Church of the Madalene

The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) is the process by which interested persons gradually become members of the Catholic Church.

The RCIA is primarily a journey of faith

From the awareness of stirring of faith and curiosity within one’s heart; through all those stages of asking and seeking; through beginning involvement with Christian/Catholic people; through hearing the Gospel proclaimed and by faithful reflection and prayer on this Word of God; through study and discussion about the Catholic experience; through doubts and hesitations; through involvement in the works of charity and justice with those already committed to the catholic way of life; through discernment of God’s call for them as individuals; through the steps of commitment; through the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist); to a life of faith, love, and justice lived in communion with Catholics throughout the world.”

Conversion is a gradual process

The RCIA as a rite marks stages along the path to full commitment in the Catholic Church; the RCIA as a process describes in broad terms what this gradual commitment means.

The RCIA as formation gradually looks both to the inner transformation of the individual to God’s call, as given week by week in the lectionary of Scripture readings at the Sunday Eucharist, and to the gradual transformation of the person to an active member of the local church wherever they live.

The Process:

• The Period of Inquiry (Also known as the time of Evangelization or Pre-Catechumenate
• Catechumenate
• Period of Purification and Enlightenment/Scrutinies
• The Paschal Triduum with the Sacraments of Initiation
• Mystagogical Catechesis

The Period of Inquiry: It takes as long as it needs to take.

The Period of Inquiry has, as its purpose, time; time to become acquainted with the Catholic Church and to hear the good news of salvation from Jesus Christ our Savior. It is a time to look within at one’s own life story and see connections to or needs for the gospel story of good news. During this period, the gospel of Jesus is proclaimed, and inquirers look within their own story to make and mark connections.

This reflective process becomes a continuing, on-going method used by inquirer and member alike. This period lasts as long as the person needs it to last, from a few months to several years if necessary.

The Inquirer is discerned, when ready, stating that they are ready to move to the Catechumenate phase, stating why they want to move and how they see themselves as ready.

During this period, some may decide that this is not the right time for them to consider membership in the Catholic Church, either because of their own life circumstances or because they feel some other tradition is better for them.

The Catechumenate

The period of Catechumenate embodies the first stages of commitment leading to full membership in the Catholic Church. For a person to enter this phase, they must already have come to faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and have a sincere desire to become members of the Catholic Church.

During this phase, the catechumens and candidates gather with the Catholic community on Sundays for the first part of the mass, during which, together, we hear the Scriptures, respond to them, and reflect on the meaning of God’s Word for us personally and as community through the homily. After the homily, catechumens are dismissed and with their Catechist (A Catechist is a teacher of the principles of Christian dogma, discipline, and ethics by means of questions and answers.) to continue a process of reflection and application of the Scriptures to their own lives.

During this period, the initial conversion is deepened and appropriated; the person comes to know more, and more deeply, the love of God in their own lives and in the midst of the church community. This period, too, lasts as long as the person needs it to last, from a few months to several years, if necessary.

ARE YOU A CANDIDATE OR A CATECHUMEN? In the simplest of terms, a catechumen is un-baptized and a candidate has already been baptized whether through the Catholic Church or another Christian church. Catholics believe in “one baptism for the forgiveness of sins” so if you were baptized in another church, it’s valid as long as you were baptized with water and the Holy Trinity was invoked (”The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”).

The Period of Purification or Illumination:

The Elect The Period of Purification corresponds to that time in the Catholic Church known as Lent; this is the forty days of thoughtful preparation prior to Easter. This is a time of prayerful reflection and meditation for catechumens and candidates, who now become known as The Elect, as they prepare for the moment of welcome as full members of the Catholic Church and are established as such by the Sacraments of Initiation.

This period is begun by the Rite of election, usually celebrated at the Cathedral with the Diocesan Bishop; by this rite they are accepted as candidates for the Sacraments by the Bishop, representing the fact that this decision is not theirs alone. Normally this rite takes place on the first Sunday of Lent.

Throughout Lent, special prayers are offered at the Sunday Eucharist for the catechumens and candidates; these prayers are offered for strengthening in grace and virtue and for purification from all past evil and from any bonds which hinder them from experiencing the love of God. Throughout this period, the Elect are invited to join with the whole Church in a deeper practice of works of charity and in the practice of fasting.

During this period, the common reflection on the Scriptures continues; the readings of Lent were chosen with the themes of continuing conversion in mind. Toward the end of the period, the Church continues the custom of “handing over” to the Elect the Creed (the summary of our faith) and the Lord’s Prayer which represents its practice of continuing prayer after the command of Jesus who taught us to pray.

The Sacraments of Initiation These three sacraments immerse a person in the Church, the risen body of Christ[2].

• Baptism (in his identity)
• Confirmation (in his mission)
• Eucharist (in his destiny)

The Sacraments of Initiation are celebrated at the Easter Vigil, an extended night-watch of prayer, singing, and hearing the Word of God.

By the waters of Baptism, Catechumens pass into the new life of grace and become members of the Body of Christ. For the short period between baptism and confirmation during the Easter Vigil, the Catechumens become candidates.

During Confirmation all the candidates (the newly and previously baptized) are anointed with special holy oil called chrism which seals the initiation by the power of the Holy Spirit, while participation at the Table of the Lord, by way of the Eucharist, marks full membership in the church. Congratulations–you are now Catholic.

The Period of Mystagogy

The Period of Mystagogy lasts from Easter Sunday until the completion of the Easter season, fifty days later on Pentecost Sunday and completes the initiation process.

Those who have just shared in the sacraments of initiation are now called Neophytes and during this period of Easter joy they reflect on what they have just gone through and look to the future as to how they can now share in the mission of Christ who came to bring salvation and life to the whole world. This period of time reminds the whole church that life in Christ constantly calls us to grow and to look for new ways to live the life of grace, personally and together.