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The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
The Ministry, The Rite, The Materials, The Process
The Ministry: Anyone wanting to become Catholic and who is of the age of reason (seven years) through adult is served by this ministry. If someone has been baptized Catholic but not raised in the Catholic tradition, they are also served by this ministry. This ministry consists of catechists and the entire parish assembly who journey in a process of preparation with those discerning full Christian Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, First Eucharist) or full Communion (Confirmation and/or First Eucharist) with the Catholic Church. All sacraments are celebrated at the Easter Vigil, the first Easter celebration of each year on Easter Eve.
The Rite: The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a document containing multiple Liturgical Rites that are celebrated along the journey to full Christian Initiation and full Communion with the Catholic Church. There is no separate Rite for children, the RCIA is adapted for children. This adaptation is sometimes informally referred to as RCIC. There are separate Rites celebrated for those who are unbaptized and those who are already baptized. Each paragraph in the RCIA document is labelled with a paragraph number for easy reference for use by the presider and the OCIA team members for scripting and study. "The Father chose us to be his adopted children through Jesus Christ - rcia 330". The Christian Initiation process for all Roman Catholics flows from this Rite.
The Materials:The process at Church of the Ascension uses a combination of materials from Liguori’s Journey of Faith, Saint Anthony Messengers Press’ Catholic Update, and Resources For Christian Living (RCL) Foundations In Faith. Additional new materials are always being evaluated for potential use in this ministry. All materials used are in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church .
The Process: The process consists of four phases:
- Period of Evangelization And Pre–Catechumenate. Your call to the parish anytime during the year can start the process. This phase provides the answers that you are looking for about the Catholic Church, what it means to become Catholic. Those involved in this phase of the process are called Inquirers or Candidates. This phase has no set length and depends upon the background and needs of the individual. You will meet with a welcoming team member, and then with a catechist who will help you to Inquire about the Catholic Church. This is a time of evangelization and initial conversion. The gospel is at the center of all discussion, and an Inquirer is introduced to the community and to the major teachings of the Church. When you decide you are ready to take the next step in the process toward Christian Initiation or Full Communion with the Catholic Church, you can discern with the team to proceed to the next phase: The Catechumenate. A decision to move into the Catechumenate means that you have decided to continue your journey to possibly becoming a Catholic. This would be a good time to choose a Godparent if you are not yet baptized, or a Sponsor if you are already baptized. The Godparent or Sponsor model the Christian life, along with the entire church community, and pray with and for you through the whole process. They also accompany you at each liturgical Rite, and are welcome to join each gathering. The team can help you to choose a Godparent or Sponsor from the parish community if needed.
- Period of the Catechumenate. This phase begins with the Liturgical Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens (if you are not yet baptized), or the Rite of Welcome into the Catholic Church (if you are already baptized). These Rites can potentially be celebrated in our parish three or four times a year. Those unbaptized in the Catechumenate are called Catechumens, and those baptized in the Catechumenate are called Candidates. Now received into the Order of Catechumens, you are a part of the Church community. This Rite would never be repeated even if the process is interrupted and started again at a later time. The Catechumenate phase consists of training in the Christian life, and the Catechumens and Candidates are dismissed with a catechist after the homily at each mass in order to reflect on the Word just proclaimed. This period is also of no set length and depends upon the journey of each individual. Catechumens and Candidates discern with the team when to proceed to the next phase of the process: The Period of Purification And Enlightenment. A decision to move into the Period of Purification and Enlightenment means that you are about to embark on a 40 day retreat–like experience during Lent each week at mass that will include participation in the Holy Week celebrations, culminating in your Christian Initiation, or reception into full Communion with the Catholic Church, at the next Easter Vigil. This important step, moving from the Catechumenate to the Period of Purification And Enlightenment, could occur that year in Lent or any following year in Lent, and is a step of commitment to becoming Catholic.
- Period of Purification And Enlightenment. This is a period of interior spiritual preparation in readiness for the celebration of the sacraments of Christian Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, First Eucharist), or of coming into full Communion with the Catholic Church (Confirmation and/or First Eucharist). The Period of Purification And Enlightenment begins at the beginning of Lent and ends at the Easter Vigil. The 3–day Paschal Triduum, celebrated at the conclusion of Lent and prior to Easter Sunday, is an important part of this preparation. The Triduum starts on Holy Thursday, continues through Good Friday, and concludes at the Easter Vigil: the first celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and where you will celebrate the sacraments. On the First Sunday in Lent of the year that you have discerned to become a Catholic, a Rite of Sending will be celebrated in our parish. This will be followed by the Rite of Election and Enrollment of names (for those not yet baptized), and the Call To Continuing Conversion (for those already baptized), celebrated at the Saints Simon and Jude Cathedral in Phoenix with Bishop Thomas Olmsted presiding. After the celebration of these Rites, you will then be called the Elect. This means that the Church has made a promise to celebrate the sacraments with you at the Easter Vigil based upon your Godparent’s or Sponsor’s testimony at the Rite. Thousands of Catechumens and Candidates attend these Rites, and the response is a collective response celebrated within a Liturgy of the Word at the Cathedral. Proceeding through Lent, a Penitential Rite will be celebrated on the 2nd Sunday of Lent with those who are baptized, and three Scrutiny Rites will be celebrated on the 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays of Lent with those who are not yet baptized, using powerful Cycle A readings for reflection and conversion of heart. The whole community is formally asked to pray for the Elect throughout the Period of Purification And Enlightenment.
- Period of Post Baptismal Catechesis Or Mystagogy. After becoming a Catholic, this is an important period of deepening your understanding of the Paschal mysteries and making it a part of your life through meditation on the Gospel, sharing in the Eucharist, and doing works of charity (rcia 244). To help strengthen you as you walk in a new way of life, the parish plays a vital role in sharing and helping you. The team meets with the newly baptized neophytes, and with all those fully initiated at the Easter Vigil, for 7 weeks starting on the 2nd Sunday of Easter and continuing through Pentecost. Mystagogy and Post Baptismal Catechesis then extends for a lifetime, as it does for all Catholics.
