One of my favorite ministries when I was the pastoral associate of SS. Simon and Jude Parish in Blairsville in the late 1990s was being a part of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) team. It was during the catechetical sessions that the team members got to know the catechumens in a deep, personal way. It was during those times that we heard each other’s stories of faith and conversion. It was during those sessions that we heard the importance the catechumens placed on receiving the sacraments of initiation in their journey of faith. Each of the catechumens came to the RCIA process because someone took the time to proclaim to them the Word of the Lord, after which the catechumens made a commitment to seek the living God and enter the way of faith through the opening of their hearts by the Holy Spirit.

The RCIA process consists of four periods in which the catechumen inquires about the faith and matures in the journey of faith. There are three additional steps that are a part of the process. These steps are regarded as the major, more intense moments of initiation and are marked by three liturgical rites.

Before delving into the four periods and three steps, it is important for us to understand the nuances of people who come to the Catholic Church for the sacraments of initiation. Catechumens are people who are not baptized and are preparing for full initiation through the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and Eucharist. Candidates are people who already are validly baptized in the Christian faith and are now preparing to be received into full communion with the Catholic Church. While the RCIA speaks only of catechu-mens, candidates for full communion with the Catholic Church are on a similar journey of conversion and maturity in faith. Most parishes include the candidates in their catechetical and preparation sessions.

The RCIA process begins with the period of evangelization and precatechumenate, which is a time with no fixed duration or structure. It is a period in which people considering being initiated into the faith can ask questions and inquire about the faith. That period ends with the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens. During this rite, people intending to be catechumens express their intention to respond to God’s call to follow the way of Christ in their lives, which is accepted by the Catholic Church. This rite also marks the beginning of the period of the catechumenate.

Properly, the period of the catechumenate extends in duration to a time corresponding to the progress of the individual catechumenate for nurturing and growth of their own faith and conversion to God and the Catholic Church through an intense period of catechesis. This period leads to the liturgical rite known as the Rite of Election.

The Rite of Election is usually celebrated on the First Sunday of Lent. During the rite, the Catholic Church, in the form of the diocesan bishop, ratifies the catechumen’s readiness for the sacraments of initiation. The catechumens, now the elect, express to the bishop their willingness to receive these sacraments.

The Rite of Election is followed by the period of purification and enlightenment, which is usually during the Lenten season and is a time for the elect to reflect intensely on their faith and conversion. The period is marked by the celebration of the scrutinies, presentations of the Creed and Lord’s Prayer, and the preparation rites on Holy Saturday. This period is concluded by the moment we all have been working toward — the celebration of the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil!

The celebration of the sacraments of initiation does not mark the end of the RCIA process. The final period is known as mystagogy or post-baptismal catechesis. This is when the newly initiated experience being a full part of the parish community by means of catechesis, service to others, involvement in parish ministries and full participation in the Sunday Eucharistic celebration.

This simple explanation of the periods and steps in the RCIA does not do justice to them. Please read more this month in the Everyday Faith blog.