Right of Christian Initiation

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RCIA for Adults

RCIA Adapted for Children
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is for non-baptized persons or persons baptized in another Christian religion who wish to join the Roman Catholic Church. Most parishes have a process by which a team of the faithful guide and instruct those exploring Catholicism.

Structure of the Initiation of Adults: The initiation of catechumens is a gradual process that takes place within the community of the faithful. By joining the catechumens in reflecting on the value of the paschal mystery and by renewing their own conversion, the faithful provide an example that will help the catechumens to obey the Holy Spirit more generously. The rite of initiation is suited to a spiritual journey of adults that varies according to the many forms of God’s grace, the free cooperation of the individuals, the action of the Church, and the circumstances of time and place. This journey includes not only the periods for making inquiry and for maturing, but also the steps marking the catechumens’ progress, as they pass, so to speak, through another doorway or ascend to the next level." Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults: Introduction. ©1985, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. (ICEL)

The Office of Worship is responsible for consulting with the parishes on the parts of the RCIA which take place within the parishes, as well as organizing the Rite of Election which takes place at the Cathedral for the entire Archdiocese. Following is a summary of the RCIA, written as an introduction to the rituals themselves.

"The Rite: The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is designed for adults who, after hearing the mystery of Christ proclaimed, consciously and freely seek the living God and enter the way of faith and conversion as the Holy Spirit opens their hearts. By God’s help they will be strengthened spiritually during their preparation and at the proper time will receive the sacraments fruitfully. This rite includes not simply the celebration of the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist, but also all the rites belonging to the catechumenate. Endorsed by the ancient practice of the Church, a catechumenate that would be suited to contemporary missionary activity in all regions was so widely requested that the Second Vatican Council decreed its restoration, revision, and adaptation to local traditions.

The Sacraments of Initiation
1212 The sacraments of Christian initiation - Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist - lay the foundations of every Christian life. "The sharing in the divine nature given to men through the grace of Christ bears a certain likeness to the origin, development, and nourishing of natural life. The faithful are born anew by Baptism, strengthened by the sacrament of Confirmation, and receive in the Eucharist the food of eternal life. By means of these sacraments of Christian initiation, they thus receive in increasing measure the treasures of the divine life and advance toward the perfection of charity."

Time of the Easter Vigil- Delegration for Confirmation and the Lenten Disciplines
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Adapted for Children

Children who have reached the age of 7 (age of reason) and have not been baptized are invited into the process of Christian initiation based on the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA.) This process will prepare young people and their families for the celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation - Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist - after an appropriate time of formation. (RCIA #256) Formation takes place within the parish community. Please use our parish finder to locate a church community near you, and know that your child is welcomed with joy!

The chapter which describes the requirements and process for children of catechetical age who desire baptism is from the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults: Part II; Rites for Particular Circumstances: 1. Christian Initiation of Children who Have Reached Catechetical Age. There are also many good books on the RCIA Adapted for children, and Sr Celeste regularly runs workshops concerning the process.
As for why we do this, the underlying rule is canon law:
Can. 852 §1: The prescripts of the canons on adult baptism are to be applied to all those who, no longer infants, have attained the use of reason.
Can. 866: Unless there is a grave reason to the contrary, an adult who is baptized is to be confirmed immediately after baptism and is to participate in the eucharistic celebration also by receiving communion
So it is clear that those who have passed the age of reason (age 7) are considered “adults” in the Church and therefore when baptized, must also be Confirmed and receive Eucharist. To not due so is a violation of the canons and illicit.
Another concern are sacraments which are done by the school and not by the parish. We are very clear in the archdiocese that sacraments are a parochial matter and that schools, while they can encourage and assist in the process, are not the foundational environment for any sacraments – this is always the parish, with the pastor as lead.
Catechist Support for RCIA

Resources for RCIA Catechists of adults

The Office of Faith Formation provides catechetical formation for individuals and parish teams in all steps of the formation process in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and the adapation for children. Contact Sr. Celeste at 415-614-5650 or arbucklec@sfarch.org.

Recommended resources for RCIA
(See separate section below for resources for the adapted rite for children)

LIGUORI PUBLICATIONS: Journey of Faith is a catechetical program. . It includes a total of 44 lessons contained in individual four-page handouts. Lessons from Inquiry through Mystagogy explore basic Catholic beliefs and practices. Covers topics from a Catholic approach to the bible, the sacraments, morality, prayer, and the liturgical seasons, and much more. Thought-provoking questions help participants relate each topic to their own personal experience.

Those who have previously used Liguori's Journey of Faith will be happy to know that it's still the SAME GREAT PROGRAM, energized with eye-catching color and a more dynamic presentation. Also, for the first time a Leader's Guide has been developed to accompany the program.

LITURGY TRAINING PUBLICATIONS (LTP): RCIA Participant's Book & CD, 2nd Edition
This Participant's Book and CD-ROM published by the Association for Catechumenal Ministry contains a content-rich, printable collection of 380 handouts for faith formation in a convenient and compact book and CD-ROM format. The book is supplied as a set of handouts that are designed to be masters for photocopying, and the CD-ROM is provided to allow for printing the handouts in the book for RCIA participants.

Browse and print handouts on doctrine, lives of the saints, conversion testimonies, liturgical year pieces, prayers, psalms, and other pertinent topics. Handouts can be used in many aspects of adult education such as parent meetings, bulletin inserts, catechist training, retreats, Bible studies, faith-sharing groups, infant Baptism preparation, marriage preparation, and many more.

National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry has many resources to work with RCIA.

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS: A PASTORAL LITURGICAL COMMENTARY  by DR. J. MICHAEL MCMAHON  This commentary covers, in detail, the history of the Rite, and its current elements and structure.

The Our Father and Nicene Creed Prayer Scrolls are beautifully set on parchment page for presentations.

RCL BENZIGER: Young Apprentices is a resource for RCIA directors, team members, and catechists who facilitate the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults with children and youth. The materials on this site offer you the flexibility to accommodate RCIA processes of any start date and duration. Materials for Apprentices in Faith are uploaded quarterly. You will be able to find resources for every Sunday of the three-year lectionary cycle.

TEAMRCIA: A straightforward way to access the exact training you need for this ministry—training that doesn't require you to get on an airplane, spend money on a hotel, and be away from your family and job.

USCCB   The Catholic Bishops information on sacraments

For use with the Rite of Christian Adults adapted for Children

LIGUORI PUBLICATIONS:  Journey of Faith - RCIA that's easier to teach...because it speaks to them. Also in Spanish - RICA mas facil y especial para cada edad especial.

Guide to Adapting the RCIA for Children by Rita Burns Senseman A very pratical book on working with children, develping lessons, schedules and rites.

World Library Publications: We, the Church, are to welcome and invite those children who have not yet been baptized, have come to an age of understanding, and are of catechetical age to be a part of the process of faith formation. This manual encourages directors of faith formation and catechists to be creative and to draw on their own faith experiences as they prepare children to receive the sacraments of initiation through the RCIA as adapted for children.

The 25 sessions in this resource offer a variety of ways to explore each topic as part of a continuous and ongoing process, including gathering prayers, scripture readings, games or icebreakers, hands-on activities, reflective responses by the participants, and closing prayer rituals. Each session begins with a summary of the purpose of the session, a brief section of catechist formation, and tips for setting the environment. A template for a letter home is also provided for each session. An optional "Remembering Back" section is included for some of the sessions to provide an introduction to the experience of mystagogy.

The enclosed CD-ROM contains all of the handouts, worksheets, and letters to parents found on the printed pages of this book, making this a convenient, easy-to-use resource for RCIA ministers, directors of faith formation, and catechists alike.

Right of Christian Initiation

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Adapted for Children

Resources for RCIA Catechists of adults