Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults - RCIA
RCIA News: Presentation of the Creed | Presentation of the Lord's Prayer | Other Events
Our Parish Family Continues To Grow
At the Easter Vigil, Assumption’s parish faith community was privileged to initiate into its fold, 5 adults and 2 teens. On Sunday, March 30, at the 9:00am Mass, our parish family welcomed 4 children, who prepared for reception of their sacraments for the past 2 years in the R.C.I.A. Adapted for Children process. Our congratulations and warm welcome are extended to Rebecca Bruckler, Christopher Dendler, Greta Nanfara, and Benny Willems, who all received their first Eucharist. And so, Assumption’s faith community continues to carry out Jesus’ command, “Let the little children come unto me.”
10 March
Our Elect and Candidates (adults, teens and children) will receive from us the prayer that summarizes the whole Gospel, the Lord’s Prayer on Monday, March 10 at 7 p.m. in the Church. We pray this prayer as a community every weekday and Sunday before we partake of the Lord’s meal, the Eucharist. It is prayed by the whole community together as evidenced by its first word: “Our.” Even when the Lord’s Prayer is prayed by an individual believer, it evokes the community in the use of that little word our. By praying the Lord’s Prayer, one offers petitions on behalf of the whole household of faithful. It is the prayer of Jesus and of the disciples. It is also our prayer, the heartfelt raising of our minds and spirits to the One who shepherds us, loves us, and adopts us. Please pray an “Our Father” for those soon to enter into our Catholic faith and parish family.
25 February
Our parish will celebrate the “Presentation of the Creed” at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, Feb.25 in the Church. A creed concisely states the most central beliefs held by an individual or community.
The Catholic Church accepts and upholds the formulation of beliefs that have come down to us from the early Christian times in the text of the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed, which express the central tenets of our faith. Derived from the Latin, credo, creed means “to give oneself to someone or something.” Professing the creed implies commitment. In this act of praise and thanksgiving, we confess before God and one another what God has done and is doing for us through Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit. In this celebration of “the handing on of the faith,” our Elect and Candidates (adults, teens and children) will receive from us this important profession of faith. We will recite the words of the Creed and they will listen. In turn, they will make this same profession of faith as they gather at our altar at the Easter Vigil for the reception of the sacraments.
10 February
Assumption’s Catechumens and Candidates are about to end the Catechumenate Period of the RCIA process and enter the Period of Purification and Enlightenment, which ideally occurs during the Church’s Lenten season. The Rite of Sending Catechumens for Election and the Rite of Sending Candidates for Recognition by the Bishop and the Call To Continuing Conversion liturgically marks this transition and will be celebrated on the First Sunday of Lent, February 10 at the 10:30 a.m. Mass.
We, the parish family, play a vital role in the celebration of this rite, as our expression of approval concerning the Catechumens’ and Candidates’ growth in the faith and our offer of support, sends the Catechumens to the diocesan celebration of Election and the Candidates to Recognition by the Bishop and Call to Continuing Conversion (St. Agnes, Blackwood). During the week, recall how you have seen God alive in any of our Catechumens/Candidates. Reflect also on ways God has molded you as “God’s own.” Ask yourself: What gifts of God have others told me they recognize in me?
Rite of Acceptance and the Rite of Welcoming
On Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007, at the 10:30 a.m. Mass, our parish faith community welcomed through the Rite of Acceptance and the Rite of Welcoming the following: Catechumens: Yana Pelikanova and Monique Valentine. Candidates: Brian and Natalie Lott, Carolyn and Gregory MacNatt, Phillip and Vincent Leone and Brenda Petersen. Please continue to pray for them as they continue their preparation for full reception into the Catholic faith at the Easter Vigil.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
known most often as the R.I.C.A. is the restoration of the ancient practice of initiating adults (18 years of age and older) into the Catholic Christian community. Christian Initiation is concerned with the fundamental values of the Christian way of life, thus the R.C.I.A., is actually a sacramental process, not a program.
It is a journey of intellectual, emotional, and spiritual conversion. Along the way, R.C.I.A. team mentors and presenters, nurture this conversion process of those individuals seeking membership into the Catholic Church through their support and encouragement.
The R.C.I.A. is actually one rite divided into four periods.
Period of Inquiry
Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens
and the Period of the Catechumenate
Rite of Election and the Period of Purification and Enlightenment
Initiation and Mystagogia
*details for each stage
Baptized individuals, whether Catholic or another religion, seeking full reception into the Catholic Church. also journey through the Catechumenal process, although distinctions are made in the celebrations of the rites.
Following the same criteria for the Unbaptized and Baptized adults, children, who have reached the age of reason (7yrs.- l4yrs.), journey through the “R.C.I.A. Adapted for Children” process for 2 years, meeting with their instructor each Sunday morning, October- May. Teens (15yrs--1 7yrs.), journey for one year.
Contact the rectory at (609) 965-4021 for more information to begin your journey of faith.
Scrutinies
These rites are for self-searching and repentance and have, above all, a spiritual purpose. The Scrutinies are meant to uncover, then heal all that is weak, defective or sinful in the hearts of the “Elect” (unbaptized, preparing for reception of the Sacraments of Initiation) and to bring out, then strengthen all that is upright, strong, and good. The Third, Fourth and Fifth Sundays of Lent (our preparation time for Easter) are ideal times for the celebration of these rites. These rites sound like something we all need to celebrate, especially during Lent. In fact, THEY ARE! The celebrations of the Scrutinies have great value for the entire faith community and it is desirable that as many of you participate in these rites with the Elect: First Scrutiny: Feb. 24; Second Scrutiny: March 2; Third Scrutiny: March 9, at the 10:30 a.m. Mass.