The following was written by Ed and Marge Devinney, who along with Lori Napoli, make up the RCIA team. Like all of our ministries, they are always ready to welcome new people to the team.

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), which has a close relationship to the practices of the first Christians, is a period of instruction designed for adults who have decided to strengthen their spiritual life and seek God through the Catholic Faith. This continues today as seekers are helped on their journey not only by clergy in a parish, but to a great extent by lay people also.

For a person who was never baptized, the process begins with a period of Inquiry: reflection, conversation, and gathering information that helps the person decide to take the journey to Baptism in the Catholic Church. A person who has already been baptized a Christian generally follows a similar path to reception into full participation in the Church, beginning with reception of Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist at the Easter Vigil Mass.

If preparation for Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist – full participation in the Church – is a rewarding experience for the catechumens, their sponsors, and their families, being part of this spiritual journey is also a most satisfying journey for all who are involved. We we were approached about working with the RCIA team many years ago, we had no idea what RCIA was, what the group actually did, or if and how we would fit in. We decided to try it, and one of the most amazing discoveries we’ve made is that this sharing is a two-way street. We have learned so much from experiences with those new to the Faith, and from the team; young and not-so-young, individuals and couples, from all sorts of backgrounds and interests – all helping one another to deepen their own spiritual lives by sharing their gift of Faith with inquirers, catechumens, and one another.

We’ve through about the reasons people come to inquire, to study, and to embrace Catholicism, and we’ve reached the conclusion that it’s essentially a mystery – that Faith is a gift that God calls us to, sometimes early, and sometimes later in life. It also seems to us, that to be called as adults requires a greater commitment up front and a more public and conscious decision. This courage on the part of the catechumen is inspiring and enlightening for all of us.

Because of the very informative materials that cover aspects of Catholic belief and practices, RCIA has given us the opportunity to refresh our knowledge and our faith. And it is very satisfying to know that Father JC and our deacons are always ready to help us answer questions that we aren’t quite sure about. And perhaps the greatest “dividend” for us is the opportunity to examine our own commitment and share our continuing journey with these most inspiring seekers.