The Stages of the RCIA

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the process by which adults prepare for the sacraments of initiation -- baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist -- and become full members of the Catholic Church.

The process of becoming Catholic proceeds in four stages. Passage from one stage to the next is marked by a specific rite, a ceremony that is part of the public prayer (liturgy) of the Church. In order, these stages are:

1. Inquiry
2. Catechumenate
3. Purification and Enlightenment
4. Mystagogy

INQUIRY

Those who are discerning whether or not to become Catholic are in the stage of Inquiry. Since inquiry begins when you first start wondering about the Catholic Church, you might have been here for awhile. This is the time to begin attending Sunday Mass regularly, to get to know some Catholics, and to familiarize yourself with our faith and practice. 

It's important not to rush this stage. We encourage all inquirers to take their time to discern whether becoming Catholic is the best thing for them to undertake at the present moment. Some helpful signs that you might find yourself happy in the Catholic Church include the following:

• You feel drawn to the person, works, and teachings of Jesus Christ.
• Attending Mass each Sunday has become a foundational part of your week, and you find yourself nourished and strengthened by participating in our common worship.
• You turn regularly to God in prayer.
• You have a sense of how becoming Catholic might affect your personal, family, social, and work relationships.
• You have no serious reservations about affirming the major points of Catholic teaching and practice in your words and your actions.

To help you with this, we offer weekly Sunday inquiry sessions. These sessions provide a space for you to ask questions, to hear from others who are on similar journeys, and to get used to sharing your own faith experience. These sessions also help us get to know you, which becomes important as we chart the best way forward for you. 

Our Sunday inquiry sessions take place from 10-11am on Sunday morning in the Cursillo room, just down from the parish hall where coffee and donuts take place. These sessions only take place when when we know inquirers will be present, so if you would like to attend an inquiry session, please contact Jon Stotts at jon.stotts@ctk-nashville.org or 615.777.8910. 

CATECHUMENATE

Inquirers who are ready for a formal period of faith formation enter the  C atechumenate by means of a Rite of Acceptance or Rite of Welcoming, which normally takes place during the Sunday liturgy. This ritual celebrates an inquirer's intention to accept the teachings of the Gospel and the guidance of the Church. The ritual also confirms the community's willingness to provide guidance and support. Once inquirers celebrate the rite of acceptance/welcoming, they become either catechumens or candidates for full reception, and they begin the catechumenate stage.

We customarily celebrate a Rite of Acceptance / Welcoming when a number of inquirers:

• have provided documented evidence of baptism (unless unbaptized).
• have no serious reservations about Catholic teaching and practice.
• have been matched with a suitable sponsor who will accompany them for the duration of their formation.

RCIA formation sessions for catechumens and candidates take place on Sunday evenings after the 6:00pm Mass from 7:15pm-8:30pm. These sessions offer a space for prayer, faith sharing, and catechetical instruction.  In addition, all are encouraged to participate in parish activities and ministries as an apprenticeship in the Catholic way of life.
 

PURIFICATION AND ENLIGHTENMENT 

Lent is the season of preparation for baptism. For the unbaptized, this takes the form of the third stage of the RCIA, Purification and Enlightenment. This is a time of prayerful reflection and the celebration of preparatory Rites including the Rite of Sending, the Rite of Election, the Scrutinies, and Presentations of the Creed and the Lord's Prayer. 

For the baptized, the third stage of the RCIA refers to the final weeks leading up to initiation. During this time, candidates celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation for the first time, and they dedicate themselves to renewed prayer and preparation as they complete their initiation as Catholics.
 

MYSTAGOGY

The last phase of RCIA, mystagogy, begins with the celebration of Christian initiation through baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist. Mystagogy is a time of celebratory reflection on the mysteries we have celebrated and their meaning in the life of the new Catholic. Some special gatherings are scheduled to assist this process, which of course continues throughout the life of the new Catholic.

 

To find out more about the RCIA at Christ the King church, contact Jon Stotts at jon.stotts@ctk-nashville.org or 615-777-8910.