I want to join the Catholic Church. How do I proceed?

RCIA stands for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. The RCIA flows from Vatican II which guides the process by which adults are initiated into the Roman Catholic community. The RCIA is not a program. It is a process in which men and women are guided and cared for as they awaken in faith and are gradually introduced to the Catholic way of life. This journey of faith is similar to the one people made when joining the early Church communities. Today’s revised process calls on the entire community for involvement and prayerful support.

The RCIA process is marked by liturgical rites in the presence of the whole community in which new Catholics embark on, and join us in a continuing and deepening conversion into faith and discipleship. The RCIA takes the distinctive history and spiritual needs of each person into account including differences between the baptized and the unbaptized.

Conversion is the process of turning over one’s life and energies to God. We know from our own lives and experience that conversion is an ongoing, lifelong process of personal spiritual growth, as well as a social process in which we strengthen and draw strength from others. Caring for people in the midst of this life-changing experience is the goal of the RCIA ministry.

The presence of even one catechumen in a parish is sufficient to awaken a renewal of faith in the whole community. Each parish as it sends forth a message about its life, needs to become more and more aware of what it is communicating. The seeking of the catechumens challenges all of us to continue our own journey of searching out the face of God.

The program at St. Justin’s begins in September and runs until Easter every Tuesday from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. If you are interested in proceeding contact Fr. Joe through the parish office.