RCIA stands for Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA), and it is the formal program that allows individuals to become members of the Catholic Church. RCIA programs tend to start in the fall, so this is a great time to begin considering joining the program.

Joining RCIA, however, does NOT mean you HAVE to join the Church. You’re always welcome to just come and learn, and if you decide it’s not for you — or maybe you just aren’t ready yet because you have more questions — you can opt out or continue on again next year.

RCIA programs generally go from the fall through Easter, when individuals are officially welcomed in as members of the Church at the Easter Vigil Mass, which is the celebratory Mass held the evening before Easter and is replete with ceremony, music, symbolism and Sacraments — where one is baptized (only if you have not been baptized by a Christian church in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit), confirmed and receive the Eucharist which Catholics believe is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity (the True Presence) of Jesus Christ in Holy Communion.

The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults provides the partaker in a process of learning about the Old and New Testaments, the Sacraments of the Church, Church History, the Apostolic nature of the Church, the Creed and the Gloria, Social Justice teachings of the Church, the meaning and the intent of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Magisterium of the Church — and so much more. The goal of the RCIA program is not to award a “degree in Catholicism” but rather to whet the appetite of the one on the path to becoming Roman Catholic — and to prepare them for a life of learning about the church by participating in the Catholic faith.

If your spouse and your children are Catholic and perhaps you attend Mass with them — or maybe you don’t and stay home while they head off for Mass, then here’s the opportunity for you to unite with them in faith and live that faith out together as a family. What a wonderful gift to give your family — and what a great way to journey home to God together with them. Because in reality, the children learn more about being a Christian not by perfect attendance in Faith Formation class or by listening to the most fantastic homilies at Mass , but rather they learn around the dining room table or in the family room when they hear and see and a family living out the faith together. If you wish to learn more about our RCIA program or to register, please call the parish office at 658 1642 or email Fr. Michael at stcathy@comcast.net . We look forward to you joining us on Wednesday evening, November 18 th at 7 p.m. in the parish library to learn more .