Frequently Asked Questions about RCIA

What is RCIA?
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the process by which adults enter into full communion with the Catholic Church. Through a series of weekly evening sessions, participants are guided through a basic study of the Catholic faith and have the opportunity to ask questions, share their own faith journey, learn what it means to be Catholic, and open their lives to Jesus Christ. RCIA prepares men and women to make a conscious choice to receive the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation) through a prayerful study of Scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, lives of the saints, documents of the Church, etc. Baptized Catholics who need to be Confirmed and lifelong Catholics who want to learn more about the Catholic faith are most welcome.

What is the necessary time commitment for RCIA?
The RCIA group meets every Thursday evening from September 4 to Pentecost (in late May). This is the primary time commitment, though there may be additional commitments depending on the individual's place in the process. We recognize that people are very busy and cannot likely attend every meeting, but it's best to be present for as many as possible because each session builds upon earlier sessions. Because these are the most important questions a human being can ask, we invote all participants to make the RCIA process a high priority for the year.

What if I'm not sure I want to become Catholic or be Confirmed?
No problem! We know that many people are "testing the waters" at first and encourage taking these questions very seriously. The RCIA process is designed to allow people to make small commitments until they feel ready to "take the plunge"! Around December or January we invite participants to make a stronger commitment to the journey, but we will talk about what that means at each stage. Those who decide they're not ready are still welcome to attend our weekly sessions.

If I'm already a Confirmed Catholic, is RCIA right for me?
Many of us stopped learning about our faith when we received the Sacrament of Confirmation in our early teens. Confirmationw as supposed to be the time when we chose the Catholic faith for ourselves, but many of us later realize that we didn't know all that much about it. Many people don't really engage in our spiritual journey until much later in life, and we continue to wrestle with difficult questions and wonder how it all fits together. RCIA is an opportunity for these people to explore their faith as adults and see it through the eyes of those experiencing it for the first time.

Where can I go for more information?
Contact John Knutsen at (510) 316-0973 or jdknutsen@yahoo.com, or just come to one of our Thursday evening meetings.