Chelmsford Catholic Collaborative

RCIA: Christian

RCIA: Non-Christian

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

If you are looking for Rite of Christian Initiation for Children and Teens, click here.

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) process is especially designed for individuals who are interested in learning about the Catholic faith and have an interest in joining the Catholic Church. It is also for adults who were baptized in the Catholic faith but never continued their religious instruction or received other sacraments. Instructional sessions usually begin in September and conclude shortly after Easter Vigil.

A Process, Not a Program

The RCIA can best be described as a process of coming to know Jesus Christ on a personal level. Coming to know Jesus cannot be fitted into a thirty-week instruction program. It is a process of ever-deepening growth and commitment -- a process that continues long after you are initiated into the Catholic Church. We will try to help you discover your readiness to make that commitment to Christ in and through the Church. We will celebrate your journey to Christ in various rituals throughout the process. Finally, the RCIA is very much a public process that takes place in the context of the community of St. Mary’s. The ceremonies or rites that we celebrate usually take place at the Sunday liturgies, when our community comes together to worship. In summary, the RCIA is a faith journey. Each of us has a unique path for our faith development. Therefore, there is no obligation on the part of anyone to “join the church.” We stand ready to assist you in reflecting upon whether God is calling you at this time to follow him in and through the Chelmsford Catholic Collaborative community.

What exactly is the process?

• The First Stage: The Period Of Inquiry: This first stage of the RCIA is a time of reflection and discovery, whereby a person begins to search out God's call to enter more fully into the life of the Church. Helping the inquirer in this process are members of our own parish family who form the RCIA team. Team members meet weekly with the inquirers, helping them to discern God's calling through prayer, encouragement and the sharing of their own faith stories. The basics of the Catholic Christian faith are presented during this time.

• The Second Stage: The Catechumenate. Once the inquirer decides to enter into the process which will lead to full initiation into the life of the Church, they move into the next stage of their formation through the Rite of Acceptance. In this stage, an inquirer is now called either a catechumen (one who has never been baptized) or a candidate (a person baptized in another Christian denomination.) During this period of formation, the faith of the catechumen or candidate is deepened through prayer and reflection upon God's word at weekly Sunday meetings. We gather at one of the Sunday liturgies and then we are dismissed after the homily in order to further reflect upon the word of God. We will continue to meet on Monday evenings in order to grow in our knowledge of the faith. During this time, both catechumens and candidates are given the assistance of a sponsor, a member of the parish community who is committed to help them in the process of becoming a full member of the Church.

• The Third Stage: Period of Lenten purification leading to the Easter Vigil: Near the time of the first Sunday of Lent, the catechumens and candidates are presented to the Bishop in the Rite of Election. From this point, catechumens are now called “elect.” The period which follows this rite is one of purification for the catechumen, the candidate, and indeed for the entire parish community. We are all called to reform our lives according to the demands of the gospel. At the conclusion of this period, the elect and the candidates are initiated into the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil. For the elect, this means the reception of all three sacraments of initiation--Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. For the candidates, it means full reception into the Church through Eucharist and Confirmation.

• The Fourth Stage - Mystagogy: The Greek word mystagogy means "entering into the mystery." This phase which occurs after Easter marks a time when those who have become full members of the Church now have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the mystery of the faith. This period reminds everyone that growth in the faith is ongoing and lifelong.

What are my Obligations?

There is  no obligation on the part of anyone to “join the church.” There is no cost. You do not need to bring a sponsor. You only need the desire to learn more about the Catholic faith. What happens next is up to you!