OCIA
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(Right of Christian Initiation for Adults)
What is R.C.I.A.?
Are you:- An adult Catholic who has not been confirmed?
- A non-Catholic who is marrying or is already married to a Catholic and wants to know more about the Catholic Church?
- A Catholic who has been away from the Church and would like to return?
- A practicing Catholic who is looking for a way to deepen your faith and understanding?
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is a spiritual journey into the teaching of the Catholic Church. Through R.C.I.A., Catholic and non-Catholic adults can be prepared to receive the sacraments of initiation — Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. Together we study Scripture, the teaching of the Catholic Church and prayerfully explore our relationship with Jesus. Here at St. Ann's, we implement the RCIA through three programs, each geared to specific age groups: the RCIA for those 18 or older; the RCIT for teens; and a special sacramental preparation program for children ages 7 to 12. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about the Catholic Faith or completing their sacramental preparation, please contact the Parish Office at (610)-933-3732 or [email protected].
The RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is the way people join the Catholic Community. It is a process of instruction, prayer and community experience that leads to full membership in the Catholic Church. It's also a way for people who are already Catholics to complete their sacramental initiation (Confirmation, First Eucharist) or to update and renew their faith.
History of the RCIA
The early Church usually baptized adults; since there were, at first, no Christian families to be born into, babies or young children were baptized along with their parents when they became Christians. When people wanted to join the Church they had to go through a period of formation, or study, called the Catechumenate. This lasted one to three years and involved the entire church community. Then during the final Lent (the forty days preceding Easter) they went on a 40-day retreat; fasting, praying, and examining their lives and their hearts in preparation for the Easter Vigil where they were Baptized and welcomed into the community. After Easter they continued to study, grow and learn.This process continued for about 500 years before it was abandoned, for a variety of reasons. Within the past 25 years, the Church has reinstated the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults in a form similar to the ancient model.
The Rite recognizes the four stages of discipleship:
- The Inquiry or Pre-Catechumenate;
- The Catechumenate or Instruction;
- The Purification and Enlightenment;
- The Mystagogy which is a period of continued formation after Easter, after the sacraments are conferred.
There are also special public services that mark each of these stages. This is the framework for what we will do together. The fundamental element of RCIA is your experience of God in your life. God is present to us in many ways, especially in prayer, Scripture, and the fellowship of others. While there is dogma and teaching to be learned, they get their meaning and fulfillment only in our experience of God.
So the basic elements of our program are:
- Prayer
- Scripture
- Discussions and integration into the community.
These will be supplemented by our involvement together in different aspects of parish life: Sunday mass, special rites and observances, retreats and, of course, reception of sacraments when we are ready.