Welcome to RCIA

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Welcome to RCIA!

• The Nativity RCIA Team

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Introduction

• What is the Rite of Christian Initiation of
  Adults?

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Lets take a look at. . .

• Rite
• Christian
• Initiation
• Adults
• First Rite

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Rite

• Any repetitive ceremonial activity with fixed
  rules also, a particular ritual ceremony.
  (HarperCollins Encyclopedia of Catholicism)
• A public liturgical act of the Church.
• Next Christian

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Christian

• Relating to the person of Jesus Christ
• His life
• His teachings
• His mission
• His saving life, death resurrection
• His Church
• Next Initiation

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Initiation

• The rites, ceremonies, ordeals, or instructions
  with which one is made a member of a sect or
  society or is invested with a particular function
  or status.(Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary)
• Military, service organization, etc.
• Next Adults

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Adults

• In Church terms, an adult is someone who has
  reached the age of reason, about age 7. At
  Nativity, we have RCIA sessions for children ages
  7 to 16, adults age 17 and older, and for
  children and adults who speak Spanish primarily
  or exclusively.

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The RCIA journey is about. . .

• Conversion of heart mind
• The definitive aim of catechesis is to put
  people not only in touch but in communion, in
  intimacy, with Jesus Christ. Catechesi tradendae
  n. 5
• Not just knowing about Jesus but knowing Jesus

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The RCIA journey is also about. . .

• Joining a particular church (Nativity)
• Joining a Universal Church
• 1 billion on every continent

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Some terms

• Catechumen
• Unbaptized person
• Will receive Baptism, Confirmation Eucharist at
  Easter Vigil.
• Candidate
• Baptized Christian (including a Catholic).
• Non-Catholics will make a Profession of Faith,
  receive Confirmation Eucharist at a Sunday
  Mass.
• Catholics will receive Confirmation Eucharist
  at a Sunday Mass

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The RCIA process. . .

• Inquiry
• Rite of Acceptance/Welcoming
• Catechumenate
• Rite of Election and Call to Conversion
• Purification Enlightenment (Lent)
• For those who will receive the sacraments during
  Easter Season.
• Mystagogy

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When we meet

• Children adults in the English program attend
  the1030 am Sunday Mass and are dismissed to
  break open the word until the end of Mass.
• Children in the English program attend catechesis
  at 9 am on Sundays. Adults attend catechesis on
  Wednesdays from 7 to 830 pm.

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When we meet (cont.)

• Children adults in the Spanish-language program
  attend catechesis at 10 am on Sundays. They then
  attend the 1215 pm Mass in Spanish.

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On Sundays. . .

• Attend Mass in the Church (1030 am for English,
  1215 pm for Spanish).
• Wear your name tag!
• Sit in the Reserved RCIA pews (right-hand side in
  the front.
• Follow your RCIA team leader forward for
  dismissal after the homily.

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The Sponsor. . .

• Attends Sunday Mass, if possible, with their
  person.
• Regularly attends catechesis sessions, retreat
  mornings, special Rites.
• Prays with the catechumen or candidate.
• Witnesses to the faith.

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The Sponsor also. . .

• Introduces his or her RCIA member to the
  community.
• Invites him or her to parish liturgies and
  devotions and functions such as dances or the
  Lenten fish fry.
• Spreads the good news of Nativity RCIA far and
  wide.

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Here we go!!

• Prepare for every week
• Participate every week
• Read Sacred Scripture daily
• Ask questions
• Listen to team others
• Pray, pray, pray!
• Do Catholic stuff
• Invite the Holy Spirit into your life in a new way

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Your obligations. . .

• Avoid missing Sunday Mass your catechesis.
• If you must, call sponsor/teacher.
• Do whatever make-up work your teacher assigns.
• Expect a call.

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Our prayer for you. . .

• That your love may increase ever more and more
  in knowledge and every kind of perception, to
  discern what is of value, so that you may be pure
  and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with
  the fruit of righteousness that comes through
  Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.
  Phil. 19

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Welcome to RCIA!

• Nativity RCIA Team