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Welcome!
INTERESTED IN BECOMING CATHOLIC?
This page explains the process by which one can, through St. Leo the Great and St. Benedict’s RCIA Teams, learn more about becoming a member of the Catholic faith. We hope this information is helpful to you!
RCIA: RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR ADULTS
WHAT IS RCIA?
RCIA is a journey and an invitation toward becoming a member of the Catholic faith. It includes several stages marked by study, prayer and rites at Mass.
Participants in the RCIA process are known as catechumens.
WHO IS IT FOR?
- Those who have never been baptized in a faith tradition
- Those baptized in a faith tradition other than Catholic
- Those baptized Catholic as infants, who have been inactive since that time, and have not received the Sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation
- Those baptized Catholic as infants, who have received their First Holy Communion but have not been received the Sacrament of Confirmation
SCHEDULE:
RCIA Team meets on Wednesdays at 7pm. Sessions begin September through April on a fairly weekly basis.
INTERESTED? CONTACT US:
Please contact the Director of RCIA at St. Leo the Great: Mrs. Dawn M. Iacono
716-866-8932 x12 or diacono@stleothegreatamherst.com
Our staff would be delighted to speak with you further and answer any questions you may still have. Know that the prayers of a 65 million Catholics in the United States and the 1.2 Billion Catholics around the world are with you as you complete your journey.
TESTIMONIES OF NEW CATHOLICS WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH RCIA:
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE RCIA PROCESS
HOW DO I BECOME CATHOLIC?
Christian Initiation of Adults and Children (7 and older) is a process designed to inquire and enter into the Catholic faith. The process involves:
Pre-Catechumenate (Inquiry)
This is a time of no fixed duration for those seeking an introduction to the Catholic Faith and Gospel values. It is a time to ask questions about God, Christ, the Church, its structure and teachings.
Catechumenate
This is the major time for formation—a time for nurturing the growth of faith and conversion to God. It may last up to one year for those who are not baptized.
Purification and Enlightenment (Lent)
This is the time immediately preceding initiation, coinciding usually with the
season of Lent. It is a time of reflection, marked by celebration of certain rites helping to prepare a person for the sacraments of initiation.
Celebration of the Sacraments
For those who are not baptized, this is the rite, normally celebrated at the Easter Vigil, where a person is initiated through receiving sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist.
Mystagogy
This is the time, usually the Easter season, during which the newly initiated experience being fully a part of the Christian community through participation in the Sunday Eucharist, and through reflection on the experience of receiving the sacraments.[/vc_column_text][vc_gallery interval=”3″ images=”12887,12874,12875,12883,12884,12886″ img_size=”800×400″][vc_gallery interval=”3″ images=”12869,12870,12861,12863,12859,12854″ img_size=”800×400″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id=”ca-sidebar-8287″][subtitle type=”4″ subtitle_content=”LATEST NEWS”][latestnews type=”2″ category=”faith-formation” scount=”3″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]