St. Francis of Assisi

The letters RCIA stand for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, the process by which adults are initiated into our Roman Catholic community. During this process men and women are guided and cared for as they awaken in faith and are gradually introduced to the Catholic way of life.

The RCIA process is a series of carefully planned stages, marked by liturgical rites in the presence of the whole community, in which new Catholics embark on and join us in a continuing and deepening conversion into faith and discipleship. The RCIA takes the distinctive history and spiritual needs of each person into account, differentiating between the baptized and the unbaptized; those who have been taught religion and those who have not had any instruction. The needs of mature, practicing Christians from other faith traditions are considered on an individual basis.

The RCIA draws its model from the catechumenate of the ancient Church. Becoming Christian in the early days of the Church involved a sharp break with the surrounding culture. New Christians entered into the joy of new life and a life-sharing community of faith, but also entered into a way of living which demanded deep commitment and entailed great risks. In the modern world, our faith also demands deep commitment -- our beliefs and the beliefs of our society are often in tension. The Church revived the catechumenate -- embodied in the RCIA -- because new believers in the modern world need careful preparation and caring support as they enter into the mysteries of Christ and the commitment of Christian living.

The full RCIA process consists of four periods of awakening, growth and formation marked by celebration of three major rites involving the whole St. Francis community.

Inquiry

During the first period of the journey, the inquiry period, seekers ask hard questions about Christianity and receive truthful, life-sharing answers from Catholic Christians. The informal discussions during the inquiry period help the seekers link their personal life stories to the Good News as witnessed and lived by the Roman Catholic community.

If the inquirers desire to continue the conversion journey within our faith community, they are invited to experience the first major rite of the RCIA process, The Rite of Welcome, by being marked with the sign of the cross on the ears, eyes, lips, heart, shoulders, hands and feet -- a symbol of both the joys and the costs of Christian discipleship.

Catechumenate

Inquirers who become catechumens -- those who have not been baptized -- or candidates -- baptized Christians who have not been Roman Catholics -- join us at Sunday Mass during the Liturgy of the Word, after which they are sent forth to continue reflecting on the Scriptures. The length of the catechumenate varies according to individual need. The norm at St. Francis is between Advent and Lent. Our catechumens and candidates do not travel alone during this period. Persons are chosen from the parish community to act as spiritual companions, providing personal support, sharing experience of Christian life and helping make the catechumens and candidates feel at home with Catholic religious practice. The catechumenate period ends when a catechumen or candidate is ready to begin the third period of the journey, the period of purification and enlightenment, which coincides with Lent each year.

On the first Sunday of Lent, catechumens and candidates participate in The Rite of Sending in which the community sends them to the bishop for the second major rite of the RCIA process, The Rite of Election. Candidates are also sent to receive the Call to Continuing Conversion.

Purification and Enlightenment

The period of purification and enlightenment is a time of final preparation for initiation. The period is one of prayer, fasting and reflection for both catechumens, now known as the Elect, and candidates. During this period, the Elect experience scrutinies and exorcisms, special rites which strengthen them in their struggle with temptation and doubt in preparation for baptism. At this time, they are also presented with two treasures of Christians: the Creed and the Our Father.

Easter Fire!

The candidates and the Elect are initiated through the third and culminating rite of the RCIA process -- the Sacraments of Initiation, which take place at the Easter Vigil(the night before Easter). During that night, when light drives out darkness, joyful sounds fill the silence, and we proclaim and renew our resurrection hope. The Elect culminate their long journey to initiation in the waters of Baptism; while the candidates affirm their desire to be part of the Catholic Church. Then, together with those candidates who have not already been confirmed, the newly baptized are sealed with the oil of Confirmation and all share in the body and blood of Christ at the Eucharist as full members of the Roman Catholic community.

Mystagogia

The Sacraments of Initiation have begun the fourth period of the RCIA journey, the mystagogia, which means leading into the mysteries. The newly initiated meet weekly between Easter and Pentecost to explore and confirm the Easter experience. Mystagogia is the final stage of the RCIA process, but it is in turn the beginning of a pilgrimage of lifelong, continuous conversion in full communion with the Roman Catholic community of Christians.

Questions

If you have any questions, feel free to call the Parish Office at (614 299-5791) or send us an eMailsfacolumbus@aol.com

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Text based upon Thomas Scharbach (tombecket@aol.com)