Return to Faith Formation
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Rite of Christian
Initiation of Adults (RCIA):
The Christian Initiation process is for:
- The unbaptized. The primary focus of the Rite is on
those who are not already Christian and have not been catechized. They
are referred to as catechumens.
Read about the Rite of
Accepting Unbaptized.
- Baptized but uncatechized. Those who have been
baptized either as Roman Catholics or as members of another Christian
community but did not receive further catechetical formation or
instruction. These typically have also not celebrated confirmation nor
Eucharist.
Read about Rite of
Welcoming Baptized.
- Those seeking full Catholic Communion. These are
baptized, practicing Christians from other denominations who seek entry in
the Catholic Church. They are referred to as candidates.
At St. Mark we have an ongoing process for welcoming
inquirers. That means that we are willing to meet with them whenever they
call or inquire. Inquirers are interviewed and given material to start them
on their journey; whether that takes 6 weeks or 3 years. They are
introduced to other Catholics and we begin answering their questions in
informal inquiry sessions throughout the year. In the fall those wishing to
continue begin a more intense period of instruction rooted in the Lectionary
and the Word as it is proclaimed in the midst of the community.
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The initiation Rite is based on the principle that the
process of conversion proceeds gradually, in stages. Progress from one
stage to the next is marked by a liturgical celebration in the midst of the
parish community. The experience and needs of each person differs, and so
the length of time may vary for each person.
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- Unbaptized adults are baptized, confirmed and
receive First Eucharist at the Easter Vigil.
Those who have already been baptized and catechized
in another faith tradition receive instruction and are brought into full
communion throughout the year at a Sunday celebration.
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