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Home | What We Need from You | Expectations | Session Schedule| Contact RCIA Team |
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults at Aquinas Newman Center
We are scheduling interviews for those thinking about joining the Catholic Church or Adult Catholics wishing to complete the Sacrament of Initiation. Call Kyle Kemp at 247-1094, ext. 15 or Raymond Jones 265-4019
A Journey rooted in our mission as the Body of Christ:
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults has at its center "formation"More than a process or set of classes, the Rite is a journey of faith that brings us to those sacraments (God's gifted, grace-filled signs) that free us from the power of darkness by the pattern of the saving passion, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then enlivened by the Holy Spirit, we are sent as the People of God to build the Kingdom in this world.
St. Thomas Aquinas says: "the whole of creation is a theatre of grace, embodying and mediating the presence and saving activity of God on our behalf. It is this stage on which the drama of salvation continuously unfolds."
The community of Aquinas Newman takes to heart the call to be "living witnesses to God in the world" (from the Aquinas Newman Mission Statement). Therefore the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a community-based faith journey where the entire community nurtures all who seek to know the "Way of Christ (The Way of the Cross)" as pilgrims. This walk is not done alone. The community accompanies each "seeker"; supports them by prayer while offering examples and instruction about our God, our Faith and our Mission. The journey is a time of "letting go" and "building up" through scripture, prayer and dialogue. RCIA is time spent discerning through prayer and dialogue whether the "walk of faith" each seeker takes leads them to join the Roman Catholic Church of which the Aquinas Newman community is a part.
A Journey of Conversion:
Like all journeys, RCIA has a beginning, a path and a destination. It is a sojourn through four periods of awakening, growth and formation marked by celebration of three major rites involving the whole Aquinas Newman community. The periods are:
Inquiry - seekers ask hard questions about Christianity and receive truthful, life sharing answers from Catholic Christians. The informal discussions during the inquiry period help the seekers link their personal life stories to the Scriptures as witnessed and lived by and in the Roman Catholic community. As each seeker (inquirer) desires to continue the conversion journey within the faith community, he or she is invited to experience the first major rite of the RCIA journey, the Rite of Acceptance, where they are presented to and recognized by the entire community as pilgrims seeking pray and support on the journey.
Catechumenate - (the word means "time of serious study") those who have not been baptized become catechumens. Baptized Catholics who have not been taught the faith or baptized Christians of other traditions who seek full communion as Roman Catholics) become candidates. Dialogue continues as they join with the community at Sunday Mass during the Liturgy of the Word, after which they are sent by the community to continue reflecting on the Scriptures. The length of the Catechumenate varies according to individual need. Each is given a Sponsor, chosen from the community, to travel with them in faith, prayer and dialogue. The Catechumenate period ends when a catechumen or candidate is ready to begin the third period of the journey, the period of purification and enlightenment, which coincides with Lent each year. On the first Sunday of Lent, catechumens and candidates are sent by the Aquinas Newman community to celebrate the second major rite of the RCIA journey, the Rite of Election, where they receive the Call to Continuing Conversion.
Purification and Enlightenment - is a time of final preparation for initiation. The period is one of prayer, fasting and reflection for both catechumens, now known as the Elect, and candidates. During this period, the Elect experience scrutinies and exorcisms (special ritual prayers which strengthen them in preparation for baptism). All hopes focuses on the end of this part of the journey, "Easter fire and water that saves".
Mystagogia—(which means "breaking open" or leading into the mysteries) is that time where the newly initiated (neophytes) meet from Easter and Pentecost to explore and confirm the Easter experience and the mission of the Church and community of which they are now a part. Mystagogia is the final stage of the RCIA journey, but it is in turn the beginning of a pilgrimage of life-long, continuous conversion in full communion with the Roman Catholic community of Christians whose destination is fulfilled only in Christ Jesus the Lord.
- Session Schedule List of the upcoming sessions including links to home work assignments
-The following events are vitally important to the RCIA process. Please mark these dates on your calendar as soon as possible. If you have other commitments we strongly ask you to reschedule them. If this is not possible, please let a team member know as soon as possible:
- Attendance
IMPORTANT DATES 2008-2009
| Saturday November 22, 2008 | Retreat to Prepare for Rite of Acceptance & Welcome |
| Sunday November 23, 2008 | Feast of Christ the King.Rite of Acceptance & Welcome |
| Sunday November 30, 2008 | 1st Sunday of Advent |
| Sunday December 7, 2008 | 2nd Sunday of Advent |
| Sunday December 14, 2008 | 3rd Sunday of Advent |
| Sunday December 21, 2008 | 4th Sunday of Advent |
| Wednesday December 24, 2008 | Christmas Eve |
| Thursday December 25, 2008 | Feast of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) (holy day) |
| Thursday January 1, 2009 | Feast of Mary, Mother of God (holy day) |
| Sunday January 11, 2009 | Anointing of Catechumens |
| Wednesday February 25, 2009 | Ash Wednesday.Lent Begins |
| Sunday March 1, 2009 | Rite of Sending 9:30 a.m. Mass |
| Sunday March 1, 2009 | Rite of Election 2:30 p.m. Cathedral in Santa Fe |
| Sunday March 8, 2009 | Penitential Rite for Candidates |
| Sundays Mar 15, Mar 22 & Mar 29, 2009 | 1st, 2nd and 3rd Scrutinies |
| Saturday, Apr 4, 2009 | Retreat Before Holy Week |
| Tuesday, April 7, 2009 | Rehearsal for Easter Vigil |
| April 9, 2009 thru April 11, 2009 | Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil) |
| April 12, 2009 | EASTER SUNDAY |
| Tuesday, April 14, 2009 | Mystagogy begins |
| Tuesday, May 5, 2009 | Interfaith Forum |
| Sunday May 31, 2009 | PENTECOST SUNDAY/Rite of Welcome & Dismissal |
- Commitment and Engagement-We know all participants in this process are busy individuals with family and business lives. However, we ask that you mark your calendars for important dates; communicate to us as soon as possible where there are conflicts; notify us if you are unable to attend a session as soon as possible; and that you make a serious commitment to the process through your participation.
- Confidentiality-Of necessity the RCIA process will involve sharing personal information, concerns and issues. To foster a community of trust, we expect that confidences shared within the process will not be shared outside the RCIA community.
What You Should Expect of Us
- Commitment and Engagement-Not all team members will attend every RCIA event either. But we will be here to help you explore your journey and to share our journeys.
- Communication-If, at any time, you are confused, annoyed, even angered by something happening in RCIA we will be here to discuss whatever it is that you need to discuss.
- Answers . . . sometimes- we bring varied backgrounds with us. So if you have a question, please ask. If we do not know the answer, we will find an answer for you or encourage you to continue to seek prayerfully. Remember that a spiritual journey is not always about answers but about embracing the mystery, of which Catholicism is full..
- Support . . . at all times-If we cannot get you an answer to a question, we will try to help you embrace the mystery. The journey also frequently involves struggle, and we will be here to help you with yours. You should always feel free to approach your sponsor or a team member at any time. And if you do not feel free to approach any of us, we really need to know that as well.
Welcome. Finally, we want to welcome you to this journey. Taken seriously, you should find it one of the most exciting endeavors of your life. And we are honored to be able to share this part of your faith journey with you. Raymond Jones RCIA Coordinator Aquinas Newman Center