Several groups of people are involved in the formation process, which normally culminates in sacramental reception at Easter.
Catechumens are the unbaptized. They prepare to receive baptism, confirmation and Eucharist.
Candidates for full Communion are already baptized into the Christ’s Church through a non-Catholic denomination. They prepare for reconciliation, confirmation and Eucharist.
Uncatechized are baptized Catholics who lack reconciliation, confirmation and/or first Eucharist and who seek understanding of the Catholic faith.
Neophytes, those recently initiated into the Church, return to accompany those on the journey that they themselves have just completed.
Fully initiated Catholics also participate as companions on the RCIA journey. This may include those who left the Church years ago and desire to experience the Catholic faith with new eyes.
RCIA is most deeply and fully experienced in the catechumenate where multiple rites and rituals allow the catechumen to enter progressively into the life of Christ and his Church. And this must happen in community!
The stages of RCIA include:
Precatechumenate, when inquirers seek information, share their faith story, and begin to deepen their relationship with God and discover the Catholic faith.
Catechumenate begins around the start of Advent after the Rite of Acceptance and Welcome of Catechumens and Candidates. Members learn about prayer and worship and grow in their faith as Christian witnesses.
Purification and Enlightenment occurs during Lent and begins with the Rite of Election on the first Sunday in Lent. Catechumens (now called the Elect) and candidates purify their minds and hearts through reflection and prayer by celebrating several rituals, called scrutinies, during Sunday liturgy. They prepare for baptism, confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. Candidates are prepared to celebrate reconciliation in preparation for confirmation and first Eucharist.
Mystagogy, a period of entering more deeply into the mystery of faith, is the period after Easter sacramental reception. In essence, we are an Easter people as Catholics because we are always entering more deeply into the life we have in God and God’s life in us!
The importance of the group in RCIA:
Because to be Catholic is a way of believing, belonging, acting, praying, and living, the presence of a group is vital to RCIA. Those who live or work out-of-town are strongly encouraged to find a local parish for regular participation in group formation. Also, in addition to weekly gatherings, liturgical celebrations occur at intervals in the church, both as part of and separate from
