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Saint Francis of Assisi |
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| Sacramento, CA | Infant Baptism | R.C.I.A. | C.I.C. | Adult Confirmation | Reconciliation | Marriage Preparation | Anointing the Sick | |||||||
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Want to Join Our Church?
Starting November 12, RCIA Inquiry will be held every Monday evening for six weeks, from 6:30-8:00pm in the Parish Center, PC 3. At the end of the six weeks, there will be a retreat and opportunity to participate in the Rite of Acceptance for those discerning God’s call to take the next step in the RCIA process. More Information:
What is RCIA? The process of joining the Roman Catholic Church is known as the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). Each year, adults seeking to join the Roman Catholic Church receive weekly support, encouragement and assistance from the RCIA team and from parish companions, Sunday catechists, and guest speakers. RCIA is a two-year process, which culminates with:
RCIA Brochure: RCIA Stages The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults is a faith journey which consists of four distinct stages:
Stage 1: Inquiry (Pre-Catechumenate) This is the time when someone who feels drawn to the expression of Christian values begins to formally ask questions of the faith community:
This period may last only a few months or a number of years. Sometimes inquirers realize that they are not ready or willing to belong to the Christian community. They leave with the blessing of their companions and catechists as they continue to search for spiritual meaning.
Others find that they are attracted to our way of life and are drawn to the
person of Christ. Like the disciples of old, they wish to follow Jesus and move to the next stage of the journey,
which is known as the Catechumenate.
Inquiry Schedule
Ongoing inquiry sessions for those thinking about joining the Catholic Church are offered by our parish community.
Inquiry sessions for adults are held on the:
These are informal sessions that provide opportunities for the inquirer to
ask her/his questions about the Catholic faith. A team of staff and volunteers from the parish community, along with other
inquirers, are ready and willing to explore these questions with you. Drop-ins are always welcome.
Stage 2: Catechumenate This stage begins with the Rite of Acceptance. Those who enter this stage are claimed for Christ and marked with the sign of the cross. They are then called catechumens if they are unbaptized, or candidates if they have already been baptized in another tradition. This period of the RCIA is a time for the catechumens and candidates to deepen in faith and commitment to Christ. Although they are not yet able to share at the table of the Eucharist, they participate in the Liturgy of the Word each Sunday. When they are dismissed, they take the book of the Gospels with them to a separate meeting place where they continue to reflect with their catechists and each other upon the gospel message and how it pertains to their lives. This stage of the RCIA usually lasts a year or more. It includes formal sessions on Catholic teaching and practice and is an opportunity for the individual to grow in prayer and to mature in faith.
With the support of community members,
parish companions, godparents and catechists, the catechumens and candidates steadily conform their lives to Gospel values.
They continue to deepen their relationship with Christ, and when they, with the guidance of their catechists, discern that
they are ready, enter into the next stage of the catechumenate, Purification and Enlightenment.
Catechumenate Schedule
Stage 3: Purification and Enlightenment This stage begins on the first Sunday of Lent with the Rite of Election and the Call to Continuing Conversion. In local parishes, catechumens inscribe their name in a book which is presented to the Bishop in a ceremony at the cathedral later that day. At the Rite of Election, the Bishop elects (chooses) the catechumens in the name of Christ to receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist at Easter. The Bishop also calls (exhorts) the candidates to continue growing in their faith as they prepare for Confirmation and Eucharist. The next 40 days are intensive days of preparation to receive the sacraments at Easter. The local community accompanies the Elect (unbaptized) and Candidates (already baptized) by participating in the Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Special rites of interior searching, known as the scrutinies, are celebrated with the elect and candidates. These take place on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of Lent.
This period of the RCIA culminates at the Easter Vigil with baptism by immersion for those who are unbaptized, a profession
of faith for those who are baptized, confirmation, and the reception of Eucharist. This completes the third stage of the journey.
Stage 4: Mystagogia This final phase of the RCIA finds the Neophytes rejoicing in their awareness of God’s presence in them and around them. Now, instead of leaving after the homily, they remain with the community to pray and eat at the banquet of the Eucharist. This period concludes with the Feast of Pentecost when the neophytes are sent to share their experience of Christ with others.
The neophytes continue to gather periodically throughout the year to share prayer and community with one another as they
become more integrated into the faith community of the parish and the larger Church.
Neophyte Schedule
Is RCIA Right For Me? The RCIA process is designed for adults who are unbaptized or those who were baptized as infants but had little experience with regular church attendance. Individuals baptized in another Christian tradition who have little experience with the Roman Catholic tradition often find this process to be helpful in their discernment of becoming Roman Catholic.
If you are an adult who was baptized and active in another Christian tradition, and have more than a year of experience
within the Roman Catholic tradition, you may want to discuss this process and any other available alternatives with the
RCIA Director, Sr. Peggy Chambers, OMC at:
(916) 443-8084 x103 or PeggyC@stfrancisparish.com
More Information About RCIA The best way to find out more about the RCIA process is simply begin.
Inquiry will meet on Monday evenings for six weeks, followed by a retreat and opportunity to participate in the Rite of Acceptance for those discerning God’s call to take a next step in the RCIA process. Inquiry Sessions are informal sessions that provide opportunities for the inquirer to ask her/his questions about the Catholic faith. A team of staff and volunteers from the parish community, along with other inquirers, are ready and willing to explore these questions with you. Drop-ins are always welcome. For those who so desire, the Director of the RCIA is available to answer questions by telephone and will schedule individual appointments.
For more information please contact Sr. Peggy Chambers, OMC at: Parish Community Support
As a community, we journey with the adults who are seeking to join the Roman Catholic Church. During Mass, we pray with the
candidates and catechumens and witness the rites that lead up to and include: Baptism, First Eucharist and Confirmation. Together with them, we renew our baptismal promises.
Parish Companion Ministry The process of RCIA generally lasts 1 1/2 years. Companions do not have to be either catechists or saints– just regular folks willing to be present to another on a consistent basis over a period of time. This is a wonderful way to learn more about your faith, to get to know another person in the parish, to grow in your ability to talk a little about how you experience God in your everyday life. In November, mid-January, and April, our parish will be welcoming people inquiring into our faith into the catechumenate, and this is where companioning begins and continues to their reception into full membership in our church.
If you are interested in discerning this very important ministry and offering
your support to those God is calling, please contact Sr. Peggy at (916) 443-8084 x103 or
PeggyC@stfrancisparish.com.
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For More Information Please Contact: Sr. Peggy Chambers, omc PeggyC@stfrancisparish.com (916) 443-8084 x103 • 2008-2009 RCIA Schedule 
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(Catechumens, Candidates, Inquirers, Neophytes) |
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Inquiry sessions for adults: 
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