THE RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults assists women and men into a loving relationship with Jesus Christ. RCIA offers a fully-structured process of discernment, learning, and liturgy, through which Christ touches people to convert them to Himself as members of the Catholic Church.

Adults who are not baptized, adults baptized in other Christian churches, and baptized adult Catholics who seek First Eucharist and Confirmation join a loving community in which they learn, pray and worship together. Generally, at the Easter Vigil each adult receives Sacraments and full reception into the Catholic Church.

RCIA sessions are held each Tuesday evening from 6:45 to 9:00 pm, September through late April. Several informal meetings for those interested during the summer months. Sessions are led by Fr. James Doran, O.M.V. (Parochial Vicar) and by Brian Repsher, Ph.D. (Director of Religious Education). Numerous volunteer teachers and sponsors from the Holy Ghost Community assist each week.

Those wishing to participate fully in RCIA must commit to attending the weekly sessions and to community worship on Sundays at the 12:00 Noon Mass, beginning in November through the Easter Vigil. In addition, RCIA offers numerous liturgical and social events throughout the year that incorporate each catechumen (non-baptized) or candidate (baptized) into the Catholic Church.

Catechumens and candidates must all seek the support of a sponsors who will help them through your journey. A sponsor must be a confirmed, practicing Roman Catholic who is officially registered in a Catholic parish. Candidates all must supply a copy of their baptismal certificate as soon as possible after the sessions begin in September.

Your journey should begin with daily prayer and attending Mass each week. A book to help you learn Catholic doctrine, and other learning and devotional literature, will be supplied to you during the sessions over the course of instruction.

CONTACT BRIAN REPSHER ANYTIME FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BECOMING CATHOLIC.

CONVERSION PROCESS OF ADULTS

1 – Hearing the Gospel

“My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” (Luke 8:20,21)

2- Believing

“If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him form the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

3 – Repenting of Sins

“Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the
third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all nations…” (Luke 24:46,47)

4 – Confessing Christ

“Everyone who acknowledges me before others, I will acknowledge before my
heavenly Father.” (Matthew 10:31)

5 – Being Baptized

“As many of you as were baptized into Christ, have clothed yourself with Christ.”
(Galatians 3:27)

“If we have died with him, we will also live with him.” (2 Timothy 2:11)

6 – Living in Trust

“He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, ‘Amen I say to you,
unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of
Heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom
of Heaven.” (Matthew 18:2-4)

“Trust in God, trust also in me.” (John 14:1)

7 – Living in Compassion

Matthew 25:31-46

“I give you a new Commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know you are my disciples, if
you have love for one another.” (John 13: 34,35)

Conversion is ongoing. Jesus continues to call all the baptized to continuing interior conversion and penance. Interior conversion is a radical reorientation of our whole life, a turning to God, avoidance of sin. The Grace of God eases the hardness of hearts and restores us to Himself and helps us to renew ourselves and to reconnect the separation from Him.

Adult Confirmation

If you are a baptized Catholic who has already been catechized and received First Communion but not Confirmation, please contact Brian Repsher for information on preparation for Confirmation. In general, adult confirmands will receive confirmation from the Bishop when he visits our parish to confirm our youth.

Adult Catechesis

Holy Ghost Church offers numerous opportunities each year for adult Catholics to learn more about and enrich their faith. We offer courses and seminars on a variety of topics by a variety of expert speakers. Check back for upcoming courses and events!