Are you an adult, interested in joining the Catholic Church?

You don't know where to start, what to do? RCIA is the answer!

What is RCIA?

RCIA stands for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. It is the official process through which adults are initiated into full participation in the Catholic Church, including baptism, confirmation, and communion.

How does it work?

Every year between October and April, an RCIA group meets at St. James, to share faith experiences and learn the teachings of the Church. Usually, there are about 30 people seeking initiation. Each is paired with a sponsor, someone who is a full member of the Church and who leads the candidate through the process. There is also an RCIA team, made up of ten people who lead the weekly sessions.

Do I need a sponsor?

Every candidate needs a sponsor and it is a rewarding experience if your sponsor is someone you know, such as a Catholic friend or spouse. Every year, however, about half of the candidates do not have a specific sponsor in mind. In those cases, the RCIA team will pair a candidate with a sponsor, drawn from a list of volunteers from St. James. We will find a sponsor if you need one!

What happens at RCIA?

The RCIA group meets weekly between October and April. The weekly meetings last two hours, although there are no meetings during the Christmas season. In addition, there are several special events, including a weekend retreat in the spring.

The meetings do two things: teach the candidates about the Catholic Church, and allow sponsors, candidates, and t eam members alike to share their faith experiences. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic, such as the Scripture, social teaching of the Church, or the meaning of the Eucharist. The process ends with baptisms, confirmations, and first communions in a beautiful ceremony the night before Easter.

Isn't seven months too long?

No! It's too short! Candidates, sponsors, and team members become friends over this time and most hate to see it end. And there is a great deal of material to be covered, from the history of the church to the meaning of various liturgies.

Okay, I want to join. What do I do?

The first meeting of RCIA will be at the Memorial Center on Wednesday, October 1, 2008, at 7:30 PM (please come about 7:15 on this first meeting for registration.) Between now and October 1, you may call Father Bong or leave a message for the RCIA team at (530) 756-3636. An RCIA team member will call you back and will be able to give you additional information about the various stages of the RCIA program. There is no cost for the program, except for a fee for the weekend retreat and the text for the process. There will be additional information about RCIA between now and October 1, in the Bulletin and in the Scroll.