Become Catholic!
The pursuit of a relationship with Jesus is a life-long work of grace and perseverance. Here at St. Jane Frances, adults are encouraged to seek the companionship of parish friends who follow Christ through the life of his universal Church and often pursue these timeless practices:
- Frequent reception of the sacraments
- Adoration
- Daily readings
- The rosary
- Continuing education
- Spiritual reading
To Become a Catholic – The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
RCIA stands for the RCIA – Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, and it is the process through which adults join or complete their initiation into the Catholic Church. If you want to become Catholic or convert to Catholicism, please call the parish office today!
Is the RCIA for me?
The RCIA is for three groups of people:
- Those who are not baptized.
- Those who were baptized into another Christian denomination and wish to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church.
- Baptized Catholics who were never formed in the Catholic faith and have not completed their initiation; that is, who have never received the sacraments of Confirmation or Eucharist.
How does the RCIA work?
RCIA consists of four periods of formation which are marked by rituals that celebrate what has been completed and call a person into the next phase. There is no specific length of time for each period. The RCIA is a journey that “takes as long as it takes,” according to each individual.
- The Inquiry or Precatechumenate
- The Catechumenate
- The Lenten period of Purification and Enlightenment
- Mystagogy or a time of deeper understanding of the “mysteries”
The RCIA: a Journey, not a Program!
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the normal way for unbaptized persons and those who have been baptized in another Christian tradition to become a Catholic, through a process of discerning and ritualizing the stages of gradual conversion. The rite of Christian initiation is designed for adults (and children of catechetical age) 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. By God’s help, they will be strengthened spiritually during their preparation and at the proper time will receive the sacraments fruitfully.
For the Unbaptized, the RCIA gradually uncovers the story of God’s salvation for all; the mystery of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection; and the workings of the Holy Spirit as revealed in the beliefs, sacramental life and spiritual practices of the Catholic Church. The initiation of catechumens is a gradual process that takes place within the community of the faithful and in accordance with the Church’s liturgical year. Together with the catechumens, the faithful reflect upon the value of the paschal mystery, renew their own conversion, and by their example lead the catechumens to obey the Holy Spirit more generously.
For Baptized Christians who seek full communion with the Catholic Church, the RCIA includes rites and pastoral practice.
For Baptized Catholics who have received no other faith formation and have not received the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist, the RCIA mentions pastoral practices to become a fully initiated Catholic.
FREE eBook! The Faith Of Our Fathers
Ever wanted to know more about Catholicism or had difficulty explaining your Catholic faith to family and friends? The Faith of Our Fathers: A Plain Exposition and Vindication of the Church Founded by Our Lord Jesus Christ is a book first published in 1876 by James Cardinal Gibbons, former Archbishop of Baltimore. With over 118 printings, it is perhaps the most successful book for explaining the basic tenets of the Catholic faith and why we hold them. It delves into the historical background of virtually everything people find hard to understand about Catholicism, such as priestly celibacy, sacred images, the Church and the Bible, the primacy of Peter, Communion under one kind, invocation of the saints, etc. Written for mixed Protestant and Catholic congregations in North Carolina and Virginia, it is accommodating to people of all faiths. The Faith of Our Fathers will confirm one’s faith in the truth of the Catholic Church like no other and will educate the reader to answer the questions so often posed by skeptics and unbelievers. The best thing is, it is readliy available for FREE via the internet. Download your free copy at one of the sources below!
FREE Kindle Edition (retypeset and easily legible)
FREE Google eBook edition (digitized pages of the 63rd edition, circa 1917)
Other FREE formats via the Gutenberg Project (including HTML, PDF, and more)