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Quik-Click
Guide
What is the Rite of Christian
Initiation?
Who Participates in the RCIA?
How is the RCIA Organized?
How Does the RCIA Work?
What is the Role of Sponsors in the RCIA?
What You Should Expect in the RCIA?
About Marriage and the RCIA
What is the Rite of Christian Reception?
What is the Role of Discernment in the RCIA?
For More Information
“Under
the movement of divine grace, the new convert sets out
on a spiritual journey by means of which...he passes from the
old
man to the new man who has been made perfect in Christ.
This
transition, which involves a progressive change of outlook and
morals, should be manifested in its social implications and
effected
gradually during the period of the catechumenate.... Then,
having
been delivered from the powers of darkness through the
sacraments
of Christian initiation, and having died, been buried and risen
with
Christ, they...celebrate with the whole people of God the
memorial
of the Lord's death and resurrection.”
--Second Vatican
Council,
Decree on the Church's Missionary Activity
(1965), #13, 14.
Information About the
Rite of
Christian Initiation
of Adults (RCIA)
in the Catholic Parishes in
Waterloo
What is the Rite of Christian Initiation?
The RCIA is an experience of
personal formation
and spiritual growth for individuals who are interested in
becoming disciples of Jesus in the Catholic tradition. The RCIA experience incorporates prayer, study, reflection and
discernment in a combination of public rituals and community
preparation.
The
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is modeled
on the initiation ritual of the ancient Christian community and
was revived in the Roman Catholic church following the Second
Vatican Council in the 1960s. It is now the principle way
that the Catholic community welcomes new members.
Who Participates in the RCIA?
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults includes three types
of individuals:
Catechumens
Catechumens
are adult individuals who have never been baptized and have no
religious tradition or church affiliation. Through the Rite of
Christian Initiation, Catechumens prepare to celebrate
the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and First Eucharist.
Candidates
Candidates
are adult individuals who have been previously baptized.
•
Some Candidates may have been baptized in a non-Catholic
Christian tradition. Through the Rite of Christian Initiation,
these Candidates prepare to make a ‘Profession of Faith,’
and to celebrate the sacraments of Confirmation and First
Eucharist.
• Other Candidates may have been baptised in the Catholic
Church but were not fully catechized or did not complete their
initiation in the Catholic Church. Through the Rite of
Christian Initiation, these Candidates prepare to
celebrate the sacaments of First Eucharist and/or Confirmation.
Baptized Catholics
Some individuals participating in the Rite of Christian
Initiation may be adults who were baptised, fully initiated and
catechized in the Catholic Church, but have not been active
and/or want to learn more about their Catholic faith.
Some participants in the Rite of Christian Initiation may have
decided that they wish to become Catholic. However, others may
not be sure, and some may not want to become Catholic but are
interested in learning more about the Catholic faith.
Participation in the Rite of Christian Initiation does not
assume that a participant will eventually choose to join the
Catholic Church.
Many RCIA participants are married to a Catholic,
or planning to marry a Catholic. Some have not been
active in any religious tradition and have no church home.
Others may have been active in another Christian tradition, but
never been baptized or fully catechized in that tradition.
Some participants in the RCIA process have
already decided that they wish to become Catholic.
However, others may not be sure, and some may not want to become
Catholic but are interested in learning more about the Catholic
faith.
How is RCIA organized?
The RCIA is divided into four phases:
• A period of inquiry and discussion, designed to
help individuals decide if they are interested in considering
fuller participation in the Catholic faith community. This
period is called the Pre-Catechumenate.
• A period of continuing discernment and
formation, designed to help individuals understand the Catholic
faith and practices of the Catholic community. This period
is called the
Catechumenate.
• A period of final discernment and preparation,
designed to help individuals finalize their decision and prepare
to celebrate the sacraments of initiation. This period is
called the Enlightenment or
Purification.
• A period of continuing reflection and formation
following initiation, designed to help new Catholics understand
their conversion experience and prepare to participate more
fully in the life of the Catholic community. This period
is called the
Mystagogia.
How Does RCIA Work?
The Rite of Christian Initiation includes a combination of
private prayer, reflection, and discernment; small group study
and faith-sharing; and public rites or rituals designed to
celebrate the candidate’s progress toward initiation.
Catechetical Sessions
During the Pre-Catechumenate and Catechumenate phases, RCIA
participants meet each week with RCIA participants from other
local parishes. The catechetical sessions are designed to
address the particular needs, questions and concerns of each
participant. There is an opportunity for questions and
discussion, often in small groups or one-on-one.
The process will always respect the privacy and
personal comfort level of each participant. Issues and
concerns which cannot be discussed in the general session can be
addressed in private with a sponsor or a member of the parish
staff.
Rituals or Rites of Initiation
Participants in the RCIA participate
in the following public rituals or "rites."
Rite of Acceptance
The Rite of Acceptance follows a period of Inquiry and precedes
the Catechumenate.
Through the Rite of Acceptance, individuals declare their
initial desire to seek initiation into the Catholic faith
community. The faith community, in turn, declares its
willingness to accept them as persons who intend to become its
members. The local pastor is the normal presiding celebrant for
the Rite of Election. (See Rite of
Christian Initiation of Adults, #41)
In
order to celebrate the Rite of Acceptance, there should be
evidence that the candidate has experienced growth in spiritual
life and has a preliminary understanding of Christian teaching.
This evidence of “first faith” and initial conversion includes:
• the “intention to change their lives;”
• the “first stirrings of repentance;”
• the beginning of a life of prayer;
• a sense of Church, and
• some experience of the faith community.
(See Rite of Christian Intitiation of Adults, #42.)
Rite of Election
The Rite of Election follows the Catechumenate and precedes the
period of Enlightenment. It usually coincides with the
beginning of the Lent.
In the Rite of Election, individuals declare their intention to
advance toward the sacraments of initiation and full
participation in the Catholic faith community. The community,
in turn, expresses its acceptance (election) of the individuals
and its confidence that they have been chosen and accepted by
God. The bishop is the normal presiding celebrant for the Rite
of Election. (See Rite of Christian Initiation of
Adults,
#118, 119, 121.)
The Church assumes that individuals who seek to celebrate the
Rite of Election have:
• experienced a “conversion in mind and in action;”
• developed “a sufficient understanding of Christian teaching;”
• developed the intention to receive the sacraments of the
Church
• and display “a spirit of faith and charity;”
(See Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, #120.)
Scrutinies and Rites of Exorcism
The Scrutinies and Rites of Exorcism take place during the
period of Enlightenment. They usually take place during the
principle Sunday Mass on the third, fourth and fifth Sundays in
Lent.
The Scrutinies and Rites of Exorcism coincide with the
Catechumens’ and Candidates’ final preparation for the Rites of
Initiation, which are usually celebrated at the Easter Vigil.
They are designed to inspire in the Catechumens and Candidates
(and in the assembly) a desire for purification and redemption
made available to the Church through the Paschal Mystery of
Christ’s death and resurrection. The local astor is the normal
celebrant for the Scrutinies and Rites of Exorcism.
The Scrutinies and Rites of Exorcism seek to uncover and heal
what is weak, defective and sinful, while strengthening what is
upright, strong and good. The community assumes that
individuals who participate in the Scrutinies and Rites of
Exorcism:
• have grown in their appreciation for Jesus Christ as the
living water, the light of the world, the resurrection and the
life.
• have a sincere intention to seek a deeper knowledge of Christ
and his Church;
• are progressing in their understanding of sin and their desire
for salvation;
• desire to continue growing in genuine self-knowledge through
an examination
of their lives and sincere repentance.
(See Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, #141-146.)
All
of the public rites and rituals are conducted in such a way that
no individual will be embarrassed or intimidated. Except for the
final rites of Initiation, all of the preliminary rites are
conducted as a group. The names of individual Catechumens and
Candidates will be announced, and you may be addressed
individually by the celebrant. Responses are ritual responses,
which are the same for each person, and may be made as a group
or as individuals. Participants will always be informed of the
appropriate ritual responses, gestures and procedures in
advance.
Breaking Open the Word
RCIA participants also participate in Breaking
Open the Word, which takes place each week during or after
Sunday Mass in the local parish. Breaking Open the Word
is a continuing opportunity to discuss the Sunday scripture
readings and the participants’ personal journey of faith.
What is the Role of Sponsors in the RCIA Process?
Sponsors play an important role in the initiation process. They
remind us that we are engaged in a process of conversion, which
involves human persons, and we are being initiated into a
faith community of human persons. RCIA sponsors
represent the faith community; they insure that no human person
walks the journey of conversion on their own.
There are three types of sponsors or companions in the RCIA
process, and each has a distinct role.
RCIA Sponsors
RCIA Sponsors serve as official representatives of the Catholic
faith community. They are active Catholics who represent the
local parish community, and, by extension, the universal
church. RCIA Sponsors may be personal friends or relatives of
the candidate (such as a spouse or fiance) if they are also
members of the local parish community and are able and willing
to assume responsibilities of the Sponsor.
The RCIA Sponsor accompanies the candidate through the periods
of Catechumenate, Enlightment and Mystagogia. He or she serves
the candidate as a mentor, a companion, and a representative of
the faith community.
•
As a mentor, the sponsor serves as a living example or role
model of what it means to be a person of faith.
• As a companion, the sponsor accompanies the candidate to RCIA
activities, is available to the candidate outside of RCIA
process, encourages and supports the candidate in the
discernment process, offers the candidate guidance and
understanding when the candidate is doubtful or hesitant, and,
if necessary, challenges the candidate to be faithful to the
discernment process.
• As a representative of the faith community, the sponsor helps
the candidate feel welcome, introduces the candidate to other
members of the faith community, and invites the candidate to
participate in community activities.
RCIA Companions
RCIA Companions serve as unofficial representatives of the
Catholic faith community. They may or may not be members of the
local parish community, but should be members of the Catholic
Church who are active (or interested in becoming more active) in
the Catholic faith. RCIA Companions may be personal friends or
relatives of the candidate (such as a spouse or fiance) who are
unable or unwilling to assume all of the responsibility of being
an RCIA Sponsor.
The RCIA Companion accompanies the candidate through the periods
of Inquiry, Catechemenate, Enlightenment and Mystagogia. He or
she serves the candidate primarily as a companion, but may also
serve to some extent as a personal mentor and a representative
of the faith community.
• The RCIA Companion accompanies the candidate to as many RCIA
activities as possible, encourages and supports the candidate in
the discernment process, and offers the candidate guidance and
understanding.
Sacramental Sponsors
Every individual who celebrates a sacrament of initiation in the
Catholic Church chooses a Sacramental Sponsor. In the case of
individuals who are being baptised, these sponsors are called
Baptism Sponsors (or “Godparents”); for individuals celebrating
the Sacrament of Confirmation they are called Confirmation
Sponsors. A Sacramental Sponsor is a representative of the
Catholic faith community and a personal role model, confidant,
and friend for the individual candidate.
The Sacramental Sponsor accompanies the candidate through the
periods of Enlightenment and Mystagogia, and should continue to
play an influential role in the candidate’s life after
completion of the initiation process.
RCIA Sponsors may serve as Sacramental Sponsors if they meet the
criteria outlined below; however, candidates do not have to
choose their RCIA Sponsor as their Sacramental Sponsor.
Sacramental Sponsors must meet the following criteria:
• Must be at least 16 years old.
• Must be a baptized Catholic who has also celebrated the
Sacrament of
Confirmation.
• Should be participating as fully as possible in the spiritual
and sacramental life
of the Catholic church.
• Should be an individual the candidate admires and respects as
a good role
model of Christian living.
• May be of either gender.
• May be a relative or friend, but may not be the candidate’s
birth-parent.
• As a general rule should not be the candidate’s spouse or
fiance.
• May be the candidate’s Baptism Sponsor (Godparent) if the
candidate was
baptized as a Catholic.
Here are some questions a candidate might consider when
choosing a
sponsor or
companion:
•
Is this a person of faith? Is he or she actively involved in
the spiritual and
sacramental life of the Catholic faith
community?
• Is this a person whose life is a good example of the Christian
values and virtues
which you will try to imitate?
• Are prayer, service, and commitment a real part of this
person’s everyday life?
• Has this person grown in his or her own faith over the years?
Has he or she
struggled to understand the effort, maturity,
commitment and doubt which an
adult commitment to Jesus Christ
entails?
• Is this person able and willing to share his or her faith
experience with me? Am
I able and willing to share my faith
experience with this person?
• Is this person able and willing to help me feel welcome in the
Catholic faith
community and help me grow in my participation in
the Catholic Church?
• Is this person reliable and trustworthy? Can I depend on him
or her to fulfil the
responsibilities of a sponsor or companion
and to respect my privacy and
confidentiality?
What Should You Expect if You Participate
in the RCIA?
If you participate in the RCIA process you should
expect to grow in your understanding of the Catholic faith and
to deepen your own personal spiritual life, even if you choose
not to become Catholic.
You should also expect:
• to be treated with respect, understanding and confidentiality.
• to have your questions, concerns, doubts and fears
respectfully considered and
fully addressed.
• to have any previous religious or spiritual experience
carefully respected.
• to never be surprised by any aspect of the RCIA process, and
to be fully
informed about expectations and opportunities for
participation in the Catholic
faith community.
• to make your own free choice about participation in the RCIA
and/or
membership in the Catholic Church.
• to be guided, encouraged and supported in discerning your
decision, and
explaining your choice to family and friends.
• to be warmly and sincerely welcomed by members of the Catholic
faith
community.
About Marriage and
the RCIA
According to Catholic teaching, an individual is
not free to marry unless any previous marriage has been
annulled. In most cases, this also applies to any previous
marriage of a non-Catholic partner.
Individuals who have divorced and remarried may
enter the RCIA process, but must have their previous
marriage annulled and their second marriage validated before
they celebrate initiation in the Catholic Church.
Individuals who have divorced but not remarried
may enter the RCIA process and celebrate initiation in
the Catholic Church. They must have their previous
marriage annulled before entering a second marriage.
An "annulment" (or Declaration of Invalidity)
by a church tribunal declares that a particular marriage did not
meet the Church's criteria for a full, permanent sacramental
marriage because one or both partners were unable to understand
or unwilling to fulfil the requirements for such a marriage
relationship.
Click
here for more information about a Decree of Invalidity
You should clarify your marital status with
the pastoral staff before you begin participation in the RCIA.
What is the Rite of Christian Reception?
The Catholic parishes in Waterloo also provide the Rite of
Christian Reception of Adults. This is a shorter
period of discernment and preparation, designed for individuals
who have been baptized, fully catechised and active in the
Christian faith. The Rite of Christian Reception of
Adults meets weekly several times each year, and
concentrates on the distinctive characteristics, rituals and
teachings of the Roman Catholic tradition.
What is the Role of Discernment in the RCIA?
Life is full of decisions. And there is never a guarantee that
the decisions we make will for sure be the right decisions.
However, we can be open to a posture of decision-making that
reflects a God-focus. We can enter into a process of
discernment, which is a particularly appropriate kind of
decision-making for an individual participating in the Rite of
Christian Initiation.
Discernment
is
not a foolproof set of directions one follows to come to the
perfect solution. Rather, it is a surrender into a process of
coming to fuller self-knowledge and responding out of that
experience. While the practical judgement made is of definite
value, it is the whole process of trust and surrender that is of
definite value. We can never know if the decisions we make are
“right” decisions because we see now “only as in a glass
darkly.” However, we can know we make a “good” decision if we
have been faithful to the demands of the discernment process.
What Discernment is
Not
•
Discernment does not occur only through gut-level responses such
as feelings
or emotions. Affectivity, however integrated,
cannot be the sole criterion for
decision.
• Discernment does not in essence happen through a systematic
and logical
process. It is more than decision-making. It is an
adventure that faces the
mystery of God's stirrings.
• Discernment usually does not occur through private revelations
to an individual.
Private revelations are prone to
self-deception and therefore need the
community's confirmation.
Guidelines for Discernment
•
Discernment is the art of finding meaning in our daily lived
lives, as it reflects
God's revelation. It is not about seeing
new things, but seeing things in a new
way.
• Often we can discern the ways of God by using common sense
supported by
informed and prudent judgment, but sometimes we
overextend our competence,
and therefore blind ourselves to the
need for further investigation and
consultation.
• Discernment is a holistic process which involves the
intellect, psychological
state, affectivity, spiritual,
volitional and physical. All elements of our embodied
person
can play a role in offering cues.
• One can approach the process of discernment with confidence
that God will
guide us in our faithful searching. Such a level
of trust presumes a developing
relationship between us and God.
• We must be comfortable with the possibility of a wrong
decision, but if we are
faithful to the process of discernment,
we can rest in the certitude of a good
decision, knowing that
God will use whatever our falterings are to bring about
good.
• Discernment occurs in God's time (kairos), the
appointed time, the time that
best serves the building of God's
reign. It is not calculated and cannot be
measured, except in
terms of fidelity. It takes trust to allow God's time to
emerge, to know the right moment and not to rush.
• Discernment leads us to a sense of detachment -- the ability
to remove
ourselves enough to be able to accept whatever is
asked of us. Such
detachment teaches us
to make room to welcome
whatever is given, to accept all as gift.
• Discernment requires obedience and surrender.
Obedience means truly
listening to the words of life, and then
responding. Surrender means turning
over private expectations
and desires for the greater gift that we can receive if
we open
our hearts to God.
Four steps or “movements” characterize the discernment process:
Deliberation
Deliberation includes acquiring the necessary information to
make an informed decision, honestly assessing our current
situation, and envisioning new possibilities. It requires
exploring all sides, weighing the pros and cons, and considering
all of the possibilities.
There are two forms of deliberation which are necessary for
discernment: First, we need to consult with ourselves.
We need to seriously consider our gifts and our limitations.
Second, we need to consult with others. We need someone who is
objective and leaves us free to make our own decisions, even if
they are poor decisions.
During this stage of the discernment process, we should ask
ourselves:
• Am I open to consult other persons in this process?
• Do I consult with legitimate authorities -- people who know me
well -- for
feedback and direction?
• Do I make time for silence and solitude in this discernment
process?
• Do I make time to pray during this discernment process?
Reflection
There are
also two types of reflection. The first type assumes certain
expectations. We have already make up our minds, and have
decided what we will discover. Such reflection does not lead to
honest discernment. The second type of reflection opens us to
the truth in whatever way it emerges. We do not protect
ourselves from the uncomfortable. We allow the issues and ideas
raised during deliberation to work from the inside out. We
listen, slowly and respectfully. This kind of reflection
requires a certain level of disinterested involvement -- we give
ourselves over to the process, without deciding ahead of time
what the result will be.
During this stage of the discernment process, we should ask
ourselves:
• Where is God for me in all of this?
• How does this relate to my life in my family, among friends,
within my
community or work?
• In what ways will my decision promote Christian love and
Christian values?
• What is the most response-able course to take?
Insight
Insight
emerges slowly and gradually, as we purge ourselves of the
desire to “short-cut” the discernment process. When we give
ourselves over to the discernment process, we open ourselves to
whatever insights might emerge on a deeper level where images
are being transformed, our experiences reinforced, and our
awareness of ourselves is being clarified. Insight emerges
through a birthing process; it is a gift of the Spirit.
During this stage of the discernment process, we should ask
ourselves:
• Have I made time to let all of this settle down and to seep
into my being?
• How do the insights which emerge relate to my lived experience
and my
relationship to God?
• Is there a sense of inner peace and quiet with the choice
which is emerging?
• Can I honestly say that this decision “fits” with my true
sense of myself?
Decision and Action
After
prayerful reflection and consultation, we can come to a posture
of liberation and hence a decision. This decision will affirm
and promote the gifts we have been given for building up the
reign of God. We should resolve to follow the decision which
emerges through the process of discernment, until evidence
presents itself that the decision needs to be reevaluated. We
can trust the presence of the Spirit in the decision which
emerges through our discernment when it leads to a fuller
expression of the gifts of the Spirit: love, joy, peace,
patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control
(cf. Galatians 5:22-23).
[Adapted from Thomas H. Morris, The RCIA--Transforming the
Church.
©1997 by Paulist Press.]
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For More
Information
Members of the Catholic parishes in Waterloo will
welcome your questions. Our pastors and parish staff are
eager to discuss your interest in the Catholic Church and to
answer any questions or concerns you may have about joining the
Catholic Church.
For information about the Rite of Christian
Initiation of Adults, contact one of these Catholic Parishes in
Waterloo:
Blessed Sacrament Community
319-233-6179
Queen of Peace Parish
319-266-3655
Sacred Heart Parish
319-234-8394
St. Edward Parish
319-233-8060
or contact:
Director of Adult
Formation
320 Mulberry Street, Waterloo IA 50703
Phone: 319-234-9912
Email: DBQ208s3@arch.pvt.k12.ia.us
Created 09.04
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Last Update 08.08.08
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