Joining the Catholic Church.
Each year significant numbers of people join the Catholic Church. Some have never been baptised, others baptised but not in the Catholic Church, and still others were baptised Catholic but did not continue as Catholics.
What leads to the decision to belong to our Church? Various things such as
- friends - a friendly parish
- Sacraments - marriage, baptism and other sacraments of the children
- Catholic schools and parish programmes
- The need for support at critical times
- The emptiness of life withoug belonging to a worshipping community
- The Catholic Enquiry Centre, the media icluding the internet getting rid of prejudices and getting to know more
- Through a priest etc, etc.
Since we believe that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and since it is easily recognised that the Catholic Church is the Mother Church, the Hahi Matua, it is not surprising than many people choose to become Catholic. Rather, the surprise would be if many did not discover the Church year by year.
Outline of the RCIA/RCIC Process (seems rather complex but enjoyable and rewarding in practice! Even the titles need to be explained:
RCIA - Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
RCIC Rite of Christian Initiation o f Children)
PERIOD OF PRE CATECHUMENATE
This is a time, of no fixed duration or structure, for enquiry and introduction to Gospel values, an opportunity for the beginnings of faith.
1st STEP: Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens
This is the liturgical rite marking the beginning of the Catechumenate proper, as the candidates express and the Church accepts their intention to respond to God’s call to follow the way of Christ.
Period of Catechumenate
This is the time for the nurturing and growth of the catechumens’ faith and conversion to God; celebrations of the Word and prayers and blessing are meant to assist the process.
2nd STEP: Election or Enrolment of Names
This is the liturgical rite, usually celebrated on the First Sunday of Lent, by which the Church formally ratifies the catechumens’ readiness for the sacraments of initiation and catechumens, now the elect, express the will to receive these sacraments.
Period of Purification and Enlightment
This is the time immediately preceding the elect’s initiation, usually the Lenten season preceding the celebration of the initiation at the Easter Vigil; it is a time of reflection, intensely centred on conversion, marked by celebration of the scrutinies and presentations and of the preparation rites on Holy Saturday.
3rd STEP: Celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation
This is the liturgical rite, usually integrated into the Easter Vigil, by which the elect are initiated through Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist.
Period of Mystagogy
This is the time, usually the Easter season, following the celebration of initiation, during which the newly initiated experience being fully a part of the Christian community by means of both pertinent catechesis and particularly by participation with all the faithful in the Sunday Eucharistic celebration.
In our parish we spread the word each June that we welcome applicants for the new RCIA journey that we are about to begin. By August we are ready for some pre-Catechumenate gatherings. These are open-ended - no commitment expected. They are rather in the nature of
Open House - come and see - and feel - what life among us is like
.
By September we are ready to celebrate
Entry into the Catechumenate for those who have decided to travel the journey of the Catechumenate
Emails expressing interest are welcome at any time.
Contacts: Fr Martin Bugler phone 420 8110.
bugler9@gmail.com
Jim Bolton phone 416 8305.
jimbo@pl.net
See more under
Sacraments - Sacraments: General.