2022-23 Schedule

The Office of Evangelization @ St. André Bessette Parish

2022-2023 R.C.I.A. Schedule

The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults

Stage One:
INQUIRY

Discovering
Christ

Candidates for R.C.I.A. are on individual journeys, taken up in a gradual process that looks different for each person. The "inquiry stage" can last many years for some people, so there is no official start or end date to this. We do, however, begin a more formal introduction to R.C.I.A. in the early Fall. After two weeks of introduction, we begin an 11-week journey designed to help inquirers cultivate a living and personal relationship with the Lord. They come away with a clear understanding of the Gospel; and, through free meals each week, as well as time to grow in friendship with those in small group, R.C.I.A. participants realize more fully the beauty of the Church and the certainty of God's unconditional love for them personally.

Schedule
*A video version of Discovering Christ is also available to view on the SAB YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Tuesday Evenings, 6pm-8:30pm in the OLG
(begins with dinner)
10/4, 10/11, 10/18, 10/25, 11/1, 11/8, 11/15
Retreat Weekend:
11/5

Stage Two:
THE CATECHUMENATE

If and when a candidate is ready to take the next step, he/she enters the next stage of initiation into the Church, the Catechumenate. There is no commitment required to participate, but here the candidate is expressing a much deeper interest/desire to join the Catholic Church and our parish community. In this stage, there is a much more detailed explanation of the Church's teachings and a deeper focus on the need for moral conversion to Christ. The faith is presented, week by week, in the context of the Church's liturgy (i.e. Sunday Mass). R.C.I.A. candidates attend the first half of the 9:30am mass, then process out for the day's instruction.

Schedule

*Until further notice, our meetings will be held by appointment only.

11/20 - Rite of Acceptance, 8:30 Mass, @ Sacred Heart
2/26 - Rite of Election in Manchester

*Plus, various at-home reading and audio/video reflections.

Stage Three:
PURIFICATION & ENLIGHTENMENT

After a period of study and discernment, those who are discern a genuine call and are ready - exhibiting authentic conversion to Christ and his Church - will then be invited to take the final step before entering into communion with the Church. These weeks leading up to Easter serve as an intense period of reflection, repentance, and prayer. This period is designed to prepare the R.C.I.A. candidates' hearts to receive Jesus and begin living a sacramental life of faith. This stage of the process serves as the final period of discernment before making a full commitment to follow Christ in communion with his Bride, the Church.

Schedule

*Until further notice, our meetings will be held by appointment only.

Stage Four:
SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION

The high point of the R.C.I.A. process is the reception of Jesus in Holy Communion. Each year, at the Easter Vigil, those who are ready to enter into full communion with the Church will receive the three Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism (for those who haven't already been), Confirmation, and First Eucharist.

Left: Our 2016 candidates and catechumens (with their sponsors) coming into full communion with the Church at the Easter Vigil.

This year, the Easter Vigil is Saturday, April 9th, 2023

Stage Five:
MYSTAGOGY

The final stage of R.C.I.A. is a period of reflection and prayer as new Catholics begin to live the mysteries of a sacramental life. The actual process of this mystagogy stage is an entire year of deeper study and prayer as they are now living a sacramental life of grace. However, our formal time together ends on the Feast of Pentecost. With other parishioners, our new brothers and sisters will take part in a six-week journey that takes them deeper into the meaning and practice of Christian discipleship. This is a final period of preparation to live a faithful and dynamic Catholic life, as well as another opportunity to grow in friendships with fellow parishioners and build up our Church community.

Schedule

*Until further notice, our meetings will be held by appointment only.