What
is RCIA?
RCIA stands for: Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.
RCIA is an adult Catholic program for education and spiritual preparation prior to entry into the Roman Catholic church and community.
This program includes the two initiation sacraments through the rites of Baptism (for those not already baptized Christian) and Confirmation.
The RCIA program at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (SEAS) parish is led by a team who will help guide program participants through the faith journey. In addition, participants have individual sponsors to pray with and discuss topics throughout the program.
The program consists of four phases:
Inquiry Initially, participants will learn the RCIA process and overview of the faith to discern whether this is the step they wish to take at this point in their lives. Catechumenate (study) Participants attend a number of classes and retreats to learn the fundamentals of the Roman Catholic Church (see Calendar for list of topics), to develop a prayer life and foster conversion Purification and Enlightenment Participants focus on self-examination, repentance and prayer in preparation for their entry into the Church Mystagogia Following the rites of initiation at Easter, the participants are asked to define the next steps of their journey in faith.
RCIA is a special program structured around adult learning and conversion practices, which are quite different from what you experienced in school. The year focuses on:
- Your individual steps of conversion and commitment
- Building community with other individuals, the RCIA class, and the SEAS parish
- Conveying knowledge about the teachings of the Church
- Small-group and large-group discussions to examine the personal implications of this knowledge
- Prayer and meditation in a number of forms
- Getting involved in giving to the community
Here are some answers to commonly asked questions:
- What commitment am I expected to make?
- What if I'm already baptized, confirmed, or a practicing Catholic?
- What if I'm not ready to make a commitment to the Church yet?
- How much does the program cost?
- What materials are used in the class?
- How confidential are the discussions?
- What if I'm already Catholic and want to participate in the program?
If you have more questions, please contact Paula Brown at: seas_brown at comcast dot net or 218-1141.