Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
The Rite of Christian Initiation is a process that assists people in becoming members of the Roman Catholic Church. The process focuses on the spiritual formation of the person through the handing on the rich faith tradition of the Catholic Church. Participants study the beliefs and practices of our faith as well as engage in the communal worship and mission of the parish community.
What is the first step?
The RCIA Director will meet with anyone who is interested in becoming Catholic for an initial interview to determine the appropriate path of faith formation needed. The RCIA sessions begin in late August and continue through mid May, which most people find doable. However St. Paul does welcome inquiries about being Catholic throughout the year.
Structure
Since the RCIA process is about conversion to Jesus Christ and His message then it is appropriate that persons have a suitable amount of time for reflection and study. One can expect to receive an understanding of Catholic beliefs and practices, to experience the richness of parish life in worship, sacraments and service to others in need, and to discover communal support through one to one sharing of faith in the weekly sessions. Some people will need more time than others in the process of becoming Catholic for a multitude of reasons. The RCIA is about assisting people in their faith journey and the St. Paul staff is committed to the people and the process of initiation.
It is essential for anyone who is thinking about becoming Catholic to have some experience of attending Mass on Sundays. Those who have attended Mass for several weeks, months and/or years might have a greater inclination to join the Catholic Church. The richness of the Catholic faith and tradition has a depth and breadth that needs to be explained and experienced.
Sessions
The RCIA begins with several weeks of inquiry sessions in September each year followed by a more lengthy study of Catholic doctrine. The process is marked by stages and periods so that participants are gradually immersed in the life of the Church. St. Paul parishioners are invited to also participate as companions and sponsors to those who inquire about becoming Catholic. In fact, the Church believes no one comes to faith alone and throughout the ages godparents have accompanied their godchildren for baptism.
The group meets on Tuesday nights from 7-8:45 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room of the school. Babysitting is provided.
Sign up
Please fill out and submit the registration form to the RCIA Director (see contact information below).
Questions
1. What if someone wants to learn about being Catholic but is unsure if they really want to convert? Is the RCIA process the best path?
Yes, it is. The RCIA begins with an initial time for inquiry that focuses on questions about Catholicism along with some introductory study of Catholic beliefs and practices. The process is meant to be non-threatening and open ended so that anyone with a genuine interest in the Catholic faith can discover it becoming Catholic is the life long choice they wish to make.
2. Does everyone need a sponsor? Who can be a sponsor?
Yes, everyone does need a sponsor who can make the same weekly commitment to attending the RCIA sessions and hopefully is also a St. Paul parishioner. Part of the immersion into the Church is getting involved in parish life that is more easily facilitated by a St. Paul parishioner. Most times a spouse wishes to be a sponsor and that is desirable and suitable. However the process strongly suggests that another person volunteer if possible to be the sponsor because this allows the participant to have a new connection in faith to the Church. Those persons engaged or preparing to marry are not encouraged to be the sponsor for their intended because the Church wishes for each person to decide to become Catholic without pressure.
3. Does someone who was previously married and not Catholic at the time need a Church annulment to become Catholic?
Yes. The Catholic Church has set requirements about celebrating the sacraments and believes that marriage is a covenant relationship that is indissoluble. All marriages whether celebrated in another Church, on the beach, at the court house, etc is respected by the Catholic Church in that the Church considers the marriage indissoluble until proven otherwise. Therefore the Church requests the right to review any previous marriages to determine if that marriage lacked the requirements for a life long commitment in order to free a person to remarry in the Catholic Church. Please consult with the RCIA director, a priest or deacon for clarity about your particular situation as the annulment process has many complexities depending on each circumstance.
RCIA Director
Susan Bellotti is a full time Pastoral Associate at St. Paul parishes with office hours Sunday through Thursday. She can be reached at 882-2109 ext 228 or at sbellotti@stpacc.org.