R E S O U R C E S
R E S O U R C E S
SAN DIEGO — Why do non-Catholic adults choose to enter the Catholic Church through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) process?
Despite the many people who follow this path, each bringing their own life experiences, there is really only one answer to this question: Because they have been called.
God the Father has called them, they have come to understand that Jesus loves them unconditionally, and the Holy Spirit has led them to their true spiritual home in the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
Approximately 18 months ago, catechumens and candidates from throughout the Diocese of San Diego began their journey through the RCIA. It is a process and journey of conversion in which participants inquire if this is the church for them. Through discernment, with the guidance of the pastor and RCIA team, they celebrate the Rite of Acceptance.
During the RCIA process, catechumens — those who are not baptized — and candidates — those baptized in other faiths — meet weekly with their parish RCIA team. They break open the Word of God heard each Sunday, study the teachings of the Catholic faith and make a final decision to enter the Church.
With great joy, the parish celebrates the Rite of Sending on the first Sunday of Lent, when the pastor and parishioners send them out to meet with Bishop Robert H. Brom.
This year, Bishop Brom will celebrate the Rite of Election with 345 adult catechumens and 43 children and the Rite of Continuing Conversion with 998 adult candidates and 16 children. With accompanying pastors, sponsors, godparents and team members, more than 4,100 people are expected to participate in this year’s Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion, which will be held Feb. 21.
After the Rite of Election, catechumens are known as the Elect. They and the candidates return to their parishes for a final six weeks of Purification and Enlightenment during the season of Lent. They begin their final preparations toward baptism and full communion, which will take place at the Easter Vigil.
The journey of the Elect and the candidates will not end with their entrance into the Catholic Church. Like all Catholics, they will be called to a life of growing fidelity to God and to the demands of the Christian life. Meanwhile, their fellow parishioners will be called to lead by example and to serve as a mentoring community to the neophytes.
The Southern Cross
This article appears in the February 2010 issue of The Southern Cross.