Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

RCIA is for Adults who are:

Unbaptized
Baptized in a Christian Faith
Baptized Catholic and need to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation

RCIA is an Invitation to Journey:

RCIA is a process of becoming fully initiated into the Catholic Christian faith. RCIA stands for Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. ‘Rite’ because initiation into the Catholic Church happens during Liturgies (Masses) in the context of the parish’s faith community. Initiation consists of three Sacraments - baptism, eucharist, and confirmation. For adults these sacraments are celebrated once a year during the Easter Vigil, the Saturday before Easter Sunday.

RCIA is not:

a Bible study
a therapy group
a class
an encounter group
a sensitivity training group

RCIA is:

a process of growing in the Catholic Christian faith, based on theological principles:
each person is led by God on his/her spiritual journey
shared reflection on the action of God in one’s own life;
serving our union with Christ and thereby one another;
entire process is seen as prayer - listening to the word of God in Scripture and in each other’s experiences
praying together
reflecting on Scriptures
people gathering to share their faith stories
a place to ‘come and see’ if you are interested in becoming
part of the faith community at St. Raymond parish
growing in our individual relationships with the Lord Jesus; supporting each other in living out the Christian faith as Catholics in today’s world, on a daily basis.

The Four Periods:

1. Inquiry - A time of introduction to the Gospel and reflection on one’s life in the light of the Gospel. A person may enter at anytime during the year. Transition to the Catechumenate is through the Rite of Welcome and Acceptance that is celebrated a various times throughout the year.

2. Catechumenate - The catechumens (those not yet baptized) and the candidates (the others) enter a period of fuller participation in the community through the study of the Sunday Scripture readings and their message. Transition to the period of Purification and Enlightenment is through the rites of Sending and Election on the 1st Sunday of Lent.

3. Purification and Enlightenment - The candidates and catechumens, now termed ‘The Elect’ begin a more intense period leading up to the Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil). At the Vigil, those who are to be baptized are baptized, those who come from other Christian churches make a profession of faith, and all three groups are Confirmed and receive their First Holy Communion. From this point the newly baptized are known as ‘neophytes’.

4. Mystagogy - Between Easter and Pentecost the neophytes examine the meaning of the Rites they have experienced and enter more deeply into the mystery of the Christian life.

At St. Raymond the program runs year round. If you are interested or want more information contact
Diana Bitz (925) 574-7403 or stop by the Parish Office.