The Catholic Journey RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) Participant s Guide Part II (Part I was handed out the first day) St. Dominic s Parish, SF 2018-2019 Session Table of Contents
Deciding to Complete the Program... 3 Sun., Feb. 10th, Rite of Acceptance... 4 One-on-one Meetings... 4 Baptismal Certificate/Letter... 4 Sunday RCIA Dismissals... 5 Patron Saints (Picking a Saint s Name)... 5 Additional Events... 6 Appendix: Text of the Rite of Acceptance... 7!2
Deciding to Complete the Program When you began this program we asked you to keep an open mind about whether or not you want to receive the Sacrament/s of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist). We re now ready to start asking you. We ll provide each of you with a form to let us know. Hang on to it until you ve decided. When do I have to decide by? There is no real deadline. Some people know now. Others will know in a few months. Some will decide a few weeks before the Easter Vigil. One or two people have gone through the whole program a second time before deciding. But if you at least mostly intend to journey forward towards initiation, you should decide if you will be joining in the Feb. 10th Rite of Acceptance. If I decide to go forward, what s next? Upcoming Activities & Who Needs What Categories Baptism Reception Confirmation Orthodox Reception Rite of Acceptance Y Y Y Y Dismissals Y Y Sponsor Needed Y Y Y O Patron Saint (Name) Y Y Y O Baptismal Certificate/Letter Y Y Y One-on-one Meeting S S S S Rite of Sending/Election Y Y Only FC Spring Retreat (Mar. 30) Y Y Y Y Sacraments & Receptions Baptism EV Protestant Reception EV First Communion EV EV? HT or EV First Confession S? S Confirmation EV EV EV or P Orthodox Reception EV Key: Y = Yes EV = Easter Vigil FC = People needing First Communion O = Optional HT = Holy Thursday P = Pentecost at the Cathedral S = Schedule (TBD)? = For people who have not yet done this!3
Sun., Feb. 10th, Rite of Acceptance Who This rite was primarily designed for people seeking Baptism, but we include everyone in the rite. Sponsors are requested to attend. If your Sponsor can t attend (or you don t yet have a sponsor), we ll have someone stand in for them. Anyone attending RCIA as a fellow traveler or inquirer is welcome to just attend to support those going through the Rite. What A rite is a liturgical event or ritual deigned for a specific purpose. The Rite of Acceptance is a formal process within the worshiping community to accept those who have committed to the RCIA journey. The main component of this rite is signation. Your Sponsor will make the sign of the cross on your forehead, ears, eyes, lips, heart, shoulders, hands and feet. A brief prayer will be read for each sign (e.g., receive the sign of the cross on your feet that you may walk in the way of Christ. ). See the attached handout Rites of Acceptance & Welcome for the script of the rite. When We ll do this rite at 2 Masses (please try to attend one): Sunday, Feb. 10th, 11:30 AM Sunday, Feb. 10th, 5:30 PM Please come at least 25 minutes early in the church w/ your sponsor for instructions. We ll sit up front beneath the pulpit. Invite your sponsor if you have one (if not, don t worry). If you don t have a sponsor or if your sponsor can t make it, let Michael know and we ll find you one. Additional Information If you can t make it, we ll do it for you at one of the subsequent RCIA meetings. If you re not yet sure that you want to commit to the process, you can attend to support the others. If you decide later, we will do the Rite then. One-on-one Meetings We d like to start setting up 30-minute one-on-one meetings with you just to check in. We ll begin to post signups at the meetings and via email soon. Don t worry, there will not be a quiz. Baptismal Certificate/Letter For people coming for Reception or Confirmation, we need to get a copy of your Baptismal Certificate. Just contact the place you were baptized, and they can send it to you. If they don t keep records, I can give you an affidavit letter for someone (parent, aunt/uncle, etc.) to get signed in the presence of a Catholic priest, attesting your Baptism. We need to know the place, date, and denomination. In some cases it is impossible to track down any record. If so, we will conditionally baptize you (basically it s a Baptism that doesn t count if it was already done. If you aren t sure if you ve already submitted a copy to me, check the Certificate checklist at the RCIA table, or just ask Michael.!4
Sunday RCIA Dismissals Who For those seeking Baptism and Reception Attendance is highly encouraged Sponsors do not attend dismissals What Attending the Liturgy of the Word (first half of Mass) together, and then gathering to reflect on the Gospel for the remainder of the Mass. Why This corresponds to ancient process of bringing people into the Church The Liturgy of the Eucharist is primarily for those in full communion with the Church The Dismissals designed to assist those preparing to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church It ends up being a period of waiting and preparing to participate fully in the Eucharistic Liturgy This is also a way to get in the habit of regular Sunday attendance When At either the 11:30 AM or 5:30 PM Sunday Masses on Mar. 10, 24, 31, and Apr. 7. Additional Information You may miss occasionally, but attendance is highly encouraged. Some people will not be able to attend due to their work schedules. Patron Saints (Picking a Saint s Name) Part of the process of receiving the Sacraments is taking a Christian name. We do this by picking a patron saint. This is not a legal name change; it is simply your opportunity to choose a name that identifies you as a Christian. *You can pick a patron saint for your Baptism and a different one for your Confirmation, or you can pick the same one for both. Yes! Can I use one of the names I already have? What do you mean by having a patron saint? We view the saints as being more alive today than they were in their earthly life. We also believe that they remain concerned for people and activities and continue to pray for them. When we invite a saint to be our patron, we believe that they will keep us in their prayers. It is good to pick a saint that inspires you through the lived example of their life, or through the special areas of concern they have (e.g., St. Joseph is the patron saint for workers). How do I find out more about the saints? Try looking up some saints online (http://www.catholic.org/saints, or Google Catholic saints ). Perhaps you could look up a saint with your name, or whose feast day is your birthday, or who is the patron saint for an activity that you do.!5
Do I have to pick a patron saint of my gender? No, it is fairly common for people to pick a saint of the opposite gender. Many saints have a version of their name for the opposite gender (e.g., Francis/Frances or Dominic/Dominique or Michael/Michelle). You can take any form of the name you like. How is this name used? If you are Baptized, it will be said during your Baptism (e.g., Michael Stephen, I Baptize you in the name of the Father ). You can use the same or a different name for your Confirmation. It is recorded in your sacramental records. Can I take more than one name? Yes, but don t over do it. For example, people have taken John Paul. Additional Events Rite of Sending (Sunday, Mar. 10th, 2018, 11:30 Mass @ St. Dominic s) & Rite of Election (Sunday, Mar. 10th, 2018, 4:00 PM at St. Mary s Cathedral): On this day we do a blessing at the 11:30 Mass to send people seeking Baptism or Reception (as well as those seeking Confirmation who have never received First Communion) to the Cathedral for a special rite with the Archbishop. The Rite of Sending occurs at the 11:30 AM Mass at St. Dominic s, and the Rite of Election occurs at 4:00 PM at St. Mary s Cathedral (corner of Geary and Gough). RCIA Emmaus Retreat (Saturday, March 30, 2018, 9AM-6PM, at St. Albert s Priory in Oakland, CA). This is a day retreat just for RCIA participants and team leaders, where we will reflect on your Catholic journey thus far and integrate what you ve experienced in preparation for the Easter Vigil. This is an important part of the RCIA experience, and it is required for receiving a Sacrament at Easter. If you know you cannot attend, let Michael know before Mar. 1st so he can provide some alternatives. Easter Vigil (Saturday, April 20th, 2019, 8:00 PM): This is the main event for people for Baptism, Reception, and Confirmation. The Vigil will begin at 8:00 PM. Please note that this is Saturday night. We ll have a rehearsal at 5:00 PM, and dinner in between. Other information we ll give you as we get closer to specific events: Rite of Sending/Rite of Election Program Sacramental Data Form Confessions Time Holy Week Events Easter Vigil Program!6
RITE OF ACCEPTANCE & WELCOME @ Mass Feb. 10, 2019: For 11:30 am and 5:30 pm Masses with the RCIA Gathering Hymn Greeting & Sign of the Cross No Penitential Act 1. NON-BAPTIZED Pastor: We welcome those who seek baptism and I ask you: What do you ask of God's Church? Candidates: Faith. Pastor: What does it give you? Candidates: Eternal Life. Pastor: This is eternal life: to know the one true God and Jesus Christ, whom he has sent. Christ has been raised from the dead. If then you wish to become his disciples, be guided by his truth. Make the mind of Christ Jesus you own. Is each one of you ready to open your mind and heart to the Gospel? Candidates: I am. The Pastor says once and sign them each in silence: Receive the cross on your forehead. It is Christ himself who now strengthens you with this sign of his love. Learn to know him and follow him. The Pastor makes the sign of the cross over all the candidates, saying: I sign you with the sign of eternal life in the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit. Candidates Amen.!7
2. BAPTIZED NON-CATHOLICS Priest : We welcome the separated brethren who seek reception into the Roman Catholic Church and I ask you: What do you ask of God's Church? Candidates: Full Communion Pastor: What does it give you? Candidates Sharing in the Lord s banquet of life Pastor: You have already been sealed with the cross of Jesus. Resolve to seek his truth more deeply. Set your feet firmly on his path to follow him daily more closely. Are you ready, with the help of God, to deepen your life in Christ? Candidates: I am. 3. CATHOLICS WANTING CONFIRMATION Priest or deacon: We welcome those Catholics seeking to complete the sacraments of initiation and so I ask: What do you ask of God's Church? Candidates: Confirmation Pastor: What does it give you? Candidates The Spirit s Gifts for service in the Community Pastor: You are already full members of his Church, deepen daily your prayer that you may heed the Spirit. Set your feet firmly on his path to follow him daily more closely in service. Are you ready, with the help of God, to deepen your life in Christ? Candidates: I am.!8
The Pastor addresses the sponsors: Sponsors, you have presented these candidates; are you, ready to help these candidates find and follow Christ? Sponsors We are. To the community of St. Dominic's Parish: are you ready to support and encourage these candidates to follow Christ? Congregation We are. The Pastor invites the sponsors to make the sign of the cross on the other senses: Each of us is called to take up the cross of Christ, but in a special way we say to the candidates: Receive the sign of the cross on your ears, that you may hear the voice of the Lord. (The sponsor makes the sign of the cross on their ears.) Receive the sign of the cross on your eyes, that you may see the glory of God. (The sponsor makes the sign of the cross on their eyes.) Receive the sign of the cross on your lips, that you may respond to the word of God. (The sponsor makes the sign of the cross on their lips.) Receive the sign of the cross over your heart, that Christ may dwell there by faith. (The sponsor makes the sign of the cross over their hearts.) Receive the sign of the cross on your shoulders, that you may bear the gentle yoke of Christ. (The sponsor makes the sign of the cross on their shoulders.) Receive the sign of the cross on your hands, that Christ may be known in the work, that you do. (The sponsor makes the sign of the cross on the palms of their hands.) Receive the sign of the cross on your feet, that you may walk in the way of Christ. (The sponsor makes the sign of the cross on or over their feet.)!9
Pastor: I ask the sponsors to present a cross to their candidate. The Pastor May Invite applause and then say: I invite you to go to your seats and join with us sing singing the Gloria before sharing at the table of God s word. The candidates and sponsors take their place in the pews. The Gloria is sung Collect 1st Reading Responsorial Psalm 2nd Reading Gospel Acclamation Gospel Homily (No Creed) Prayers of the Faithful Dismissal of RCIA Candidates to Flower Room for discussion!10