CONTACT

Theresa Hock, Director of RCIA at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish
tahock1@aol.com

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, or RCIA, is the way that adults can become Catholic. Basically, RCIA is Adult Confirmation. Every Catholic must go through some form of Confirmation. Most "Cradle Catholics" go through Confirmation after they reach the age of reason. Basically, the age of reason is the age at which you first become aware of the differences between right and wrong. The actual age differs for everyone, and many argue when this actually happens. Either way, as an adult, we are way beyond that.

To understand what Catholic RCIA is all about, it is important to understand Confirmation. Whether you are a teenager or grandmother of seven kids, Confirmation applies in the same way. It is the method by which we join the Catholic Church. As adults, the difference is that the classes are focused around us. Our questions may be different. Our ability to understand may be different. Our maturity is certainly different. For these reasons, and many others, the Church has a specific program to help us as we begin our journey in the Catholic faith.

Taken from Waking Up Catholic website:
http://www.wakingupcatholic.com/waking-up-your-faith/rcia-rite-of-christian-initiation-of-adults.html

The RCIA Program was developed by the Catholic Church as a means by which those who seek to become Catholic have a structure of learning about the beliefs and practices of Catholicism and a ceremonial pathway toward full Initiation into the Church.

RCIA is also a means by which those who were baptized Catholic but were not catechized in the Catholic faith to fulfill these faith journeys as adults. Also welcome are those who were baptized and catechized in the Catholic faith but have not yet received the Sacrament of Confirmation.

The program usually begins in the fall and culminates at the Easter Mass.

Please contact the Director of the RCIA Program at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish to begin or continue your journey with our Lord. We look forward to assisting you along the way.