Too often in the past, formation processes have overemphasized intellectual understanding at the expense of helping persons feel a sense of belonging, a sense of wonder.

RCIA, or the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, refers to the process by which an individual comes to full membership in the Catholic Christian community.

Full membership is attained by the reception of one or more of the three sacraments of Christian Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. There are three distinctive features of the RCIA process that set it apart from other forms of religious education and formation programs.

  • The first feature deals with the community. That is, the entire community takes responsibility for the formation of the adults who wish to join the community. Human experience provides overwhelming evidence that in order to become a full member of any group, the group itself must take a pro-active stance.

  • The second important feature of the RCIA process is rooted in an understanding of the whole human person as a unity of mind, body, and spirit. As such, RCIA seeks to provide opportunities for members of the Loyola community to be engaged intellectually, social and emotionally, thus allowing for the enlargement of the human spirit.

  • Thirdly, because RCIA requires serious and sustained attention to the movements of one's own heart, mind and spirit, it is of primary importance to slow down from our busy, everyday lives to pray and reflect.

Not only the catechumens, but all in the Loyola community are called to reflect on how they will experience newlife through these members.

RCIA Process

Formation:

  • Evangelization: A period of discernment

  • Catechumenate: A period of formation

  • Enlightenment: A period of more intense spiritual preparation

  • Mystagogia: Period in which the newly initiated members develop a deeper appreciation and understanding of the mysteries of faith they have participated in.

Liturgical Stages:

  • Rite of becoming a Catechumen: The inquirer requests entrance into the catechumenate and becomes a member on training.

  • Rite of Election: Major rite in which the catechumen, on the basis of testimony, is accepted for full mnembership.

  • Initiation:This is a majot rite by which the catechumen is initiated into the Church through Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.

For more information, please e-mail Pete Rogers
or call him at (410) 617-2883.