Sacraments for Adults

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults - RICA

Q: How Do Adults Become Catholic?

A: Through the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
Read on for more questions and answers about the RCIA journey of faith…

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the process designed for adults who—after hearing the mystery of Christ proclaimed—freely seek the living God, and desire to enter the way of faith and conversion as the Holy Spirit opens their hearts.

Q: Who is the RCIA for?

A: The process is for adults and older teens who:· are not baptized and seek to be welcomed into the Catholic Church and its way of life and faith in Jesus Christ through Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist;
 
· were baptized in another Christian denomination and now seek full communion with the Catholic Church through the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist;
 
· or were Baptized Catholic, but who have not been catechized and now desire to complete their initiation through the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist;
 
· RCIA-Adapted for Children is for families with children age 7 & up who are not baptized seeking to become Catholic.
 
If you are a fully catechized practicing Catholic who desires Confirmation, we invite you to attend special sessions that prepare you for the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Spring. 

Q: What does the RCIA involve?

A: The RCIA is a gradual process that takes place within the community of the faithful. The process includes reflection on a person's individual faith journey and is structured so as to allow time for the person's questions about the Christian faith and the Catholic way of life. It is a spiritual journey, marked by celebrations (or rites) during Mass and witnessed by the faith community. These rites mark the participant's progress as they reach points of their deepening faith on the way to full initiation into the Catholic Church. For most people, the process involves a commitment from the Fall through the Easter Season of the next Spring, concluding with Pentecost Sunday. While the RCIA is a process centered on experiencing God in community, we also work to meet individual needs. If, at any time, a person is not ready to take the next step, that decision is respected. All "marriage impediments" must be resolved before any of the three sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation or Eucharist) can be celebrated. If you are unsure if this applies to you or your spouse, you should meet privately with your priest as soon as possible.

An Outline of the Process

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, or better know as RICA, is an active Ministry in our Parish of St. Denis.  Led by Deacon Rich and three other teachers, James Kelly, Beth Wojnas, and Dennis Driscoll, this group over the last several years has brought many adults and young people, either to rediscover our catholic faith or some converting from another church. 
We usually begin our classes in early September and meet once a week on Sunday mornings between Masses, until Holy Week.  At the Easter Vigil —the most solemn Liturgy of the Church year—is ordinarily when the Church receives its new members through Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.

Contact info

 We encourage anyone in the parish community who is at least seven years old and has not received the sacraments, to please contact Deacon Richard DesJardins at 978-343-6367, or E-Mail [email protected].