RCIA Process / Journey / Introduction Pre-Catechumenate Topic 1 of 2 Welcoming Comments & Opening Prayer Welcome everyone to the start of this year s RCIA. My name is Tom Bindi myself, Marian Prentice (who co-leads the RCIA team with me), Suanne Gettings (who is our RCIA liaison to the parish office) and the rest of the RCIA team are so happy that you are here with us this evening. Before we introduce ourselves and get to know each other, I will start with a reading from Scripture, followed by reciting the Nicene Creed, which is a public profession of the Catholic faith, and then I ll then follow this up with a short reflection on why we are all here tonight. I ll then give a brief overview of the RCIA process and then after we all introduce ourselves to each other, Marian will take over with logistics, how information is disseminated, introduce our question box, and then she will lead us in ice-breaking activities, which serve to help you start this process. The Lord s Prayer [Matthew 6:5-13] The Nicene Creed The Nicene Creed is recited by the faithful at nearly all Catholic Masses, as it succinctly expresses what we as Catholics believe: I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen. Our Journey Let s begin to reflect on what brought everyone here tonight? All of us are on a faith journey searching for a path towards God. Whether you are a potential convert, an encouraging friend or family member or a seasoned RCIA team member, our search has brought us together tonight. Notice my words why do I say our SEP-2016, Page 1 of 6
search instead of your search? I say it this way because we are all searching, in one form or another; at one stage or another. We are all on a path towards God; different paths, yes; but on a path nonetheless. Your search, in particular, may have been a long one, or it may have been a sudden moment in which, somehow, the Lord broke through to your heart. You may have been inspired by someone in your life or by some event in your life. You may have reached rock bottom, or you may have climbed to the top in your field. In my case, I was a cradle Catholic, meaning that I was born in to this faith; baptized as a very young boy. But, my path towards God continues tonight. I ve answered His call to do His work, which has led me to you. You ve answered His call, which has led you here, too. Said another way, we are all called; it is up to each of us to say yes or to say no. No matter what the reason is, somewhere along the way, you have said yes, and your search has brought you here tonight, and we want to truly welcome you. We understand that you may be filled with anxiety or nervousness, but please know that this well-worn path has been trodden by many before you for nearly two millennia. So, please, be at peace. Our Life-Long Search for Meaning Many of us get distracted while on our journey be it a quest for monetary wealth or fame, indulging in various passions and exciting relationships or by pursuing career ambitions. These and other tremendous distractions are around us every day, especially in today s world. However, as life progresses, most of us come to realize that this search for meaning in our lives is a call to go deeper than life experiences can take us. For example, we may suffer a grievous loss but find out that we lack the spiritual resources to cope with the ensuing pain. Our Quest to Truly Know God Typically, when we least expect it, we become aware that God is real and He calls us; and we answer out of guilt, excitement, despair or possibly, out of simple curiosity. But, we eventually answer nonetheless. As our quest to truly know God progresses, we begin to look differently at the world around us; we begin as though we are children; to look in awe and wonder a beautiful sunrise or sunset, witnessing the birth of our child, or holding our infant grand-child for the first time. Our senses go into overload as we get a sense that there truly is a God and that He is reaching out to us. Our response is what we see here tonight we have responded by being here. Our paths have converged for awhile, and God could not be happier. And so, let us begin our journey together. SEP-2016, Page 2 of 6
The RCIA Process What RCIA Is and What RCIA Is Not Please refer to the RCIA Brochure. RCIA stands for Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. It is a process of spiritual and educational formation to help you discern what the correct spiritual path is for you. Your journey may be here within the Catholic Church or it may take you elsewhere. Every day on your journey, know that there are exit ramps; there are rest stops; there are welcoming and information centers. RCIA is not an evangelical program in the sense that we will zealously attempt to make Catholics out of all of you. No one here within this process will coerce you or argue for or against your conversion. We, the RCIA team here at Church of the Resurrection, are here to help you, to encourage you, to help you discern if this is truly right for you. Our hope is that through teaching and by living example, each of you will find the right path for you, whether here or elsewhere. Steps of the RCIA Prior to formally beginning the RCIA process, an individual comes to some knowledge of Jesus Christ, considers his or her relationship with Him and is usually attracted in some way to the Catholic Church. This time period is known as the Period of the Pre-Catechumenate, or Period of Inquirey. You are formally beginning this step of the process tonight and are known simply as inquirers. After some time passes, typically between 4-8 weeks, and after conversations with an advisor or spiritual guide, the inquirer may decide to continue the process and seek acceptance into the Catholic Church. The inquirer stands in the midst of the parish community and states that he or she wants to continue the process and become a baptized member of the Catholic Church. This event, known as the Rite of Welcoming, concludes as the local parish assembly affirms his or her wish and the non-baptized inquirer then becomes a catechumen. Note that a previously baptized inquirer becomes known as a candidate for conversion to the Catholic faith. The second step, the Period of the Catechumenate, lasts for approximately 20 weeks and is the time where the student is formally catechized in the Catholic faith, by considering what God is saying to them in the Scriptures, what changes in their life they want to make to respond to God s inspiration, and what membership in the Catholic Church involves. The third step, known as the Period of Enlightenment, begins with the Rite of Election, where the catechumen or candidate makes a faith commitment to Jesus in the Catholic Church. This rite includes the official enrollment of names of all those seeking baptism or full communion with the Catholic Church at the coming Easter Vigil. On the first Sunday of Lent, the catechumens and candidates and their sponsors and families and members of the parish gather at one of the larger churches in our area and the catechumens publicly request baptism, while the candidates publicly request full communion with the Catholic Church. Their names are then recorded in a special book and they are then no longer called catechumens, but the elect. The days of Lent are the final period of purification and enlightenment leading up to the celebration of initiation at the Easter Vigil. This Lenten season is a period of SEP-2016, Page 3 of 6
intense preparation marked by prayer, study, and spiritual direction for candidates and the elect, and special prayers for them by the parish communities. The culmination of this step is the Celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation, which takes place during the Easter Vigil Liturgy on Holy Saturday night when the elect receives the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and Holy Eucharist, while the candidate already being baptized receives the sacraments of confirmation and Holy Eucharist. Now, they are fully initiated members of the Catholic Church and will continue to live out his or her response to God as a member of this faith community. After the person has completed the Sacraments of Initiation at the Vigil, another period of formation and education continues in the Period of Mystagogy, which is the post-baptismal catechesis. This period continues at least until Pentecost and often longer. During the period of Mystagogy, the new members reflect on their experiences at the Easter Vigil and continue to learn more about the Scriptures, the sacraments, and the teachings of the Catholic Church. In addition they reflect on how they will serve Christ and help in the Church s mission and outreach activities. This last period is a fun time; a time for happiness; a time for reflection on a journey completed; and a time to embrace expectations as you begin to live out your lives as a member of the Body of Christ. SEP-2016, Page 4 of 6
Getting To Know Each Other Class & Team Introductions Before we go any further, let s get to know each other. Let s go around the room and tell a little about ourselves: Our name & where we are from & what we do Our family background and current family ties Our past religious affiliation or affiliations, if any, and finally What brought you here tonight? Class Logistics RCIA Class Logistics Meeting Times & Places Each Tuesday evening between now and Easter 2016, evenings will start promptly at 7:00 PM and will end on or before 8:30 PM. We typically meet here in the church Ministry Center, and later in the process, we will meet in the church. This year s RCIA calendar notes when meetings are held in the church. According to our calendar, we will not hold classes during the week of Thanksgiving and the two weeks over Christmas and New Year s Day. The church website, found at http://cotrna.org/, typically announces closures due to inclement weather, and we will typically send out an email blast to the class as soon as we are made aware of a closure. The primary means of communicating news and reminders is with an email blast, so it is very important that any email address changes or additions be given to us as soon as possible. RCIA information can be found at our web site: http://cotrna.org/f/docs/rciariteofchristianinitiationofadults.html RCIA Class Logistics Outline of a Typical Class The evening classes will be divided primarily into a catechesis session (which will take the form of a lecture and/or presentation) and an interactive session (which will have a topic for meditation and/or table/class discussion. The following shows the flow of a typical evening: 7:00 7:10 PM 10 minutes Gather; Announcements; Prayer 7:10 7:45 35 minutes Symbolon Video; Class Groups; Discussion 7:45 7:55 PM 10 minutes Break 7:55 8:30 PM 35 minutes Symbolon Video; Class Groups; Discussion RCIA Class Logistics Introduction of the Student Binder RCIA Class Logistics Class Expectations Listen; ask questions and participate in discussions. Please be on time; please contact us if you cannot make it to a class. Attend Mass, but do NOT receive Eucharist/Communion, as beliefs about the Eucharist differ greatly between Catholics and non-catholic Christians and you have not yet heard or accepted our teachings. All candidates need to provide evidence of a previous baptism as a Christian. SEP-2016, Page 5 of 6
Introduction to the Catholic Church Propagated Myths about the Catholic Faith Catholics aren t really Christian. Catholics don t believe in the Bible. Catholics worship idols, statues, Mary and dead people. Catholics have to work their way into heaven. The Catholic Church is apostate, non-biblical, filled with worthless ritual, empty words and pathetic gestures. Truths about the Catholic Faith that May Surprise You The New Testament canon exists solely because of the Catholic Church. Before the New Testament was put to paper, there was always apostolic Tradition, which has been held consistent by the Catholic Church for 2,000 years. The Catholic and Orthodox Churches trace their lineage of bishops back to the Apostles. The Catholic Church has read Scripture to the faithful at every Mass for 2,000 years. As you go through the next 7-8 months, what you will undoubtedly discover is that the further you go back into Christian history, the closer you get to the Catholic Church. Fundamental Catholic Beliefs As the year progresses, you will learn so much about the Catholic Church and beliefs. Here is a small sample of what you will discover: Catholics believe in the most Holy Trinity Father, Son and Holy Spirit one God in three persons. Scripture The Holy Bible is the inspired, error-free and revealed word of God. Baptism, which is the rite of becoming a Christian, is necessary for salvation. God s Ten Commandments provide a moral compass for all of us to live by. Catholic worship focuses on the Mass, where the Sacrament of the Eucharist is celebrated. Catholics are taught that our good works are the direct result of our faith in action, inspired by God s grace. The Catholic Church defines its mission as spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity. Catholic social teaching emphasizes support for the poor and the afflicted through the corporal works of mercy. SEP-2016, Page 6 of 6