This is the third in a series of articles on the places, postures, and gestures in the Rite of Welcoming the Candidates. The signing of the candidates with the cross is one of the most visually dramatic elements of the Rite of Welcoming the Candidates (RCIA nos. 421-423; Canada nos. 474-475). Even though they are […]
RCIA Rite of Welcome: Signing the Candidates
This is the fourth in a series of articles on the places, postures, and gestures in the Rite of Welcoming the Candidates. The first placement of the candidates in the Rite of Welcoming the Candidates is at the Greeting (RCIA no. 417; Canada no. 408). The presider invites the candidates and their sponsors to step
RCIA Rite of Welcome: Greeting the Candidates
When unbaptized inquirers take the first formal step on their initiation journey, we celebrate the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens with them. The celebration of that rite changes their status within the community. When baptized inquirers are ready to make a formal beginning, we have the option of celebrating the Rite of
Places, postures, and gestures in the RCIA Rite of Welcome
Here is a quote that might surprise you: If the eucharist is to be celebrated, the catechumens are normally dismissed at this point…. Why is that surprising, you might wonder. Isn’t it normal to dismiss catechumens before the Eucharist? It is surprising, for some of us, because the statement comes at the end of the
A powerful conversion process for baptized candidates in the RCIA
What would you say if I told you that most people who are in the RCIA do not belong there? I’ve had this feeling for a while, and it just keeps getting stronger. For most of us, the majority of the people in our catechumenate processes are either Protestants who want to become Catholic or
Why your candidates might not belong in the RCIA
One of the things I love about the catechumenate is the sense of community that happens within the formation group. The team bonds more closely together, inquirers take that “leap of faith” together in the Rite of Acceptance, baptized candidates share their common love of Christ and how they find the fullest expression of that
Should inquirers be joining “the RCIA”?
Can I get your thoughts on what the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults means by uncatechized? We get a lot of questions about the rites that arise from differing understandings of what we mean by this term. For example, we often hear from folks who are trying to figure out what to do with
What does the RCIA mean by “uncatechized”?
What would be the requirements for one of our inquirers to become a Catholic? Would she have to go through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)? She was baptized, received first Communion, and was confirmed as a Lutheran. She is married to a Catholic, and she was married by a Catholic priest. She
What are the requirements in the RCIA for a Lutheran becoming Catholic?
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults includes a Rite of Welcoming the Candidates as an optional rite that welcomes baptized but previously uncatechized adults (411). However, there is no rite for welcoming baptized catechized adults. As a result, the catechized candidates are often folded into the welcoming rite for the uncatechized. Free download: An
An alternative Rite of Welcome
