November 10 and 11, 2007

Times: November 10 at 4:30
or November 11 at 9:00 or 11:00

Journeys have beginnings, middles, and ends. They also have certain threshold or signposts
that signal the steps or stages along the way which help us get from one point to another in
our travels. The four – step journey to faith embarked upon by the inquirers of RCIA has
such a structure.

Our inquirers have been exploring the belief and practices of the Catholic Church since
July. During this period, called “pre-catechumenate”, each individual has experienced Faith
First (reading of Sunday’s Gospel and discussion afterwards), followed by various topic such
as: Different Approaches to the Bible, Eight Things That Make us Catholic, Why People Misunderstand Catholics, History of Holy Family with a Tour, Walk Though Mass, What is the
RCIA process. Most importantly the sponsors and team have listen to the Inquirer, answered
any questions to best of their abilities, not with theological dissertations, but from the heart
and faith of each person present.   At the end of this period, the Inquirers, sponsors, and
team have gathered for an Evening of Reflection.  They reflected on where God wants them,
what they need from God, from the community and the Inquirers desire to continue the study
of Catholicism leading to Initiation into the Church at The Easter Vigil.

Just as our warm heart and inviting spirit need some type of accompanying physical gestures,
such as a handshake or hug, when we welcome someone into our home, so the welcoming community called Church needs some rituals to welcome new members to itself during this
process of initiation. The RCIA process has such a ritual for the inquirers when they are
ready to proceed to the next phase of the conversion process, called the
Rite of Acceptance. This is the first time the inquirer will publicly declare their intention to
the Church and the Church in turn accepts them as people who intend to become its members. Therefore, the Rite is celebrated within the community of believers, so that the community can welcome the inquirers to the second step of their journey to faith.

With their welcome to the catechumenate phase of the RCIA, the inquirers are referred to as Catechumens (those to be baptized) and Candidates(those already one with us in baptism,
who will be received into the Church at the Vigil).  Please welcome your catechumens and candidates, embrace them, encourage and pray for them during the Period of the
Catechumenate until they become one with us at the table.