What is RCIA?
The Rite of Christian Initiation or RCIA is a learning and loving process in which conversion of the heart brings you to Jesus Christ whom God has sent for the salvation of all.
The rite of initiation is suited to a spiritual journey of adults and consists of four continuous periods.
The Rite of Christian Initiation is not merely a new way to prepare adults for baptism; baptism is only one step. The goal of the process is full communion with the Church which means ‘full, conscious, and active participation’ (#14 Sacrosanctum Concilium) in the Eucharist and the whole life of the Catholic faith community.
What is RCIA? This short video explains the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults through the voices of three women as they go through the RCIA process to be fully participating members of the Catholic Church. Taped at Immaculate Conception Church in Hendersonville, NC in November of 2015.
The RCIA helps adults to grow in their relationship with God, become familiar with Catholic teachings and practices, get acquainted with people in the parish, and get involved in service within the parish or the wider community.
Many persons who want to join the Catholic Church have already been baptized in another Christian Church. They will not be rebaptized. They will follow a form of these four steps adapted to the particular needs and concerns of Christians from another faith tradition.
The Steps of RCIA
How someone comes to consider joining the Catholic Church is unique to each individual. Once the initial contact is made, a person joins with others who are inquiring. They begin to meet with RCIA Team members to tell their stories, connect these stories with the faith stories found in the scriptures, and begin to ask some of those questions that have been mulling around in their thoughts. This first step can go on for months or years!
Some of the inquirers become firm in their desire for initiation and decide that they would like to begin more formal study of the teachings and practices of the Catholic Church. They are admitted into the next step through a special ceremony called the Rite of Acceptance.
This is the first time the inquirers publicly declare their faith before the parish community. Because no one likes to do something like that on their own, each inquirer is accompanied by a sponsor. Sponsors provide support and companionship for the rest of the RCIA process.
After the rite, the inquirers are called catechumens. This name indicates that they are learning the teachings of the Church and beginning to accept Catholic tradition and practices.
The time spent as a catechumen will vary from person to person. The bishops of the United States have suggested that this catechumenate period is to last for at least one year or longer.
During this period the Liturgy of the Word is celebrated weekly at Mass and a more formal study of scripture and the Catholic Church teaching is also continued weekly.
The period of the catechumenate ends when the catechumens discern, with the help of their sponsors and the parish RCIA team, that God is calling them to receive the sacraments of initiation (baptism, confirmation, and the first Eucharist) at the next Easter Vigil. Before they can be initiated they must be officially called to the sacraments by the bishop or someone designated by him.
The Rite of Election marks the end of formal study of the teaching and practices of the Church. The catechumens are now called the elect. The weeks of Lent are a time of intense prayer and preparation for the Easter Vigil.
On Holy Saturday the Church celebrates the Easter Vigil and the elect celebrate their Baptism, Confirmation and First Eucharist.
For the newly initiated, now called neophytes, the time between Easter and Pentecost is a special opportunity to reflect on the commitment which they have made to the Lord, the Church, and to the local parish community. This time of unfolding the meaning of the initiation sacraments is called mystagogia.
This is not an end to the journey, but a beginning. The journey of faith lasts a lifetime. The weeks after Easter are a time for new Catholics to seek out their place in the parish community.
RCIA Commission Members
Mr. Christopher Beal (ex officio)
Diocese of Charlotte Charlotte, NC |
Reverend Dr. Michael Zboyovski, Deacon
St. Eugene Catholic Church
Asheville, NC.
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Rite of Election 2024
‘Rite of Election’ | Saturday, February 17, 2024 | 12:00 p.m. | TBD |
‘Rite of Election’ | Saturday, February 24, 2024 | 12:00 p.m. | TBD |
‘Rite of Election’ | Saturday, March 2, 2024 | 12:00 p.m. | TBD |
For RCIA Coordinators
Memo to Pastors and RCIA Coordinators Rite of Election Memo_ 2023
Rite of Election Forms
2023 Rite of Election Registration Form
Rite of Election Delegate Script (English and Spanish)