RCIA is a year-round process

Now is typically the time of year when people inquire about and enroll in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA).

 Classes start in the fall so candidates can enter the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil Mass. Parishes throughout the Diocese of Baton Rouge are hosting “come and see” inquiry sessions to encourage them to do so.

The RCIA process is spiritual and gradual and cannot be defined in terms of an academic model, according to Dina Dow, director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.

“It’s a year-round process,” said Dow. “It means ‘I’m always having a door open to anyone who comes in or anyone who hints that they may be interested in becoming Catholic or learning more about the faith.’ ”

She added, “When people inquire, they have either, from my experience, have had some sort of conversion or have been working with someone or have a relationship with someone who is already Catholic and have a desire to become Catholic.”

“Seeking a life with God and turning to the faith and seeking conversion or if they have already had a conversion is beautiful,” said Dow.

She emphasized the RCIA process “looks at the whole person: heart, mind, body and soul.”

“Let’s say someone has ‘knocked on the parish office door’ and says, ‘I’m interested in becoming Catholic.’ That’s great, don’t throw the catechism at them right away,” said Dow.

She outlined the four phases of the RCIA process.

The first phase is informal evangelization and embracing them where they are in their faith journey and moving them forward. You accompany them on their journey as God calls them, noted Dow.

“When I was serving in (a church) parish there was one woman who drove by the church every day on her way to work. One day she came and knocked on the door of the parish office. She came in and asked our receptionist if she could see the inside of the church. 

“They called me and I met her and we walked over to the church and I showed her a bit around the church and explained where everything was physically located. I let her go sit up near the tabernacle and explained to her a little bit about the real presence (of Christ). She had always felt there was something special when she was passing by the church. I told her it’s special because we believe that Jesus is present in the tabernacle and we talked about that a little, not in an overwhelming way.” 

“I let her sit in prayer for a little bit by herself,” Dow said. “And then she began RCIA a few months later and it was beautiful that she became Catholic one year later.”

Dow said in this first phase, the emphasis is on developing a relationship with God. They are asking questions about who is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

“We walk with them and accompany them on understanding of God and creation and creating humans in his image and likeness,” said Dow. 

This is when participants learn about their need for God’s mercy and that there is nothing that is going to stop God from loving them.

The most essential focus in this time is the “kerygma,” or the proclamation of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection. This is developed throughout the RCIA journey.

From there, participants go into the catechesis phase.

“They dive deep into Scripture which is many times based on Sunday Gospels, Sunday readings, and it’s a time for growth and understanding of the teachings of the faith, very succinctly and definitively. Then there’s a time for them to ask questions to get clarification to draw nearer to God,” Dow said.

There’s also the exploring of the sacraments of the church, the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The participants are called to conversion.

During the next phase, which traditionally occurs during Lent, the catechumens, those who are seeking baptism as well as the rest of the sacraments of initiation, go through a time of intense prayer and self-reflection. The Gospel readings are connected with the scrutinies of the church, a time of purification. 

“The readings are very intense when it comes to conversion,” said Dow. 

Once the participants are fully initiated into the church, whether at Easter or another time of the year, there is the “final phase,” or Mystagogy.

“It’s actually a beginning of new life phase, it’s lifelong formation,” Dow said. “It is reminding them of the Paschal Mystery in light of their new life in Christ. And then deepening of discovery through continued study, through prayer, worship and growing as missionary disciples, individually and in community.

“Then they witness their conversion, which calls others to come and see. And then we begin again. A life of Christ, it’s so beautiful.” 

For more information on the RCIA program, or how to support the RCIA program, contact local church parish or the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.