Adult Education

RCIA

The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A CATHOLIC? Never been baptized or baptized in another non-Catholic Christian Church? The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) sessions, which help to prepare you for the sacraments that will bring you into full communion with the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil.

SPONSORS ARE NEEDED! Contact Deacon Paul Doppel at deaconpauld@gmail.com or 678-427-8449.

What is RCIA?

RCIA, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, is the process by which persons become fully initiated Catholics. RCIA is for adults:

Who were never baptized.
Who were baptized in another Christian faith and who wish to become Catholic.
Who were baptized Catholics but were never confirmed.

RCIA meets weekly on Sundays, starting in September. Sessions typically include prayer and instruction on some aspect of the Catholic faith.

Each RCIA candidate is paired with a parish sponsor who also attends the weekly sessions. Candidates are initiated gradually through a series of liturgical rites. They receive the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil, the highlight of the Church year.

What is the Role of Sponsors?

Sponsors play an important role in the initiation process. They remind us that we are participating in a process of conversion, which involves a personal experience of being welcomed into a faith community of human persons. RCIA sponsors represent the faith community; they insure that no individual walks the journey of conversion on their own.

Parish Sponsors serve as formal representatives of the Catholic faith community. They are active Catholics who represent the local parish community, and, by extension, the universal church. Parish Sponsors may be personal friends or relatives of the candidate (such as a spouse or fiancé) if they are also members of the local parish community and are able and willing to assume responsibilities of the Sponsor.

The Parish Sponsor accompanies the candidate through the periods of Catechumenate, Enlightment and Mystagogia. He or she serves the candidate as a mentor, a companion, and a representative of the faith community.

As mentor, serves as a living example or role model of what it means to be a person of faith.
As companion, accompanies the candidate to RCIA activities, is available to the candidate outside of RCIA process, encourages and supports the candidate in the discernment process, offers the candidate guidance and understanding when the candidate is doubtful or hesitant, and, if necessary, challenges the candidate to be faithful to the discernment process.
As representative of the faith community, helps the candidate feel welcome, introduces the candidate to other members of the faith community, and invites the candidate to participate in community activities.

Contact Deacon Paul Doppel for more details email
or call 678-427-8449

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