|
Is
there a cost for participating in RCIA? |
|
Yes.
This includes the complete "Journey of Faith"
series and a New American Bible. You are
welcome to bring your own note taking materials if you
wish. You are also welcome to contribute snacks from
time to time. |
|
When may I start?
|
| Any time.
You will meet with the Inquiry Team until you are
comfortable joining us. |
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I'm
not much of a student. Is this a "class"?
|
| It
shouldn't be. We stay away from words like "class". We
want you to become better acquainted with God on a
personal level. There are no tests, no grades. The goal
is conversion, a "change of heart". |
|
Who
is the RCIA for? |
| First, it
is for those who have never been baptized in the
Christian faith. Second, it is for those who are
baptized (in another Christian denomination or in the
Catholic Church) but would like to find out what it means to be a Catholic Christian. |
|
May
I bring a friend? |
| Yes, we
encourage it! As a matter of fact, spouses, fiancés, and
sponsors are especially encouraged to join us on a
regular basis. |
|
Why
does the title use "Rite"? |
A rite is
a public religious celebration. We celebrate a number of
rites during the year as a part of our RCIA experience.
Each Sunday, we celebrate the Rite of Dismissal when our
candidates are dismissed with the prayers of the
assembly at the 9:00 a.m. Mass.
The Rite of Acceptance (for those not yet baptized) and
The Rite of Welcome (for the baptized) celebrate your
decision to seriously pursue membership in the Catholic
community.
In the Rite of Election, our bishop formally welcomes
you to the Church and declares that you are among the
"Elect"; that is, the chosen ones. We celebrate this on
the first Sunday of Lent, after the parish has given you
a prayerful send off in the Rite of Sending.
The Rites of Initiation celebrate your entry into "full
communion" with the Catholic faithful.
There are other rites that present the Nicene Creed and
the Lord's Prayer also. |
|
I
am a shy person. It is very hard for me to stand up in a
public gathering. |
|
Faith involves taking risks. Keep in mind that
you will never be doing this alone. You will
always be a part of a group and most times, your
sponsor will be with you. Also, the assembly
where this takes place is made up of friendly
people who really care about you. |
|
Do
I need a sponsor? |
| Yes. The
best sponsor is one who has received the sacraments of
Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. If you don't know
of anyone to ask, we will be happy to introduce you to
someone within our group. We strongly encourage your
sponsor to attend the RCIA sessions with you. |
|
I
have children and teens that aren't members of the
church either. What about them? |
We have a
Children's Initiation process, for those who are ages 7
to 18. It meets on Wednesday afternoons at the same time
that after school religious education sessions take
place. It is coordinated through the Director of
Religious Education. More information may be obtained
from the Religious Education office at 847.746.3744. The children
and adult leaders cooperate closely so that families can
celebrate the rites together.
Children under the age of 7 may be baptized along with
their parents or older siblings at the Easter Vigil or
Feast of Christ the King. The celebration of
Confirmation and Eucharist for these younger children
(under age 7) will be held at a later time during
regular religious education sessions. |
|
I
have been through a divorce. Will this stand in the way
of my becoming a Catholic? |
If you have been divorced and not remarried,
this will not stand in the way of your becoming
Catholic. If you have been divorced and
remarried, there is a process by which we can
grant you a declaration of freedom to many in
the Catholic Church, and through which your
current marriage can be recognized in the
Catholic Church. Please contact Arden Robinson
at 262.658.0286 or by email at
www.ardensue@aol.com for more information on this process.
|
|
What if I get started and decide this isn't for me?
|
Faith in
God and the decision to become a member of the Catholic
Church are personal choices that must be made in an
atmosphere of complete freedom.
We will try our best to help you understand what it
means to be a Catholic Christian. But we sincerely
believe that you must be allowed to use God's gifts of
conscience and free will without feeling any pressure
from us. We will respect your decision, whatever it
is. |
|
Who
may attend the RCIA?
|
|
Basically anyone....Persons who have never been baptized as Christians.
Persons who have been baptized in another Christian
faith tradition and are now interested in the Catholic
tradition.
Persons who were baptized in the Catholic tradition but
not raised as Catholics.
Catholics who would like to rejuvenate their faith.
|
|
How
long does it take to become a Catholic? |
The RCIA is not a program. It is a process of
preparation for the lifetime commitment that comes with
reception into the Church. Some people will need more
time than others to prepare for this. The usual length
of preparation is approximately one year. The initiation
of new members ordinarily takes place at the Easter
Vigil each year.
|
|
What topics are discussed? |
The weekly sessions cover a broad range of topics
because our Catholic beliefs encompass the whole fabric
of our lives. Material is presented which can help
address such questions as:
Who is Jesus Christ?
What is the meaning of life and death?
Why does God love me?
How can I understand the Bible?
How can I pray?
|
|
I
think I am interested, but I am still hesitant...what
should I do? |
|
If there is some concern or reason that you are
reluctant to begin the RCIA, please feel free to contact Arden Robinson
at 262.658.0286 or by email at
www.ardensue@aol.com for more information. |
