RCIA
Jim Smart
(860) 872-7101
or contact the Parish office (860) 871-1970
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is the educational and spiritual process for welcoming and initiating new adult members in the Catholic faith community.
Classes are on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 pm.
The process is approximately one year in length and consists of four steps (see below).
1.PERIOD OF INQUIRY
Awakening , conversion - a personal journey of mind, heart and spirit. This is the initial period involving prayer and study using the Bible, the new Catholic Catechism, early Church history, documents of Vatican II etc.
2. Rite of Acceptance
Desire on the part of the inquirer for full discipleship, initiation and full communion with the Church is the requirement for this step.
The Rite of Election marks the end of the period of basic instruction and formation, so the catchumens are now called the elect. The Bishop calls all catechumens and candidates to the diocesan cathedral to recognize and recieve them in the Rite of Election ceremony. The elect now join with the parishioners sharing the same goal as they journey through Lent.
Assembling together with the parish congregation on the Easter Vigil, the elect and candidates celebrate their Baptism, Confirmation and first Eucharist, recognizing, as the Church teaches, in baptism we die to sin in Christ's death so that we may rise to new life with Him. This Initiation is the beginning of a life of full ongoing sacramental participation and prayer.
Below are some great links to information for coming "home" to the Catholic Church!