The process by which adults come into the Church is known as "RCIA", which is short for "The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults." This process was instituted for use in all parishes in the United States in 1988, and the provisional text of the Rite was in use in our country as early as1974.
Who is the process for?
- The unbaptized. The primary focus of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is on those who are not already Christian and have not been catechized.
- Baptized but uncatechized. Those who have been baptized either as Roman Catholics or as members of another Christian community, but have not received further catechetical formation or instruction. These individuals typically have not celebrated confirmation or Eucharist.
- Those seeking full Catholic Communion. These are baptized, practicing Christians from other denominations, who seek entry into the Catholic Church
Note: According to canon law, children of catechetical age are considered to be adults for the purposes of Christian initiation, and so any child who has reached the "age of reason" (roughly age 7 or 8) and has not been baptized, undergoes the same process, in the same sequence, as the adults, with some minor modifications due to age and ability to understand. When they are initiated, they celebrate baptism, confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil, just like their adult counterparts. Pastors do not have the authority to separate either confirmation or Eucharist from the celebration of baptism of these children. (c. 843.1)
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults 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.
What does the process look like?
The Rite of Christian Initiation is based on the principle that the process of conversion proceeds gradually, in stages. Progress from one stage to the next is marked by a liturgical celebration in the midst of the parish community. Because the experience and needs of those in each category described above differ, the process will look different for each person. Nevertheless, there are certain similarities among all the groups and the process they will undergo, and these can be listed as follows:
Pre-catechumenate
The first stage is called the period of inquiry (or the pre-catechumenate). This is when the individual first expresses an interest in becoming a Christian or a Catholic, and begins to explore, with the help of the parish community, what his or her relationship with Christ might be and how that might be enriched and deepened by joining this Christian community. There is no liturgical rite to mark the beginning of this stage. This period of inquiry may last several months or several years and ends either when the inquirer decides against continuing in this direction or when the inquirer feels ready to move on and the community is prepared to welcome him or her.
Catechumenate
The second stage is called the catechumenate and, for the unbaptized listed above, who are now called catechumens, should last no less than one full year. For the baptized but uncatechized the period should be a similar length. For the candidates for full communion, this stage could well be much shorter. The Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens and the Rite of Welcoming mark the beginning of this stage. Catechesis for this period is rooted in the Lectionary and the Word as it is proclaimed in the midst of the community. This is also a time for the catechumen or candidate to learn how to live as a Catholic Christian. This period ends when the catechumens and candidates express their desire to receive the sacraments of initiation and the community acknowledges their readiness.
Purification and Enlightenment
The third stage is the period of purification and enlightenment and coincides with Lent. During this time the elect (formerly the catechumens) and the candidates enter into a period of intense preparation and prayer which includes the three public celebrations of the scrutinies and is marked by the presentations of the Creed and the Lord's Prayer. The Rite of Election and the Call to Continuing Conversion are celebrated at the beginning of this stage. This period ends with the celebration of baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. (Note: only the elect are baptized. All the groups are confirmed and welcomed to the table.)
Mystagogy
The fourth stage is the period of post baptismal catechesis or mystagogy. At this time, the newly initiated explore their experience of being fully initiated through participation with all the faithful at Sunday Eucharist and through appropriate catechesis. The period formally lasts through the Easter season and may be marked by a parish celebration on or near Pentecost. On a more informal level, mystagogy is a lifelong process, one that all Christians are engaged in, as we all work to deepen our sense of what it means to live the Christian life.
It is important to note that those who fall into the third category above (candidates for full communion) do not always need to take part in the full process. Especially if they have been actively living the Christian life in another denomination, they are likely in need of very little catechesis and may be welcomed into the Church on any Sunday after a short period of preparation. According to the National Statutes for the Catechumenate, "Those baptized persons who have lived as Christians and need only instruction in the Catholic tradition and a degree of probation within the Catholic community should not be asked to undergo a full program parallel to the catechumenate."