How to Become Catholic

How to Become Catholic

Recordings & Materials from RCIA Classes (password required) 

RCIA Team Member Forms, Agendas, and Information (password required)

St. Joan of Arc Church
RCIA / RCIC (A joint initiative with St. Patrick Catholic Church)

RCIA (The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) is an ongoing process of study, reflection and growth supported by prayer, worship, fellowship, and faith-sharing to help persons who think God might be calling them to become members of the Roman Catholic Church.  As the Rite Book describes, “[it] is designed for adults who, after hearing the mystery of Christ proclaimed, consciously and freely seek the living God and enter the way of faith and conversion as the Holy Spirit opens their hearts.”  We are always willing to share our Faith and understanding of God to everyone regardless of where they currently are in their faith journey.

There is no pressure or obligation to continue at anytime.

The RCIA Process

• Inquiry (Pre-Catechumenate):  Anyone 15 years of age or older is welcome to attend.  Come and meet fellow inquirers and ask any questions that may come to mind.  Inquiry sessions are ongoing, and you may start at any time.
• Catechumenate:  This part follows the Rite of Acceptance and Welcoming, after the person has expressed a desire to know more about joining the Catholic Church.  Catechumens (those not-yet baptized) and Candidates (those already baptized) now learn more about the life and worship of the Church.  On Sunday, they attend part of the Mass and are dismissed after the Homily.  On dismissal, they meet with a catechist to instruct them on the readings of that particular Sunday and how they apply to their daily lives.
• Purification & Enlightenment:  By now Catechumens and Candidates have a real desire to join the Catholic Church.  From Ash Wednesday to Easter, in-depth instruction and support by our priests, team members, and sponsors is given to these future members of our Catholic family.  The goal of this stage is for Catechumens and Candidates to really take ownership of the teaching of the Church and to begin integrating those teachings into their lives.  The culmination of this stage is the wonderful Rite of Reception into the Church at the Easter Vigil.
• Mystagogy:  As new members of the Catholic Church, the neophytes (newly baptized) and confirmandi (recently confirmed) are helped to understand the mysteries of the Church and are given opportunities to offer help when needed in their Church family.  Sponsors and other Church members are there to help these new members and to answer questions they may have as new members of the Catholic Church.

The facilitators are the RCIA team (including priest and lay leaders) and members of the St. Joan of Arc and St. Patrick parish communities.  Most of the meetings are group-oriented.  Catechumens and Candidates are encouraged to actively participate at all sessions.  If a special problem arises, team members or even the parish priest will be happy to assist.

A sponsor is a Catholic in good standing who is willing to share the Catholic faith with the inquirer and attend sessions with them.  The sponsor becomes a companion along the faith journey.  You must have a sponsor when you enter the Catechumenate or Candidate stage.  The RCIA team will help you find a sponsor if you do not have one.

Normally the initiation process and reception into the Church takes about a year.  However, each person is unique and consequently, the time period may vary.  Again, there is no pressure at any stage in the process; each person is encouraged to move as Jesus speaks to him or her.

The RCIC Process
The Rite of Christian Initiation for Children is the children’s version of the RCIA. The process is customized to be more suitable to the child’s age (teenagers are a subgroup of RCIC and have their own classes). Attendance in the Religious Education classes held for students on Sunday is also typically required. Please have the child come with an Adult to an Inquiry session to have your questions answered.

Rite
of
Christian
Initiation for
Adults

A time for questions and reflection

A time for seeking God’s will for your life

A time for meeting others in our
Community

CLASS SESSIONS & TIMES (check the bulletin for updates):
From the first week of August through Memorial Day:

Tuesdays from 9:00 – 10:30 AM at Saint Patrick
Wednesdays from 6:15 – 8:15 PM at Saint Joan of Arc
Summer inquiry (Memorial Day through last week of July):
Wednesdays from 7:00 – 8:00 PM at Saint Joan of Arc

Or Contact:
Chad Grube (765) 865-9964 ext 315 (at Saint Joan of Arc)

(765) 452-6021 (at Saint Patrick)
Email: cgrube@saintjoan.org