St. Mary Magdalen Parish, Berkeley

"I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)

The Catholic Church is a living body -- Christ's body (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). To become Catholic is to become part of this body in a process that begins with Baptism and continues forever.

Ordinarily, an adult becomes Catholic through the process known as RCIA. Adult inquirers generally fall into one of three categories:

Those who are unbaptized;
Those who were baptized into the Catholic Church but had little or no affiliation with or religious education in the Catholic faith and/or did not receive First Communion or Confirmation at the usual age;
Those who were baptized in another Christian church or tradition, active or not.

Adult Catholics needing only the Sacrament of Confirmation and those who are fully initiated and simply wish to learn more about the Catholic faith are also welcome, though they may not require the full RCIA process. Much depends on an individual's background and previous religious education.

RCIA is not a class, nor is it a program. It is a process or journey of faith consisting of four main periods, separated by different rites of initiation:

Inquiry (Precatechumenate): This is the period of initial evangelization during which new inquirers are introduced to the person of Jesus Christ, who is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6). The Inquiry period centers on the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), which present the true "face of the Lord" (Psalm 27:8). This period can last any length of time but usually lasts about two or three months. There are no expectations; this is a time for asking our most pressing questions, sharing our life stories, and beginning to learn the fundamentals of the Catholic Faith. This period concludes when it is decided that an inquirer is ready to participate in the celebration of the Rite of Acceptance or the Rite of Welcoming.

Catechumenate: Following the Rite of Acceptance or the Rite of Welcoming, when one has decided to learn more about the Catholic faith and make a deeper commitment to the process, he or she enters the Catechumenate and becomes either a "candidate" (one validly baptized in a Christian church) or a "catechumen" (one preparing for Baptism). This period involves a comprehensive and systematic study of the truths of Catholic doctrine and moral life, based primarily on Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Catechumenate can last any length of time, but it usually begins in September and concludes with the celebration of the Rite of Election or the Call to Continuing Conversion.

Purification and Enlightenment: This third period coincides with the season of Lent, a six-week time in which all Catholics reflect on their need for ongoing conversion in preparation for Easter. This period of more intense spiritual preparation is the same in structure as the Catechumenate, culminating at the great Easter Vigil when new Catholics receive the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist).

Mystagogy: The term literally means "deepening in the mysteries." Once a person receives the Sacraments of Initiation, he or she becomes a full member of the Catholic Church. During the seven weeks from Easter to Pentecost, new Catholics continue to gather and reflect more deeply on the mysteries of the Catholic Faith, especially the Sacraments. They take their first steps as new Catholics, deepening their understanding of the Christian life and prayer and sharing their experience of faith. Mystagogy is a time for maturing faith and greater participation in the life of the Church.

You are most welcome to join us on this lifelong journey of faith!

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)

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