The letters "RCIA" stand for the "Rite Of Christian
Initiation Of Adults", the document flowing from Vatican II
which guides the process by which adults are initiated into our
roman catholic community. The RCIA describes a process in which
men and
women
are guided and cared
for as they awaken in faith and are gradually introduced to the
catholic way of life. The RCIA process is a series of carefully
planned stages, marked by liturgical rites in the presence of
the whole community, in which new Catholics embark on and join
us in a continuing and deepening conversion into faith and
discipleship. The RCIA takes the distinctive history and
spiritual needs of each person into account, differentiating
between the baptized and the un-baptized, the catechized and the
un-catechized. The needs of mature, practicing Christians from
other faith traditions are considered on an individual basis.
“Go,
therefore, and make disciples of all nations … teaching them to
observe all that I have commanded You. And behold I am with you
always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew
28:19-20).