help them prepare more fully
for the sacraments. The sponsors continue to
flowing from Vatican II which guides the process
the Catholic Church. They are admitted into the next by which adults are initiated into our Roman
step through a special ceremony called the Rite of accompany the elect in church and support them in
their Lenten preparations. Catholic community. The RCIA describes a
Acceptance/Welcome into the Order of
process in which men and women are guided and
Catechumens. In this ritual the Church symbolically
claims these men and women for Christ by signing Fourth Step cared for as they awaken in faith and are gradually
them with the cross. Initiation and Mystagogia introduced to the Catholic way of life.
This is the first time that the inquirers publicly On Holy Saturday, the parish assembles for The RCIA process is a series of carefully
declare their faith before the parish community. the Easter Vigil. The Church has always planned stages, marked by liturgical rites in the
Because no one likes to do something like that on recognized that in baptism we die to sin in presence of the whole community, in which new
their own, each inquirer is accompanied by a Catholics embark on and join us in a continuing and
Christ's death so that we may rise to new life with
sponsor. Sponsors may be chosen by the individual deepening conversion into faith and discipleship.
him. The Easter Vigil is the primary celebration
or provided by the parish. Sponsors provide support The RCIA takes the distinctive history and
of the Lord's resurrection and is, therefore, the spiritual needs of each person into account,
and companionship for the rest of the R.C.I.A. most appropriate occasion for the elect to
process. differentiating between the baptized and the
celebrate their baptism, confirmation, and first unbaptized, the catechized and the uncatechized.
After this rite, the inquirers are called Eucharist.
catechumens, and the initial conversion is deepened. The needs of mature, practicing Christians from
For the newly initiated, now called other faith traditions are considered on an individual
This name indicates that they are learning the neophytes, the time between Easter and Pentecost
teachings of the Church and beginning to accept basis.
is a special opportunity to reflect on the The RCIA draws its model from the
Catholic tradition and practices. Even though they
commitment which they have made to the Lord, "catechumenate" of the ancient Church. Becoming
are not yet permitted to receive the sacraments, the
catechumens do enjoy other important rights. They
to the Church, and to the local parish community. Christian in the early days of the Church involved a
have a right to assistance as they grow in faith by This time of unfolding the meaning of the sharp break with the surrounding culture. New
learning about the teachings of the Church and initiation sacraments is called mystagogia. Christians entered into the joy of new life and a life-
participating in works of service in the parish. They The journey of faith lasts a lifetime. The sharing community of faith, but also entered into a
also have a right to be married in the Church and to weeks after Easter are a time for new Catholics to way of living which demanded deep commitment
receive Christian burial. seek out their place in the parish community. and entailed great risks. In the modern world, our
Other parishioners can reach out to welcome faith also demands deep commitment -- our beliefs
Third Step them, helping them to get involved and feel at and the beliefs of our society are often in tension.
home. The Church revived the catechumenate -- embodied
Rite of Election and the Period of Purification and
in the RCIA -- because new believers in the modern
Enlightenment
The period of the catechumenate ends when the Prepared by Rev. Cletus Imo world need careful preparation and caring support as
catechumens discern, with the help of their sponsors Printed with ecclesiastical approval. they enter into the mysteries of Christ and the
and the parish R.C.I.A. team, that God is calling commitment of Christian living.
them to receive the sacraments of initiation (Baptism,
Confirmation, and First Eucharist) at the next Easter Pope John Paul II Society of Evangelists Conversion: A Journey of Mind,
Vigil. Before they can be initiated, they must be P.O. Box 5584, Bakersfield, California 93388 Heart and Spirit
officially called to the sacraments by the bishop or e-mail: info@pjpiisoe.org Phone: 661 393-3239 Awakening to Christ and seeking out the Church
someone designated by him. This Rite of Election is www.pjpiisoe.org through the RCIA comes about in a variety of ways.
celebrated on weekend of the First Sunday of Lent Donation Welcome and Appreciated The first step for some is a sense that "something is
presided by the Bishop. The Rite of Election marks Pamphlet 097 missing" -- a sense, perhaps provoked by some
crisis, that there is more to life than what they now helping make the catechumens and candidates feel continuous conversion in full communion with the
have or a better way to live than how they now live. "at home" with Catholic religious practice. Roman Catholic community of Christians.
For many others, the journey begins because of a The catechumenate period ends when a
relationship with a Catholic. Still others are drawn by catechumen or candidate is ready to begin the third How long does it take?
seeing the example of a Catholic life well lived, or by period of the journey, the period of purification and "The Rite of Christian Initiation" is not a
exposure to a Catholic writer. Whatever the reason enlightenment, which coincides with Lent each program.
for the awakening and decision to seek, the RCIA year. On the first Sunday of Lent, catechumens It is the church's way of ministering
process is the first step on a lifelong journey of travel to the Cathedral to celebrate the second major sensitively to those who seek membership. For
intellectual, emotional and spiritual conversion. rite of the RCIA process, the Rite of Election, while that reason some people will need more time than
candidates receive the Call to Continuing
others to prepare for the lifetime commitment that
Preparation: Awakening, Growth Conversion.
comes with membership in the Catholic Church.
and Formation
The usual length of preparation is from one to two
The full RCIA process consists of four periods of Purification and Enlightenment
years. For those already baptized and who seek
awakening, growth and formation marked by The period of purification and enlightenment
celebration of three major rites involving the full communion in the Catholic Church, the time
is a time of final preparation for initiation. The
whole community. may also vary.
period is one of prayer, fasting and reflection for
It seems reasonable that catechumens or
both catechumens, now known as the Elect, and
Inquiry candidates experience the yearly calendar of
candidates. During this period, the Elect
During the first period of the journey, the inquiry Catholic practice at least one time around in order
experience scrutinies and exorcisms, special rites
period, seekers ask hard questions about Christianity to make an informed decision.
which seal their break with evil in preparation for
and receive truthful, life-sharing answers from The process of spiritual renewal and
baptism.
Catholic Christians. The informal discussions during catechesis should not be hasty, especially for
the inquiry period help the seekers link their personal those not accustomed to the fasts and feasts and
Easter Fire!
life stories to the Good News as witnessed and lived Sundays and seasons the way Catholics observe
The candidates and the Elect are initiated
by the Roman Catholic community. them.
through the third and consummating rite of the
The first major rite of the RCIA process is the One of the best times for the sacraments of
Rite of Acceptance. Several times each year at
RCIA process, the Sacraments of Initiation, at the
initiation or the Rite of reception into full
Sunday Mass, inquirers enter the second period of the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. On that night,
communion is the Easter Vigil. Lent prepares
journey, the catechumenate, by being marked with when light drives out darkness, joyful sounds fill
catechumens, candidates and the whole
the sign of the cross on the ears, eyes, lips, heart, the silence, and we proclaim and renew our
community for baptism, confirmation and
shoulders, hands and feet -- a symbol of both the joys resurrection hope, the Elect culminate their long
Eucharist. The celebration of the Easter Vigil
and the costs of Christian discipleship. journey to initiation in the waters of Baptism --
dramatically points to the wellspring of the
then, with the candidates, the newly baptized are
church's life:
Into the Catacombs sealed with the oil of Confirmation and share the
"The Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ."
The word catechumenate means "time of serious bread and wine of the Eucharist as full members
Four Steps to Becoming a Fully Initiated
study" and inquirers who become catechumens -- of the Roman Catholic community.
those who have not been baptized -- or candidates -- Catholic:
baptized Christians who have not been confirmed as Mystagogia First Step
Roman Catholics -- join us at Sunday Mass during Initiation begins the fourth period of the Period of Inquiry
the Liturgy of the Word, after which they move to the RCIA journey, the mystagogia, which means How someone comes to consider joining the
parish house to continue reflecting on the Scriptures. "leading into the mysteries". The newly initiated Catholic Church is unique to each individual. At
The length of the catechumenate varies according to meet weekly between Easter and Pentecost to some point, the person may contact a Catholic
individual need. The norm is a year or more. explore and confirm the Easter experience. From parish and begin to meet with other adults who are
Sponsors are chosen from the parish community Pentecost until the following Easter, mystagogia also inquiring about the Catholic faith. These
to act as spiritual companions, providing personal continues with intermittent meetings. Mystagogia adults, with members of the R.C.I.A. team, will
upport, sharing experience of Christian life and is the final stage of the RCIA process, but it is in take time to tell their own stories and connect
turn the beginning of a pilgrimage of lifelong, them with the faith stories found in scripture.