The RCIA is for all those seeking to become members of the Catholic Church. Children over the age of seven years and teenagers are supported through an adapted form of the Rite.
This journey is for people who have never been baptized, and for those who have been baptised in Christian denominations. Even parishioners can benefit in being part of their journey.
The non-baptised are prepared in a Catholic parish RCIA program and are joyfully received into the Catholic Church by receiving the three Sacraments of Initiation – Baptism, Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist, which traditionally takes place at the Easter Vigil.
For those already baptised, they too are prepared and welcomed into full communion of the Catholic Church by receiving the Sacraments of Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist, which can also take place during Easter celebrations or another suitable season.
Glossary of RCIA:
Catechumen – an non-baptised person preparing for Baptism and Initiation into the Catholic Church
Candidate – a baptised person preparing to enter into full communion of the Catholic Church
Sacrament – a visible sign of God’s grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, to renew and reconcile us to God