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RCIA

February 1, 2024 // Office of Divine Worship Updates

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a process for men and women to become baptized members of the Catholic Church. Candidates are gradually introduced to Catholic beliefs and practices.

Catechumens

Adults who are not baptized and wish to become members of the Roman Catholic Church should follow the complete process of initiation as outlined in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. 

They are to:

  • Participate in the pre-catechumenate.
  • Be chosen for entrance into the catechumenate in the Rite of Acceptance.
  • Participate in the catechumenate for a suitable period of time, a least one calendar year.
  • Participate in the Rite of Election celebrated in the Cathedral on the First Sunday of Lent.
  • Observe Lent as a time of purification and enlightenment.
  • Participate in the Scrutinies and the Presentations.
  • Receive the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) at the Easter Vigil.
  • Observe the season of Easter as a time of post-baptismal catechesis (i.e. mystagogy).

Christians Baptized in a non-Catholic Church

  • Reception into Full Communion
  • Christians baptized in a non-Catholic church who wish to become members of the Roman Catholic Church should follow a process that leads to the celebration of Confirmation and Eucharist according to the norms of the “Reception of Baptized Christians into the Full Communion of the Catholic Church.”
  • See Part II, #5 of the RCIA.
  • They are to:
  • Receive suitable catechesis and spiritual formation.
  • Participate in the “Call to Continuing Conversion” in the Cathedral on First Sunday of Lent.
  • Celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Lent prior to reception into the Full Communion.
  • Be received into the Full Communion of the Catholic Church ordinarily at a Sunday Mass celebrated during the Easter Season.
  • Observe the season of Easter as a time of post-baptismal catechesis (i.e. mystagogy)

Christians Baptized in an Eastern Orthodox Church

Reception into Full Communion

In the case of Christians baptized in an Eastern Orthodox Church who wish to enter into the fullness of Catholic communion, no liturgical rite is required, but simply a profession of Catholic faith.

N.B. After a period of appropriate pastoral formation, members of these Churches simply make a Profession of Faith through which they are incorporated into the corresponding Catholic Rite (e.g. Greek Orthodox become Greek Catholic) unless permission to transfer to the Latin Rite has been procured from the Vatican prior to their making a Profession of Faith.

They are to:

  • Receive suitable catechesis and spiritual formation.
  • Participate in the “Call to Continuing Conversion” in the Cathedral on the First Sunday of Lent.
  • Celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the Lenten season.
  • No Rite of Reception into Full Communion
  • No Confirmation since the Catholic Church accepts the validity of Confirmation (administered at Baptism) in the Eastern Orthodox Churches.

Adult Catholics Completing Initiation

Adult (18+) Baptized Catholic Seeking to Complete Christian Initiation

Adult Catholics, baptized as infants in the Roman Catholic Church who have not received the sacrament of Confirmation should participate in a period of catechesis leading to the celebration of Confirmation on a Sunday of the Easter season or on Pentecost Sunday.

They are to:

  • Participate regularly in Sunday Mass.
  • Receive suitable catechesis and spiritual formation during the seasons of Lent and Easter.
  • Participate in the “Call to Continuing Conversion” in the Cathedral on the First Sunday of Lent.
  • Celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation prior to the celebration of the sacrament, preferably during Lent.
  • Receive Confirmation on a Sunday of the Easter season or on Pentecost Sunday.

Ritual: Confirmation of Adult (18+) Baptized Catholics
Delegation Request: Pastor Request for Delegation to Confirm Baptized Catholics (18+)

N.B. It may be the case that an adult Catholic baptized as an infant needs both Confirmation and Eucharist to complete Christian initiation. If this is the situation, the adult receives first communion at the Mass in which the Rite of Confirmation is celebrated.

Children of Catechetical Age

Concerning Children

An unbaptized child who has reached catechetical age (viz. about the age of 7) and wishes to become a member of the Roman Catholic Church, should follow the complete process of initiation as outlined in the RCIA, Part II, #1.

A Christian child baptized in a non-Catholic Church who has reached catechetical age should follow a process that leads to the celebration of Confirmation and Eucharist according to the norms of the “Reception of Baptized Christians into the Full Communion of the Catholic Church.” See Part II, #5 of the RCIA.

A Christian child baptized in an Eastern Orthodox Church who has reached catechetical age who wishes to enter into the fullness of Catholic communion, no liturgical rite is required, but simply a profession of Catholic faith. N.B. Members of these Churches are incorporated into the corresponding Catholic Rite (e.g. Greek Orthodox become Greek Catholic) unless permission to transfer to the Latin Rite has been procured from the Vatican prior to their making a Profession of Faith.

A child baptized as an infant in the Catholic Church who has reached catechetical age and has not received the sacrament of Eucharist with his/her peer group follows a process that will lead to the celebration of the Eucharist at a time designated by the parish, preferably a Sunday of the Easter season.

A child baptized as an infant in the Catholic Church who has reached catechetical age and has not received the sacrament of Confirmation with his/her peer group follows a process that will lead to the celebration of the sacrament at the time that Confirmation is administered in the parish by the bishop.

RCIA Documentation Library

RCIA Registration Database

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