RCIA Inquirer Registration Form.pdf

RCIA – Four Steps to Becoming a Fully Initiated Catholic

The Big Picture

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the Church’s way in which adults become full, active, participating members of the Catholic Church.

RCIA consists of two main elements necessary towards being fully Catholic. Namely:

a) Catechesis: gaining basic knowledge on the elements of the Catholic faith, and

b) Experiential: group sharing and celebrating the various rites helps us to encounter and experience God and his loving community.

RCIA helps adults to grow in their relationship with God, become familiar with Catholic teachings and practices, get acquainted with people in the community and get involved in service within the community.

Those baptised in another Christian Church (whose validity is recognized by the Catholic Church) need not be baptised again. However, they must still join the RCIA that will help them to understand the faith at a much deeper level and be in communion with the universal Church.

The basic RCIA process starts after Easter Sunday and will take those seeking Christ through the year to Baptism in the following year at Easter. The RCIA process ends 8-10 weeks after Baptism.

First Step:

Period of Inquiry (Pre-Catechumenate)

A person who encountered Christianity at some point of life may feel drawn into the desire to seek answers to some very deep questions in life:

Who am I?

Is there more to life than what I have?

What happens after I die?

Who is God? Who is Jesus?

How is God relevant in my life today?

What is Christianity?

What is the Church? Etc…

The RCIA is a process to help them understand some very basic questions in life and existence, who God is and what are his teachings to help us live a meaningful life. We do so through short teachings and sharing of their own stories and connect them with the faith stories found in scripture. These 10 weeks informal sessions provide opportunities for the “inquirer” to ask their basic questions in life, God and the Catholic faith.

Second Step:

Rite of Acceptance into The Order of Catechumens and the Period of the Catechumenate

 The inquirers begin a more formal study of the teachings of Jesus and the Catholic Church. They are then admitted through the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens and are known henceforth as “catechumens.”

A baptised Catholic may be chosen by the catechumen or provided by the community as “sponsor” to provide support and companionship for the rest of the RCIA journey.

Those who have received a valid baptism in another Christian church are called “candidates” at this stage.

This period of the RCIA is a time for the catechumens and candidates to deepen their faith in Christ. Even though they are not yet permitted to receive the sacraments, they do enjoy other important rights. They have a right to assistance as they grow in faith by learning about the teachings of the Church and participating in works of service in the community. They also have a right to be married in the Church and to receive a Christian burial.

The catechumens participate in the Liturgy of the Word at Sunday Mass. After the Homily, they will proceed to a separate place where they continue to reflect with their sponsors and each other the gospel message and how it pertains to their lives. This catechumenate stage usually lasts about 30 weeks or more.

Third Step:

Rite of Election and the Period of Purification and Enlightenment

 The period of the catechumenate ends when the catechumens discern, with the help of their sponsors and godparents that they are ready to receive the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion) at the next Easter Vigil.

They go through the Rite of Election and are now called the “elect.” These 5 weeks of Lent is a time of intense prayer as the elects prepare themselves to celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord at Easter and to receive the sacraments of initiation.

Fourth Step:

Initiation and Mystagogia

 At the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night, the community assembles for the Easter Vigil Mass. The Church has always recognised that in baptism, we die to sin in Christ's death and rise to new life with him. The Easter Vigil is the primary celebration of the Lord's Resurrection and is the most appropriate occasion for the elects to celebrate their Sacrament of Baptism, and together with the candidates to also receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion.

The candidates who professed their faith and the elects who are baptised are now known as “neophytes.” They continue their RCIA journey for the next 8-10 weeks to reflect deeper on their commitment to the Lord, to the Church and to the local Catholic community. This time of unfolding the meaning of the initiation sacraments is called mystagogia. The neophytes together with their godparents continue this weekly journey with the priest in prayer and catechesis.

The journey of faith lasts a lifetime. The baptised Catholic seeks out a life in Christ, participating in the faith community, sharing their faith with others, and celebrating the Eucharist regularly. They in turn will be the light of Christ to bring their non-Christian family members, friends and colleagues to encounter the God of their lives.

For further enquiry, please email to rcia@ihm.sg  or click here to download registration form.