People often ask “What is this RCIA that we hear about now and then from the pulpit?” “Is it something I should know about, something I should do?” Interesting that you should ask. The short answer to the question is “Yes.” or “Maybe.” “What do the letters RCIA stand for?” The answer to that is easy. RCIA stands for Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. “ So, it’s some kind of initiation? Like joining the Lions Club or a fraternity/sorority?” Some who get into RCIA are, indeed, initiated into an “organization.” Some choose not to be or they come to learn about RCIA for a different reason because they are already members of the “organization.”
RCIA is a process through which a person who is a Catholic wants to know more about the faith and chooses this vehicle to achieve that. S/he has been baptized; probably has made First Communion and been Confirmed but feels unsure of some things about the faith and wants answers in a process which allows that with no commitment to anything more than learning. Then there is the person who is not a Catholic; has not been baptized or is baptized in another faith tradition and is wondering if the Catholic Church is where s/he wants to be. One thing both have in common is a thirst to have answers; to know more; to explore; to perhaps make a decision that is life changing.
Since St. Mary’s began the RCIA process in 1983, some 122 people have completed the process to come into full membership in the Catholic Church. Many of them are here among us today. Many more came into full communion with the Church in other places, other cities, other parishes just like this one. Many people in the congregation today came to RCIA to learn more about their faith. Many came as sponsors for those seeking to join the Church and in the process increased their own knowledge of the faith. Some of the 122 came to inquire about Catholicism because they had a Catholic spouse and they decided that they wanted to share a common faith. Some of the 122 are married to non-Catholics who did not join them in seeking membership in the Catholic Church. Some are single people who were in search of the Lord and found him in the Catholic tradition. All joined because the Holy Spirit influenced their decision.
If you are one of those who are seeking a closer relationship with the Lord and wonder how that might come about, consider RCIA. If you know someone who became a Catholic later in life, ask the person why s/he did that? If you are seeking something more from your spiritual life and want to know what is out there for you, give some thought to RCIA. If you are Catholic and know someone who is not but who wonders about what we believe, invite him/her to give us a look. Offer to come along as a support, at least to get started. If your kids ask questions about the faith which you cannot answer, maybe you could get answers from joining an RCIA group. RCIA is all about INQUIRY. It is not all about making a commitment to join us. It is not about numbers. It is about helping inquirers find what they seek in their relationship with God. If you came to the Church through RCIA yourself, share that experience with someone who is not quite sure. It’s part of our baptismal promise to live the faith to “teach others all that I have commanded you.”
If you would like to learn more about the RCIA Program, please call the RCIA Coordinator:Jill Brown at the Parish Office (677-3934).
RCIA ~ Easter Vigil ~ 2022