Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a process of prayer, reflection, and learning that allows for the continual discernment of God’s will in our lives. No matter where you are on your faith journey, there is a place for you at St. Joan of Arc!
Many people inquire about becoming Catholic for many different reasons. Phase one of the journey starts in the heart of the seeker and continues in a small inquiry group where questions are raised and discussed freely. We call it a process because, like any faith journey, each one’s pace is unique. The general process that the Catholic Church uses to initiate adults is based on the same process that the early Christians used during the early centuries of Christianity. Full initiation takes place with the reception of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion.
Even if you’re not ready to become Catholic, but want answers, RCIA is a great place to get them.
Are you an adult who is un-baptized or belongs to another Christian Church and is thinking about becoming Catholic or have questions about the Catholic Church?
Are you an adult Catholic who has only been baptized and would like to become a full member of the Catholic Church?
Are you a Catholic who has never been confirmed?
If you answered yes to these questions or have more questions and want to sign up, contact Don Friesen at 303.420.1232 for more information.
Sessions begin in October and conclude at the Easter Vigil and are held in Orleans Hall on Tuesdays from 7:00-8:30 P.M.
Becoming Catholic is one of life’s most profound and joyous experiences. Some are blessed enough to receive this great gift while they are infants, and, over time, they recognize the enormous grace that has been bestowed on them. Others enter the Catholic fold when they are older children or adults. This tract examines the joyful process by which one becomes a Catholic.
A person is brought into full communion with the Catholic Church through reception of the three sacraments of Christian initiation—Baptism, Confirmation, and the Holy Communion—but the process by which one becomes a Catholic can take different forms.
A person who is baptized in the Catholic Church becomes a Catholic at that moment. One’s initiation is deepened by Confirmation and the Eucharist, but one becomes a Catholic at baptism. This is true for children who are baptized Catholic (and receive the other two sacraments later) and for adults who are baptized, confirmed, and receive the Eucharist at the same time.
Those who have been validly baptized outside the Church become Catholics by making a profession of the Catholic faith and being formally received into the Church. This is normally followed immediately by confirmation and the Eucharist.
Before a person is ready to be received into the Church, whether by Baptism or by profession of faith, preparation is necessary. The amount and form of this preparation depends on the individual’s circumstance. The most basic division in the kind of preparation needed is between those who are unbaptized and those who have already become Christian through baptism in another church.
For children who have reached the age of reason (age seven), entrance into the Church is governed by the Order of Christian Initiation for Children (OCIC) or Order of Christian Initiation for Teens (OCIT).
From time to time it’s important to remind ourselves of the basic questions at the heart of our faith. Whether you’re a longtime Catholic or someone looking to learn more about the Catholic faith, we think you will find the quick videos below informative and inspiring.