Welcome to the RCIA! 

What is it? 

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is a program designed to introduce the Catholic faith to non-Catholic  Christians and those with no formal Christian instruction. 
The RCIA allows the opportunity to ask questions about what Catholics believe, how we worship and celebrate  our faith.  

The first part of the RCIA (the Period of Inquiry) is an open opportunity to learn more, ask questions and get to  know what makes a Catholic a Catholic. During the Period of Inquiry, we will discuss the Church’s teachings  on Jesus Christ, learn about the Mass and the Sacraments of the Church, talk about the importance of sacred  Scripture and Tradition and the importance of prayer. 

After these Inquiry sessions, people who feel they have an interest in becoming Catholic can continue in the  RCIA beyond the Period of Inquiry, receiving instruction in the basics of our faith. As the RCIA continues,  participants will have the opportunity to discern whether or not they want to receive the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist). 
Those who wish to receive the Sacraments of Initiation will receive further formation in preparation for the  Sacraments at Easter. 

What isn’t it? 

The RCIA isn’t a “class.” in the academic sense. It is a process, a first step in a journey of faith. Those who are curious about Catholicism are welcome in the Period of Inquiry- those interested in proceeding further are  welcome to do so. However, RCIA doesn’t provide a diploma--- there is no “graduation,” since for those who  finish the RCIA, really it’s a beginning and not an end. Newly baptized and confirmed Catholics are introduced to the Church and their new role as brothers and sisters in Christ.  

What meetings are like 

We meet Sundays (with some breaks) from 9:15 to 10:45. We’re an informal group (remember it’s not a  “class") and we meet in an informal setting. We’ll generally be meeting at the rectory although we may meet at  the church from time to time. We’ll have coffee and maybe a snack, and ample opportunity to chat informally  before getting into a session. There’ll be plenty of chances to ask questions. Feel free to speak up- there are no “dumb” questions here. We’ll be visited from time to time from our pastor or pastoral staff, but we’ll have  plenty of time “alone” as a group. During the Period of Inquiry, formal “presentation” time will be under 1/2  hour- the rest of the hour and half is for questions and discussion. The 10:45 stop makes it convenient to attend  the 11:00am Mass at St. Mary’s. 

Schedule 

Our program more or less follows the academic year. We begin the Period of Inquiry in September. The Period of Inquiry lasts through about four sessions. The next section, the Period of Discernment goes until late  November/early December. During this period, participants will be asked to make a decision about whether  they wish to further encounter the Catholic faith with an eye toward receiving the Sacraments at Easter.  Those who continue in the RCIA will receive further formation in the faith with a focus on receiving Baptism,  Confirmation and Eucharist at Easter. After Easter, there is further opportunity for the newly baptized to learn  more about their roles as members of the Church.