| The R.C.I.A. is a process of faith formation for baptized non-Catholics and persons who have never been baptized who may be interested in becoming members of the Catholic Church. The process, done in a group setting, is facilitated by a team of parishioners and a priest. Some of our team members became Catholics through this process while others are "cradle Catholics."
The R.C.I.A. process continues until Pentecost Sunday (June 4, 2006).
Participants are expected to attend Monday night sessions from 7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. throughout most of this period. Those persons who are spiritually prepared by prayer, study, and regular attendance at R.C.I.A. classes will be received into the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil, which is celebrated on the night before Easter Sunday.
Those persons who will be attending R.C.I.A. fall into three categories:
- Catechumens are persons who have not been baptized. They will receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.
- Candidates for full communion with the Catholic Church have been baptized in another Christian tradition and would like to be in full communion with the Catholic Church. They will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Confirmation, and Eucharist.
- Catholics who have been baptized but have not received the other Sacraments of Initiation will receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.
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