Interested in becoming Catholic?
“Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.”
Matthew 7:7
WHAT IS RCIA?
RCIA stands for “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults”, and it is the process by which adults enter the Catholic Church. The RCIA process includes several stages that include study, prayer, discussion, asking and answering questions. RCIA aims to help men and women understand Catholic liturgy, prayer, and practices. Through RCIA, participants undergo a process of conversion, profess faith in Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church, and receive the sacraments of baptism (if they are unbaptized), confirmation, and the Holy Eucharist. All are welcome to explore RCIA.
What is the RCIA process?
Inquiry
If you have questions about Catholicism and are interested in exploring the possibility of becoming Catholic, you can begin in an “Inquiry” phase to ask those questions and discover more about the Church. We welcome you to come with your questions and share in conversation about what it means to live the Christian life in the Catholic tradition. The length of time varies in each phase, depending on when an individual feels ready to move from the Inquiry phase.
Ritual: Rite of Acceptance (for unbaptized) or the Rite of Welcome (for baptized)
Catechumenate
After Inquiry, you enter the “Catechumenate” and are called a “catechumen” (if unbaptized). The Catechumenate includes deeper spiritual and faith formation, prayer and reflection, and involvement with the parish community. In this phase, you are assigned a sponsor, someone from the parish community who accompanies you on your journey. The fulfillment of the Catechumenate phase is full reception into the Church and reception of the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil (the night before Easter Sunday) .
Ritual: Rite of Election (for unbaptized), Call to Continuing Conversion (for baptized) & the Sacraments of Initiation (for unbaptized), Profession of Faith, Confirmation, Holy Communion (for baptized)
Mystagogy
After receiving sacraments, you continue RCIA in the “Mystagogy” phase where you continue to learn and receive the sacraments and graces of the Church and join the parish community. You continue to be accompanied by your sponsor and grow in deeper communion with Christ and the Church. it is a time of deeper reflection, celebration and participation in the life of the Church.
If you are baptized, you are considered a “candidate” and reception into the Catholic Church will depend on your individual readiness. Unlike the rites of initiation for the unbaptized, the Rite of Reception of Baptized Candidates is not tied to a particular liturgical season or feast, so it may be celebrated any time of the year, preferably in the context of Sunday Eucharist.