WELCOME to RCIA - The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults or Journey of Faith
towards the Roman Catholic Church.
What is RCIA?
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults was set up and
approved by the Church after the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II)
for people who wish to find out about Catholicism and what it means
to be a Catholic. It is the process for formation which leads to
reception into the Church. It is all about an individual’s call by
God (vocation) and a lifelong journey of faith.
What does RCIA (Journey of Faith) aim to do?
It offers the support of the Catholic community who can help and
guide the enquirer to a fuller understanding of the Catholic faith
and what this means for daily life. This happens with the help of a
small team who ‘walk alongside’ the enquirer and who share with the
enquirer their own ongoing journey of faith.
How does it work?
RCIA is not a programme to work your way through like an
educational course; it is not a course of study and there are no
written assignments! Rather than instruction it is formation- a
gentle, ongoing process for ‘conversion of life’: a new way of
seeing and acknowledging faith in God and a willingness to be led
towards a life of love and service based on being a disciple of
Jesus.
There are four steps along the journey:
A. The enquirer is welcomed
and invited to enter into a period of formation with the guidance
and support of the RCIA team. If the initial dialogue leads to a
willingness to proceed, the enquirer is welcomed into the learning
period (the ‘catechumenate’) by a simple Rite of Acceptance/Welcome
at Sunday Mass.
B. The enquirer now becomes a
catechumen or (if already baptised) a candidate. Regular
study/prayer/discussion meetings are held, using the scripture
readings for the forthcoming Sunday Mass as the basis of learning
and discernment: there is a close link between the formation process
(catechesis) and practical participation in worship (liturgy).
C. When the
catechumen/candidate is ready to make a commitment to joining the
Church he/she is enrolled by Bishop Crispian at a Mass in St. John’s
Cathedral, Portsmouth. This signals the final period of preparation,
in the nature of a retreat (usually during the season of Lent) that
leads to receiving the Sacraments of Initiation – Baptism,
Confirmation, Holy Eucharist – at the Easter Vigil.
D. Between Easter and
Pentecost the new member of the Church is guided through a period of
prayer, reflection and deepening awareness of Jesus’ call to
discipleship.
How long does formation take?
There is no fixed timescale: it depends on the individual. For
some, formation may take as little as a year (in exceptional
circumstances less) while others feel more comfortable with a longer
period. The norm is for the Rite of Election to take place at
or near the beginning of Lent and the Sacraments of Initiation to be
received at the Easter Vigil. Whenever possible and appropriate we
take advantage of these events because they highlight the place of
the individual and the Catholic community to which they belong
(parish/pastoral area) within the framework of the whole local
Church (diocese) gathered together with its Bishop.
How is it organised in the Parish of St. Joseph and St.
Andrew?
The enquirer(s) meet in the evenings every 2/3 weeks at the home
of one of the team members. There is a friendly, informal atmosphere
and a short social time with refreshments before the opening prayer,
main focus for the evening (led by different team members on a rota),
discussion and closing prayer. Enquirers are encouraged to raise
issues either for immediate consideration or for discussion at
future meetings. An outline of meetings and the principal areas of
focus are circulated to everyone in advance.
Who does it involve?
Everyone! RCIA involves the whole parish community: all
Christians are called to be ‘the witnesses and the living
instruments of the mission of the Church itself’ . At the different
parish celebrations, at each Sunday Mass and in the Sacraments of
Initiation, it is the community of believers in Christ (represented
in part by the RCIA team who provide the framework for learning,
dialogue and prayer) who walk alongside the newly-welcomed person in
their journey of faith. Each catechumen/candidate is additionally
accompanied by a sponsor or companion of their own choice with whom
they can confidentially discuss as necessary any questions,
anxieties and joys along the way.
How is RCIA different from ‘instruction’?
There are important differences between RCIA and ‘instruction’ as
used to be the case in the Catholic Church where individuals met
privately with the priest. Vatican II in the 1960’s promulgated a
new scheme by which candidates are offered not just information but
a process over time for formation – ‘conversion of life’. They learn
in, with and through the community rather than individually and
privately. They share in the liturgy (especially Sunday Mass) and
they prepare for their role as disciples of Jesus in hearing his
Word and going out to live it each day.
Thank you for reading this brief overview of RCIA/Journey of
Faith. We hope you have found it helpful and we would be delighted
to hear from you if you would like more information or are
considering joining us to explore the Catholic faith.
You can contact team members via the Parish Office, 26 Abbey
Water, Romsey SO51 8EJ, tel 01794 513646, email
sasj@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk
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