Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
Sorting It All Out: Children and Adults in the Initiation Process
"Each year I think I know more about the Rite of Initiation than I did the year before. Then someone comes to our Inquiry group with a background different from anyone else I’ve met, and I realize there’s so much more to learn!"
Does this sound familiar? Well, take heart, and read on. Knowing what to do in all the various circumstances of "who's who in the initiation process" is not so difficult. There is basic information you need right from the start so you can minister better with the individual: Is the person validly baptized? (If so, remember: take care to honor that baptism no matter where it was.) What do you do with children? Has the person been catechized? (Someone who has received First Communion and Confirmation is considered to be at least minimally catechized.) Is the person validly married? Has the person been married before, anywhere? Has the person’s spouse been married before, anywhere? If the person is Orthodox, remember that the Orthodox are fully initiated at Baptism.
The goal of all our initiation work is not just baptism, but conversion, that "transformation of mind and heart which places Jesus Christ at the center of one’s life." The stories that follow present nine different people who seek membership in the church. These scenarios are offered to help you recognize "who’s who in the initiation process," and support the catechumen and candidate on their journey to conversion.
You'll also find a conclusion that includes some resources at the end of the list. (You may also download entire Sorting It All Out text here as a 268k PDF document.)
- An unbaptized adult or older adolescent
- Unbaptized children, ages 8 and 11, seeking baptism
- Adult or older adolescent validly baptized non-Catholic, but who is uncatechized
- An adult or older adolescent, baptized Catholic but uncatechized
- An adult or older adolescent, baptized non-Catholic, catechized in their faith
- A baptized, catechized Catholic, older adolescent or adult, seeking Confirmation
- A validly baptized non-Catholic but uncatechized child of 10 years of age
- Validly baptized and catechized non-Catholic child of 12 years of age
- Validly baptized and catechized Orthodox person, of catechetical age and up
- Conclusion and resource list
