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RCIA – what is it, why is it important, what is the structure of the process, who’s involved, what is the time of initiation
May 3, 2023 1
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
May 3, 2023 2
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)
May 3, 2023 3
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
May 3, 2023 4
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
May 3, 2023 5
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”
May 3, 2023 6
Why is RCIA important?
May 3, 2023 7
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?
May 3, 2023 8
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
May 3, 2023 9
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
May 3, 2023 10
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)
May 3, 2023 11
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
May 3, 2023 12
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
May 3, 2023 13
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
May 3, 2023 14
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
May 3, 2023 15
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
May 3, 2023 16
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
May 3, 2023 17
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
May 3, 2023 18
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
May 3, 2023 19
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
May 3, 2023 20
End with a quote
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (d.1942)
May 3, 2023 21
“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.”
May 3, 2023 22
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
May 3, 2023 23
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