The Office of Evangelization @ St. André Bessette Parish
|
|
The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
Stage One:
INQUIRY
Discovering
|
|
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
*These meetings will be held every Tuesday evening at 7pm in the Pastoral Center. 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
|
Schedule
*These meetings will be held every Tuesday evening at 7pm in the Pastoral Center. |
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 20th, 2025 |
Stage Five:
MYSTAGOGY
|
Schedule
*These meetings will be held every Tuesday evening at 7pm in the Pastoral Center. |