- through all those stages of asking and seeking,
- through beginning involvement with Christian/Catholic people,
- through hearing the Gospel proclaimed and by faithful reflection and prayer on this Word of God,
- through study and discussion about the Catholic experience,
- through doubts and hesitations,
- through involvement in the works of charity and justice with those already committed to the catholic way of life,
- through discernment of God's call for them as individuals,
- through the steps of commitment,
- through the sacraments of initiation (baptism, confirmation, and eucharist)
- to a life of faith, love, and justice lived in communion with Catholics throughout the world.
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Conversion, a gradual process
The R.C.I.A. contains main stages or phases:
- The Period of Inquiry (Also known as the time of Evangelization or Pre-Catechumenate),
- Catechumenate,
- Period of Purification and Enlightenment/Scrutinies,
- The Paschal Triduum with the Sacraments of Initiation and
- Mystagogical Catechesis.
The Period of Inquiry
- Period of Inquiry has as its purpose a time
- to become acquainted with the catholic Church and
- to hear the good news of salvation from Jesus Christ our Savior;
- it is a time to look within at one's one life story and see connections to or needs for the gospel story of good news.
- During this period, the gospel of Jesus is proclaimed, and inquirers look within their own story to make and mark connections.
- This reflective process becomes a continuing, on-going method.
Period of the Catechumenate
- Period of catechumenate embodies the first stages of commitment leading to full
membership.
For a person to enter this phase, s/he must already have come to faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and sincerely desire to become members of the Catholic Church. - During this phase, the catechumens now gather with the Catholic community on Sundays for
the first part of the mass, during which, together, we hear the Scriptures, respond to
them, and reflect on the meaning of God's Word for us personally and as community through
the homily.
After the homily, catechumens are dismissed , and with their Catechist, continue a process of reflection and application of the Scriptures to their own lives. - During this period, the initial conversion is deepened and appropriated; the person
comes to know more and more deeply the love of God in their own lives and in the midst of
the church community.
This period, too, lasts as long as the person needs it to last, from a few months to several years, if necessary. - For the unbaptized, this phase must normally last 12 months.
Period of Purification or Illumination
- The Period of Purification corresponds to that time known in the Catholic Church as
Lent,
the six-weeks of preparation for Easter become the days of prayerful time for catechumens and candidates,
who are now known as the Elect, as they prepare for the moment of welcome as full members and are established as such by the Sacraments of Initiation. - This period is begun by the Rite of election, usually celebrated at the Cathedral
Church with the Diocesan Bishop; by this rite they are accepted as candidates for the
Sacraments by the Bishop, representing the fact that this decision is not theirs alone.
Normally this rite takes place on the first Sunday of Lent. - Throughout Lent, special prayers are offered at the Sunday Eucharist for the catechumens
and candidates; they are called scrutinies; these prayers for strengthening in grace and
virtue and for purification from all past evil and from any bonds which hinder them from
experiencing the love of God.
Throughout this period, the Elect are invited to join with the whole Church in a deeper practice of works of charity and in the practice of fasting. - The Sacraments of Initiation are celebrated at the Easter Vigil, an extended night-watch
of prayer, singing and hearing the Word of God.
- By the waters of baptism, a person passes into the new life of grace and becomes a
member of the Body of Christ.
- Anointing with special holy oil called chrism seals the initiation by the power of the
Holy Spirit and participation at the Table of the Lord in the eucharist marks full
membership in the church.
Celebrating the Sacraments of Initiation
Period of Mystagogy
Those who have just shared in the sacraments of initiation are now called Neophytes and during this period of Easter joy they reflect on what they have just gone through and look to the future as to how they can now share in the mission of Christ who came to bring salvation and life to the whole world.This period of time reminds the whole church that life in Christ constantly calls us to grow and to look for new ways to live the life of grace, personally and together.
How long does it take?
For that reason some people will need more time than others to prepare for the lifetime commitment that comes with membership in the Catholic Church.The usual length of preparation is from one to two years.For those already baptized and who seek full communion in the Catholic church, the time may also vary.the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ."