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RITE OF CHRISTIAN
INITIATION FOR ADULTS
(RCIA) RCIA programs are for adults
who
are not baptised or who have been unable to practice their faith since
childhood. The program is run by lay instructors assisted by the
Pastor. baptisms of adults usually take place on Holy Saturday. If you
are an adult interested in entering or returning to the Christian
Faith, please contact Fr. Wiesław.
God
speaks to us in mysterious ways. To some, like to a prophet Samuel, He
spoke ever since childhood. Yet, not every one of us was so lucky to
grow in a faith friendly environment. Some of us grew up without
realizing there is God who looked after them all the days of their
life. Still others grew without knowing that God has sent His only Son
to this world, so that we might have a fullness of life through him.
Some never came to realize that Jesus paid a tremendous price for
showing humanity how God loves us. He loved us to the extreme of
offering His own life as a ransom for our sins. In his blood we were
reconciled to God. By the waters of baptism we were immersed in His
death and thus given a gift of a new life. There are some Catholics who
were baptized but were never trained in their faith.
RCIA is more
than merely preparing to receive baptism. It is about learning how to:
listen to the word of God; respond with a gift of faith to God’s love;
live according to His commandments, among which the commandment of the
love of God and the neighbor are the most important ones. In
short, it is Catechumenate, the way of passing from pagan to Christian
life. “With a little help of our friends” you may prepare for Baptism,
Confirmation and the Eucharist.
If you were baptized but never
admitted to Confession, Holy Communion and Eucharist we are ready to
help. Also if you search for God, undergo faith crisis, want to find
the sense of life again and you want to meet God again in his
Sacraments and the Community of Faith this is the way for you.
The
preparation has two dimensions: individual and community. There are
several steps to successful RCIA. By clicking on hyperlink you will get
access to more information.
1) First steps: Pre-Catechumenate
Contact the Priest or one of the Church leaders.
After
couple of meetings you will be assigned a Catechist – that is a private
volunteer tutor, responsible for your progress in faith.
2) Catechumenate
In
this period Catechumens learn to live according to the teaching of
Christ and the Church strengthens them with exorcisms and prayers.
Depending on circumstances and personal progress this period may last
from six months to 2 years. In this period Candidates attend training
sessions once a week.
3) Period of Purification and Enlightenment
This
happens with the beginning of Lent Season. After their official
enrollment on the list of those who await baptism Catechumens are
called Elects.
On the 3rd, 4th and 5th Sunday of Lent there are
special liturgical rites which bring closer the Elects to the Community
of Faith. The Parish supports strongly the Elects with prayers. This is
a very intensive time of formation. Despite of regular Sunday Mass
meetings are held twice a week (meeting with the Catechist and with the
Priest).
4) Baptism
This takes
places on Holy Saturday, the evening liturgy of Easter Vigil. The
pouring of water and pronouncing of the baptismal Trinitarian formula
“I baptize you…” removes the original sin, all the personal sins
committed so far and gives the neophytes, a gift of Divine life.
They also receive the sacrament of Confirmation which is anointing with
the Power of the Holy Spirit and for the first time they receive Holy
Communion. They are given a white garment which is a symbol of new life
in God and a candle symbol of the Enlightenment of soul with the light
of Christ.
5) The period of Mystagogy
The Neophytes come to church on Easter Sunday dressed in white. During the following week they participate in two meetings.
From
the very beginning the Catechumens in the RCIA programme are assisted
by their Priest, Catechists, Sponsors (God parents) and the entire
Parish. They are the “apple of the Parish’s eye” for the whole period
of their formation.
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