RCIA

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the spiritual process through which persons inquire into, and determine if, they are called to live out their Christian faith as a member of the Roman Catholic Community.

The RCIA is:

• The Start of a Life-Long Journey of Conversion in Knowing God
• The Process of Change & Constant Hope
• A Time of Evangelization

The RCIA is not:

• A Program for making Protestants into Catholics
• A Marriage Preparation Program
• A Faith Sharing Community nor Club

In short, the RCIA is designed for adults who, consciously and freely, seek to enter the way of faith and deep internal spiritual conversion.

Here at the Church of the Resurrection, RCIA meets once per week for classes that are designed to help you explore the Church, its teachings and the profound meaning behind everything that we do as Catholic Christians.
 

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By joining the RCIA process, we ask that you would make a two-fold commitment -- to the process itself and to having an open heart and mind.  Throughout the process, there are weekly classes, various rites (Church services/celebrations), retreats & socials, service opportunities and Mass attendance.  As such, we are asking you to commit to these regular meetings, which may mean giving up something for a time that may be in conflict with our meetings.  Know that the sacrafice would be for a limited time and that it will be worth the effort.

Once you are formally commited to the process, the requirements that you will need to fulfill are all Tuesday evening classes, all scheduled Mass attendance and dismissals, the scheduled Lenten retreat and all scheduled Rites.

Similar to a marriage, you ultimately have until the very end of the process (on the evening of the Easter Vigil) before making the commitment.  For the commitment to be real, it must remain free, so at any point, at any time, you will be free to pause or to completely back out.  Said another way, no one will pressure you -- it is between you, your conscience and God.

Along the process, we will need to completely understand your marital history so we can determine if there is a need for an annulment.  In addition, we will need your religious background information and a copy of your baptismal record or certificate, if it exists.  Finally, we will ask you questions about you -- who you are, where you are from, your interests, what brought you here.  These help us get to know you so we can truly help you through this process.

Please call the church where you were baptized, as nearly all churches archive their baptismal records.  If the church does not exist anymore, or the record/certficate is irretrievable, then a copy of some kind of documentation of your baptism (i.e., a program from the baptism, pictures, a page from a family bible that shows the date and church of the baptism) will suffice.  If truly nothing exists, then a letter from a witness detailing the event will normally be accepted.

If you have been baptized with water, "in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,"  then you have been baptized as a Christian and will be considered as a Candidate.  Otherwise, all unbaptized persons will be considered as a Catechumen.

While we know that life circumstances can intrude during this process, it is absolutely essential that you make every attempt to be present for all classes and all scheduled activities.  If for some reason, you cannot be present, please contact any of the RCIA Team prior to the class or activity. Make up sessions are held Saturday mornings.

• The Bible -- The New American Bible -- Revised Edition.
• The Bible -- Douay Rheims Version.
• The Bible -- Revised Standard Version -- Catholic Edition (RSV-CE).
• The Catechism of the Catholic Church.
• Catholic Christianity, Peter Kreeft, Ignatius Press.
• Introduction to Christianity, Joseph Ratzinger, Ignatius Press.
• Catholicism for Dummies, John Trigilio & Kenneth Brighenti, For Dummies.
• Why is That in Tradition? Patrick Madrid, Our Sunday Visitor Publishing.
• Why Do Catholics Do That?  Kevin Orlin Johnson, Ballantine Books.