Mandated by Vatican II, The rite of Christian Initiation of Adults was the last of the sacramental rites revised in the years since that Council. It significantly changed the way we welcome new adult members into the Catholic community. The Rite totally turned the focus from private "instructions" given by a parish priest to group spiritual formation around the Word of God. It now involves not onl
y the catechumens, sponsors, catechists and priests, but the entire parish community. The RCIA is a multi-dimensional catchesis: instructional. liturgical, apostolic, communal. It serves as a paradigm for all efforts of religious education. The future Catholics discern and respond to God's invitation to embrace life in a Christian community of their choice, and commit to serving the mission of Jesus in the world today. The RCIA is actually a restoration of the ancient practice of initiation into the Church. It recovers a long history of initiation theology and praxis which disappeared over a thousand years ago. According to The Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church:
"The catechumenate is not a mere expounding of doctrines and precepts, but a training period for the whole Christian life. It is an apprenticeship of appropriate length, during which disciples are joined to Christ, their Teacher. Therefore, catechumens should be properly instructed in the mystery of salvation and in the practice of gospel morality. By sacred rites which are to be held at successive intervals, they should be introduced into the life of faith, liturgy, and love....which God's People live." On-going Activities:
1. Pre-Catechumenate - The Inquiry. (year round)
2. Catechumenate (Formal catechesis).
3. Major and minor rites.
4. Recruiting and training parish sponsors.
5. Mystagogy (the period after Easter until Pentecost).
