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Christian Initiation at All Saints: Leading to Discipleship and Following Jesus with Our Lives
Much has changed in the world over the past several months, and for many people, the crises of 2020 have provided an opportunity for self-reflection and a search for meaning. And for some, it has led them to seek something more — something they have found in faith and the Catholic Church.
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults process (RCIA) is an opportunity for people interested in learning more about the faith to prepare to receive the Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. In some cases, there are also those who have been baptized, and come to the Church, seeking to be fully initiated, receiving the Sacraments of Confirmation and/or Eucharist. The process varies in length, based on the needs of the individual preparing for the sacraments, but is typically one year. For children who are older than 7 and have not been baptized, the RCIA for children is a two-year process, adapted to their needs.
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“RCIA is a process that leads people to discipleship and following Jesus with their lives,” says Sister Mary Paul Haase, Coordinator of RCIA. “It’s a process that includes worship with the community, study of the Scripture and catechesis of the Church, and an aspect of serving the community.”
Typically, the formation process includes weekly Sunday catechesis, following attending Mass together as a group. However, since the start of the pandemic, the RCIA Inquiry sessions for adults have been meeting via Zoom, and will continue to do so into the new school year. The formation is primarily focused on the four pillars of the Catechism, what we believe, our sacraments, morality and prayer. A group of volunteer catechists assist Sr. Mary Paul, sharing these teachings.
“I hope they come to a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and want to follow Him with their life,” Sr. Mary Paul says. “I hope that they are deeply touched by the beauty of the Church and the Church’s teachings, and have the help of the sacraments to live their lives to be saints.”
Sponsors also play an important role in this process. Serving as mentors and intercessors, they are fully-initiated Catholics, who journey alongside catechumens (unbaptized) and candidates (receiving Confirmation and/or First Eucharist) through their formation. In a particular way, since formation now takes place remotely, sponsors serve to provide one-on-one support to their catechumen or candidate, answering questions, and praying with and for them.
“The sponsor is a fully initiated Catholic who loves their faith and wants to welcome and journey with inquirers who are considering becoming Catholic,” Sr. Mary Paul says. “Candidates and catechumens feel more connected to the parish through what the sponsor shares with them about their own life experience and their own faith journey.”
Sr. Mary Paul encourages active parishioners who are looking for a way to become involved in service, even as most ministries remain on hiatus, to consider being a sponsor, walking with someone preparing to enter the Church.
“[A good sponsor] is someone who has had a real encounter with Jesus, has a life of prayer, wants an authentic Christian community and wants to serve the parish in the way of sponsoring a new person,” Sr. Mary Paul says. “They don’t have to know all the answers, but they have a deep love [of God].”
Although most catechumens receive their Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil and candidates are fully initiated shortly thereafter, this year was obviously a bit different. However, after months of waiting, they were able to celebrate the Sacraments in May.
Sr. Mary Paul encourages those who would like to explore the Catholic faith or prepare to receive Sacraments of Initiation to consider joining RCIA. She also offers a reminder that there is no commitment and people are able to grow and learn at their own pace.
“Don’t be afraid to make a phone call, send an email to find out more,” Sr. Mary Paul says. “Do not be afraid. Take the next step. It’s beautiful. Our faith is good, true and beautiful, and it’s life-changing and it fills us. It’s the answer to every question we may have in our hearts. Don’t be afraid to take the next step.”
