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September 25.2016

Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA), which originated in the early Christian Church, is a dynamic process in which a person comes to know and follow Our Lord Jesus in the Catholic Church. Our Lord invites a person to follow Him in many different ways.  The invitation may come through a friend, a neighbor, a spouse, a child or even a stranger! This gift of faith is nourished and celebrated within the local parish community. You may have attended a Sunday Mass when we celebrated the Rite of Acceptance. At this Liturgy the “Inquirer” now desires to begin the 2nd stage of the journey called the Catechumenate (for the un-baptized Adult). In this period the catechumen (un-baptized) and candidates (baptized in another faith) begins to participate in community activities, prayer liturgies, and deepening of their relationship with God. It is a period of personal growth in faith and knowledge. You may recall that following the homily at the Sunday Mass the Catechumen is dismissed to go and study the WORD. They do not participate in the Liturgy of the Eucharist since they are not yet a member of the faith community. This time for the Catechumate is open ended, with no pressures to become Baptized in the Faith.  When the Catechumen/Candidate is ready, the 3rd stage begins: Rite of Election/or Rite of Sending. The Catechumen/Candidates are sent to the Bishop at the Cathedral and they profess their faith and desire for the Sacraments. In the following weeks we celebrate the Scrutinies, a time of intense prayer, personal examination of conscience, looking deeper into the heart and turning away from the sinfulness of the past. The Easter Vigil is the night of their Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, the most glorious night of our Christian Faith! We then continue our journey in 4th stage called Mystagogy. The newly baptized (Neophytes…new born) continue “breaking open the mystery of God’s gifts” until the following Easter.

This is actually just a “nut shell” of what the faith journey is like. This time together is one of Q/A, of community celebrations and service, of growing in faith and personal conversions, of transformation through prayers and of growing in our community. RCIA is for the Un-baptized Adult or the adult baptized in another Christian faith who desires to be in full communion in the Catholic Church.

This is a Parish Community Process; every parishioner is involved in welcome, formation, hospitality, prayer and witness. I have asked our new members, sponsors and team, to share some insights into this journey with you. I hope you enjoy their faith stories and will be encouraged by the joy in their hearts to be a member of the Catholic Church.
To Be Continued next week…

Any questions please call Sister Sharon 818-349-2836,
aff@ollnr.org

 

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