St. Saviour & St. Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Parish
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Preparation
workshops required; taking them
prior to the birth of the child is
advised. Registered parishioners
should call the Parish Office for
dates. |
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Registered
parishioners should contact the
pastor at least eight months prior
to requested date. |
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Individual
confessions - Saturdays from
11-11.30 4.00 to 4:30 pm. |
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Available
to anyone who is seriously ill or
suffering from a prolonged
illness. Call for arrangements. |
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Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
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BAPTISM: This sacrament welcomes you to the Catholic community. In this sacrament, you are given a share in God's life, an you become one with Jesus Christ.
Call:
Chris Amey Tel:
520314
EUCHARIST: The word means "giving thanks." Eucharist is another name for Mass or the Lord's Supper. the word also is the name of the sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ.
For
First Holy Communion
Call: Fr. Flynn - 01983 522027
CONFIRMATION: A sacrament instituted by Christ in promising to send the Holy Spirit.
Call:
Jenny Snook Tel:526721
RECONCILIATION: The sacrament of forgiveness. It is sometimes called Penance. The precise effect of Christ's redemption of the human race that restores our relationship with God and our human fellowship.
ANOINTING
OF THE SICK:
The sacrament instituted by Christ and
celebrated by the Church to offer the
healing grace of God to the infirm and
the aged, remit sin and make known the
prayerful solicitude
of the entire Body of Christ for those
beset by illness or ailment.
Call:
Fr. Flynn - 01983 522027
MARRIAGE: The sacrament which joins a man and a woman together for life. Marriage is the sacrament of the Christian family.
Call:
Fr. Flynn - 01983 522027
HOLY ORDERS: The sacrament in which special ministers are chosen to serve the People of God. Bishops, priests, and deacons receive Holy Orders.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
Call:
Deacon Vincent Jones - 0183 524694
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Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults |
The image at left uses symbols from two of the three sacraments of initiation that "Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults" (RCIA) participants can receive, typically at the Easter Vigil. The candle and the bowl of water represent Baptism, by which new members are claimed for the community in Christ’s name. The flask in the background represents the sacred chrism or perfumed oil used to anoint recipients of the Sacrament of Confirmation, by which already baptized persons are strengthened and confirmed for full participation in the life of the Church. |
What is RCIA?
RCIA, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, is the process by which adults become members of the Roman Catholic Church. It is a process of prayer, discussion, study, and celebration for:
Unbaptized adults who wish to learn more about the Catholic faith with a possibility of becoming Catholic.
Baptized Christians from other denominations who would like to learn more about and possibly join the Catholic Church.
Baptized Catholics who have not received their First Communion or been confirmed or who would like further Catholic experience and training.
Most members of the Catholic Church were baptized as infants. At an older age they received their First Communion and were confirmed. Others, those who were previously baptized in other Christian traditions, become Catholics after making a solemn profession of faith, receiving Communion and Confirmation. This can be done at any time of the year, but in imitation of the early Church, it is customary for people to be received into the Church at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday.
The word Catechuman refers to a person who has never been baptized. A person who has already been baptized in another Christian denomination, either Protestant or Eastern Orthodox, is called a Candidate.
RCIA is the Church's way of helping people become members of the Roman Catholic Church. It is concerned with the formation of a person into a total understanding and belief in the Church community, so that he or she can comfortably pray and serve with that community. It is a gradual process which culminates with the sacraments of initiation, baptism for those not already baptized, Confirmation, and First Communion at Easter time.
This should not be confused with adult education or parish renewal programs. It is a way of assimilating people into a Catholic way of life, by coming to an understanding of the Church and its doctrines, beliefs, and practices. It is not a hurried process, but a deliberate, personal process of growth and understanding that takes as long as it takes. For many, the time is 12 months; while some will be more comfortable extending that period to one, two, or more years.
It is a Parish community process in the sense that the rites or celebrations that occur throughout the process always take place in the presence of the Church community. The preparation of persons for the initiation rites is the responsibility of the entire Parish, represented by the RCIA team.
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How Does a Person Become a Catholic? The Church wants to welcome all adults who are interested in the Roman Catholic Faith. The RCIA is designed to assist you in learning Catholic Christian teaching, accepting Catholic values and morality, developing a life of prayer, and becoming active members of the local faith community. |
The process is composed of five stages:
The Pre-catechumenate, or inquiry period, consists of informal meetings to explain the process and answer questions about the Roman Catholic Church. This is a time for inquirers to decide whether they wish to continue with the process.
At the beginning of the Catechumenate or instruction period (First Sunday in Advent), inquirers are formally welcomed by the Parish community and enter a period of more structured preparation listening to presentations and joining in discussions based on scripture readings and other topics of importance such as the Sacraments, the meaning of the Mass, and Catholic morality and social action.
For the Rites of Sending and Election (First Sunday in Lent), the Parish sends the candidates to the Archbishop who, on the part of the entire Catholic Church, accepts the candidates as the "elect" who will be received into the Church at Easter. At this time the Church enters the Lenten period in preparation for the Christ's death, and Resurrection. For the candidates this is a period of spiritual enlightenment and preparation. At the Church's greatest feast, the Vigil of Easter, the "elect" will receive the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and First Communion) at the Parish Community's greatest liturgical celebration.
Mystagogy, the fifty day period between Easter and Pentecost, the new members of the Church community, called neophytes, begin a time of reflection and begin to live out their sacramental call to service.
Why is RCIA important?
The RCIA is important to those considering membership in the Catholic Church because it enables them to begin to learn about the Church as it lives, prays, serves, and worships in a modern world before having to make a commitment to becoming Catholic. It is important to the Parish community because it is a most important aspect of the community's evangelization mission.
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Lord of the Dance |
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