Introduction:

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is a process by which people can enter the Catholic Church. At St. Joseph Church we run a "year-round" process in which people can enter at any time they wish. There are four "stages" in this process:

• Inquiry: That period of time in which a person comes and asks questions about the Catholic Church and seeks more information to see if, perhaps, the process is something that they wish to follow.

• Catechumenate: This period of time is one of general formation into the Catholic faith. The amount of time spent here will vary depending on the background of the individual. The catechesis is experiential in nature, that is, one learns to live as a Catholic and interacts with Catholics who are trying to live out what they believe.

• Enlightenment: This is an intensive period of catechesis and prayer in which those who have discerned a call and in whom a call has been discerned, to become Catholic seriously study the faith and spend time in prayer and reflection.

• Mystagogia is a period following reception into the Church in which the mysteries are opened ("mystagogia" is a Greek word meaning to "open the mysteries") and the neophyte (new Catholic) is led to reflect on the importance of the sacraments he or she as received and how they will influence the rest of one's life. There is also the expectation of a continuing commitment to the Church and to the community by active involvement in one or more area of ministry.

If this sounds like an area which you might like to pursue, call Paula Dougherty in the Ministry Office, (714) 528-1487 x.211.

This page last modified: 02/27/06 07:41:50 PM