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Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
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The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
("RCIA") is a process of learning what the Catholic Church
believes and teaches and discerning what it means to be a member of the
Catholic faith community. Those attending are in various
phases of their journey of faith: some have already decided to join
the Catholic Church; others are inquiring; some are Catholics who wish to
receive the Sacrament of Confirmation or return to active involvement in
their faith. The process also includes practicing Catholics who wish
to be RCIA sponsors or just deepen their own understanding of what it
means to Catholic.
Contacts for the RCIA program
at St. John's are Charlie Meiser, 348-9871 (email
charlie32ok@cox.net),
and Deacon John Morris, 340-0691 (email
jmorris@stjohn-catholic.org ).
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Who typically attends RCIA?
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Non-Catholics who are
married to Catholics
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Visitors who are interested in
the Catholic Church
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Those who
do not currently have a church home but are looking for the
faith experience found in the Catholic Church
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Inactive Catholics who wish to return to Church
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Those
who are separated from the Sacraments for any reason,
e.g., Catholics who married outside the Church without
permission from the local bishop, or Catholics who divorced and
remarried without first receiving an annulment of their previous marriage(s)
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Adult
Catholics who have not yet received the Sacrament of Confirmation
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Active Catholics
who want to increase their understanding of the
Catholic faith.
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At
St. John's, the RCIA process
lasts one full year (12 months). The process begins each May and
concludes the following April, although participants can join
throughout the year and complete their one-year journey of faith
at or close to the corresponding time the following year. The classes are held
on Tuesday evenings in the Daily Mass Chapel from 7:00 - 8:30 pm
beginning the second Tuesday of May. Childcare is always
provided on-site in the nursery. Our catechist, Deacon John
Morris, presents the Catholic
Church's beliefs and teachings on matters of faith and
morals using both Sacred Cripture and Sacred Tradition,
including the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
During the last four months of the RCIA journey of faith, those wanting to join
the Catholic Church attend one of the Sunday Masses, at which time they
participate in the Mass through the end of the Liturgy of the Word. After the
homily, these inquirers - referred to as "catechumens" if unbaptized or "candidates" if already baptized in a Christian
faith tradition according to the ordinary rite - will leave the assembly
for a further examination of the Scripture readings. Two members of the
RCIA team facilitate this "Breaking Open the Word" time, which
lasts approximately one hour.
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Shortly
before Sunday mass attendance (for "Breaking Open the Word")
begins for those wanting to join the Catholic Church, each inquirer
chooses a member of the Parish for his/her sponsor or requests that a
sponsor be assigned from the Parish. The role of the sponsor is vital, as
the sponsor, with the assistance of the sponsor coordinator, serves as a
friend, guide and mentor for the inquirer. This sponsor is different from
the godparent (for a catechumen) or confirmation sponsor (for a
candidate), who are also active Catholics but who do not have to belong to
our Parish. Sponsors often attend the weekly RCIA classes with their
inquirers, sharing their own prayer life with them and introducing the
inquirer to some of our Catholic devotions, activities and ministries in
our Parish. All of this is intended to help the inquirer become an active
and vital part of our Catholic family.
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A
day of retreat (on a Saturday) and a penance celebration take place one to
two weeks before the inquirers join the Catholic church by baptism or
profession of faith.
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After
joining the Catholic Church, our new members are offered opportunities for
ongoing catechesis (faith education) and for meeting in small groups on a
weekly, bimonthly or monthly basis. This is available so that our new
members can continue experiencing friendship and support in their (and our)
never-ending faith journeys.
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This
journey of faith through the RICA program is an opportunity for adult Catholics
who have not yet received the Sacrament of Confirmation to prepare for,
and then receive, this Sacrament. The weekly RCIA classes are also
quite informative for any adult Catholic who wants to learn more about
his/her Catholic faith.
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Charlie
Meiser is the Coordinator for the RCIA at the Catholic Parish of St. John
the Baptist. Charlie is supported by a RCIA team of over twenty
members who serve in various roles.
Deacon John
Morris is the primary Catechist.
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The
RCIA
is a journey which gently leads adults -- whether unbaptized or already baptized in
another Christian faith tradition -- into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ
in and through the Catholic Church. It is a time of discernment broken up
into four distinct stages:
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The Period of Evangelization (Precatechumenate) - a time
of inquiry and reflection to help the inquirer discern God's call
in his/her life. Weekly
sessions help the inquirer better understand the teachings of
Jesus Christ, who founded the Catholic Church. At the conclusion of
this period, inquirers are invited to celebrate a welcoming rite
(Rite of Acceptance), at which time they become catechumens or candidates
and formally request membership in the Church.
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The Period of The Catechumenate - a time to deepen one's faith
centered around the study and sharing of, and reflection upon, the
Sunday readings from Sacred Scripture, with the intent of becoming
fully initiated into the
Catholic Church. This period concludes with the Rite of
Election.
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The Period of Purification and Enlightenment - the final
preparation for the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism,
Confirmation and Holy Eucharist). The catechumens, the
candidates and the entire Parish community are called to reform
their lives according to the demands of the gospel. This
period, marked by soulful prayer and reflection, concludes with
the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation by those in the RCIA.
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Mystagogia (Leading into the Mysteries) - a time for
the community and the newly-initiated Catholics to grow together
and gain a fuller and more effective understanding of the sacred mysteries
through Sacred Scripture and the Sacraments. Typically, this includes
opportunities to begin participating in Small
Christian Communities and various parish ministries. Mystagogia
is the beginning of a lifelong pilgrimage. It is a
continuous conversion of the heart, mind and spirit as we strive
to move ever closer to Jesus Christ.
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The
RCIA classes are based on Sacred Scripture (the Holy Bible) and the
teachings of the Catholic church as set forth in the
Catechism of the
Catholic Church. The two other primary resources for the classes are
the books Believing in Jesus by Leonard Foley, O.F.M., and
Following Christ by Daniel L. Lowery,
C.Ss.R.
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The amount of time spent in each
stage of discernment depends on the individual inquirer's personal faith
journey. Conversion occurs in God's time, not ours.
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Many
inquirers who choose to come into full communion with the Catholic Church
experience a return to the roots of Christianity, because the Catholic
Church traces its unbroken traditions to Jesus Christ and His apostles.
These inquirers find unity and
consistency between the Gospel message and Catholic beliefs, teachings and
practices. Others are inspired by the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Francis of
Assisi, St. Augustine, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Pope John Paul II, and
others who led holy and virtuous lives. The inquirers who choose to come
into full communion with the Catholic Church also find joy in the
Sacraments, God's gift of
abundance to us all. The Sacraments are the
strength of the Church and a focal point of our lives as Catholic
Christians, bringing grace from God through the Church. the seven
Sacraments of the Catholic Church are Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist,
Reconciliation/Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Matrimony (Marriage)
and Holy Orders.
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Catholics
believe that marriage is a sacred covenant, freely entered into by mature
individuals. When both persons have been previously baptized, we also believe that
this sacred covenant is a sacrament. Sacred scripture clearly
teaches that marriage should be fruitful, faithful and permanent.
Because
of these beliefs, the Catholic Church requires that Catholics be duly
prepared before entering into this sacred union of marriage. For a
married Catholic to be eligible to receive the Eucharist, his/her marriage must
have been witnessed by a Catholic priest or deacon, unless the Catholic
spouse received permission to the contrary his/her local bishop.
The
Catholic Church recognizes as valid all marriages of non-Catholics, if the
marriage is the first marriage for both persons. However, when prior
marriages exist, the Church is very concerned about helping individuals -
whether Catholic or not - to become eligible for receiving the sacraments
of the Church. This is
accomplished by presenting a petition for annulment of all prior
marriages. Our parish clergy or Charlie Meiser will assist anyone preparing
his/her petition to our Archdiocesan tribunal. This process is free
(at present) and confidential. The length of time for the tribunal to process
and rule upon such a petition varies in each case. Much depends on the
timeliness of the petitioner presenting the necessary documents ( e.g., marriage licenses and
divorce decrees) and the cooperation of witnesses designated by the
petitioner to provide information (two are required).
Using
information obtained as the result of a petition for annulment, a
favorable decision from the Archdiocesan tribunal is necessary before one
whose previous marriage resulted in divorce is eligible to receive the
Sacraments of the Catholic Church. After such a decision,
a renewal of the existing marriage vows is also required, thus sacramentalizing the
present civil marriage. When this has been completed, reception
into the Catholic Church can then take place. If the present spouse is
Catholic, then that Catholic is eligible to receive the Sacraments as well.
If
a divorced person wants to join the Catholic Church and is currently living a
single life (i.e., has not remarried), there is no impediment to joining the Church. If,
however, the person intends to marry again, a petition for annulment should be prepared
and submitted, because the future union would have to be witnessed by a
Catholic
priest or deacon after the previous marriage has been annulled.
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Related St. John's Web Sites |
Internet Sites of Interest |
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Catholics
Coming Home |
New
American Bible |
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Small
Christian Communities
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Catechism
of the Catholic Church |
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Table
of Contents, Believing in Jesus
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Jesus' Bible: The Old Testament
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Jesus in Inspired
Human Words: The New Testament
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The
Missionary Jesus: 'He Went About Doing Good'
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Jesus'
Teaching-Stories: The Parables
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Jesus,
a Danger to Church and State
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The
Dying and Rising of Jesus: The Heart of Christian Life
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The
Rising of Jesus from the Dead
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Jesus,
the Son of God: This Man
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Jesus
is Lord: A Short Course in Saint Paul
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The Spirit Given
Through Jesus
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To
Know Jesus is to Know the Father, Son and Spirit: The Trinity
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Jesus'
Spirit in Us Responds to the Father: Prayer
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Jesus
Living in His Members: The Church
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Trying
to Make Jesus Visible: The 'Outside' of the Church
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Jesus
Worships in His Church: Eucharist, the Radiating Center
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The
One Jesus in All the Sacramental Actions
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Jesus
Welcomes Strangers Into His Community: Baptism
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The
Spirit of Jesus Sends Forth Witnesses: Confirmation
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Jesus
Brings Sinners Back to the Father: Reconciliation
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Jesus
Heals the Whole Person: Anointing of the Sick
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Jesus
at the Heart of Married Love: Marriage
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Jesus
Continues His Priesthood: Orders
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'With
All Your Heart': Morality and Conscience
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Jesus'
Light on the First Three Commandments
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Jesus'
Light on Commandments Four Through Ten
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Jesus'
Mother and Ours: Mary
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Jesus
Will come Again
Table of
Contents, Following Christ
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The Many Faces of Love
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The Many Faces of Sin
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The Many Faces of
Morality
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The Ways of Worship
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Sunday is Special
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The Quest for Christian
Unity
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The Christian Family
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Questions about Life and
Death
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The Significance of Sex
and Chastity
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Justice for All
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The Values of Truth and
Honesty
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