"Lord, God You created us And you give us life. Bless these children and add them to your family. May they be joyful in the life you won for us Through Christ our Lord." AMEN
Prayer over the Elect – Rite of Election
In the case of children who have reached the age of reason, the proper pastor should be consulted for information about Baptism and the other Sacraments of Initiation.
RCIA is not for adult candidates for confirmation who have already received their First Eucharist in the Catholic Church. They should have their own formation process and be confirmed at a celebration other than the Easter Vigil.
In the early days of the Church, small Christian communities took individuals into their group of believers and introduced them to their way of life. In those days, persecution of Christians was prevalent. Newcomers knew that commitment to this faith could lead them to imprisonment and death. Still, many longed to be members of this group.
By the 2nd and 3rd Centuries, initiation into the faith began to take on formal shape. This was the beginning of a “catechumenate.” Roman Emperor Constantine made the Christian Religion legal in 313 A.D. At that time, large numbers of men and women desired to join the Christian Community. Unfortunately, the quality of their preparation and catechesis was deficient.
By the 5th Century, most of the Western World professed to be Christian. Infant baptism was the traditional way by which one entered the Catholic Church. The period of "catechumenate" basically vanished until the 20th Century.
In the 20th Century, catechumenal structures began to be revived in Africa and in France. Catholic missionaries recognized the need for Christian traditions to be established in foreign countries. In France, problems arose because of the large number of non-practicing Catholics. At the Secpmd Vatican Council, the bishops voted to formally restore the catechumenate, with a vote of 2,165 Yesses, and only nine No’s (and one null vote). In 1966, the provisional ritual was published. This was followed by a second draft in 1969 distributed for experimentation.
In 1972 the Vatican promulgated the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, and in 1986 the United States bishops approved additions to the Order and National Statutes and a national plan for implementation. In 1988 in the United States, the implementation of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults became mandatory for all at the age of reason or older who have not yet been baptized.
The Diocese of Shreveport requires every parish or mission to provide RCIA instruction for individuals over the age of six who are seeking entrance into the Church. In certain cases, the Diocesan Office of Catechetics and Worship will provide training and assistance for RCIA teams, and keep in contact with team leaders for resources and updates.
The period of Inquiry is a time for:
More importantly, it is a time for:
We read the Sunday Gospel for the week and discuss what it means to us in our lives.
We also discuss topics such as:
Through this time the individual, now welcomed into the faith begins the process of conversion - learning more about Catholic belief and his or her responsibility to God’s call.
The period of study (Catechumenate) is a time for:
More importantly, it is a time for:
We continue to read the Sunday Gospel for the week and discuss what it means to us in our lives. We also discuss topics such as:
This time immediately precedes the Elect’s initiation. It is a time of reflection – intensely centered on conversion and on preparation for the rites on Holy Saturday.
The period of purification and enlightenment is a time for:
We continue to read the Sunday Gospel for the week and discuss what it means to us in our lives. We also learn about:
Now, through the Easter Season and beyond the newly initiated experience being full members of the Christian community by means of mystagogy, participation in parish ministry and sharing the Sunday Eucharistic celebrations.
The period of mystagogia is a time for:
We also discuss:
We read the Sunday Gospel for the 8 weeks of the Easter season, including Pentecost, and discuss what it means to us in our lives.
To learn more, please contact our Parish Office.