OCIA

Pastoral Challenges Implementing the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

Judi Hornback, RCIA Director, St. Pius X Catholic Church, Conyers GA

Implementing the RCIA process is not for the faint of heart.  There is no “one size fits all” Catechumenate.  The RCIA can be messy because we encounter individuals with unique stories and personal and pastoral need.  In addition, because God calls people at different times and for various reasons, we can expect challenges. 

Inquirers come to us desiring being able to participate fully in the Catholic Community.  Our task is to welcome them and provide support so they can encounter Jesus and ultimately become disciples too. 

Those who go on to become catechumens and candidates will need both the RCIA ministers and the parish community to accompany, encourage and show by example how the Scriptures and a life of prayer and service are the basis for a faith-filled life.  

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RCIA For Those With Special Needs

What do you do when you have a person who is unbaptized, over the age of 7, able to make decisions for himself /herself but has special needs?  The RCIA model is wholistic-addresses the whole person-and allows for numerous adaptations while focusing on formation and conversion within community. Here is a great article about a young man with autism and how the parish adapted the RCIA to meet his needs.

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Presentation of the Creed and The Lord’s Prayer

The Creed and the Lord’s Prayer are the heart of our faith. They embody what we believe and how we are to pray, which is why special liturgies are designed to hand on or to present both in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.

Since the early centuries, the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer have been presented to the elect in the weeks prior to Easter to help them prepare for baptism. Even today we present them just before Easter since their baptism will be preceded by a profession of faith using the words of the Creed and their sharing in the Eucharist will be preceded by their participation in praying the Lord’s Prayer.

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Marriage Issues in RCIA

Father Paul Turner writes a great blog about liturgy that recently included some posts relevant to RCIA.  Check out the links below and subscribe to his blog to learn and have your own questions answered. Irregular Marriage Divorced Confirmation or Marriage  Visit his blog and subscribe for updates! 

Year Round RCIA

This article was written by Lorraine Miller from St. Philip Benizi Parish Year-round RCIA I came into a parish with an established RCIA process that followed the school year schedule beginning in September and ending in May. Each year, however, I was uncomfortable telling people inquiring about the faith in …

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It Is All About the Journey: An Overview of The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults

by Kathy Kuczka

Growing up in Western Pennsylvania, we spent many summer vacations traveling to visit relatives in New York. Uncle Frank was always the one at the wheel. He made sure we were up way before the crack of dawn so that we could get an early start. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why in the world we had to leave so early. We were on vacation after all, and as far as I was concerned, we didn’t have to be in New York at any time in particular. But according to Uncle Frank, “We have to make good time.”

There is a little Uncle Frank in all of us. We want to get to our destination as quickly as possible. We have become so driven toward destiny that we have forgotten how to enjoy the journey.

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