RCIA:
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

 Becoming a Catholic

RCIA is the process used by Catholic parishes to welcome and prepare individuals who are interested in learning more about the faith to see if they might want to become Catholics.  It is a journey of faith during which information about the Catholic faith is shared and the drawing of one’s heart closer to God are joined to help the person live a fuller Christian life.

During the journey, the participants experience a number of rites or ceremonies which introduce the rich liturgical experience of Catholicism.  As the months progress, the rites increase in number and the content of the classes shifts from the presentation of facts about the Church to the incorporation of its beliefs into one’s daily life.  Finally, at the celebration of the Easter Vigil, on Holy Saturday evening, those in the group who have not been previously baptized will receive that sacrament, and all in the class will enter the fullness of the Church through the sacraments of Confirmation and the Eucharist (Holy Communion). 

The class will meet several times after Easter to reflect on the experience of Easter and to celebrate their new status as Catholic Christians.

Frequently asked questions

Once I start coming, am I obligated to stay in the program?

No.  Some people find that the Catholic Church is simply not what they are looking for in their relationship with God.  That does not make them bad people.  If they decide to leave the program, they do so with our prayers and hopes that they will find God however he chooses to touch them.

When do you meet and how long does the program go?

RCIA will begin around Labor Day of 2011 and conclude a few weeks after Easter (April 8, 2012).  We will meet mostly on Sunday mornings, with a few weekday evening sessions scheduled along the way.

Do I have to be there for every class?

We ask that class members plan to attend each session.  Emergencies arise and we provide additional sessions when someone has such an event.

I am married and divorced.  Does that mean that I cannot become a Catholic?

Again, no.  If a person is divorced and not remarried, they are free to become Catholic whenever they wish.  If they have remarried, then we will provide guidance to see if they can obtain an annulment from their first marriage.

How do I get started or ask questions that don’t appear here?

Call or e-mail Pat Doyle, the director of the RCIA program, at 913-642-1361 or pdoyle@kc.rr.com, or download the registration form and mail it to Pat Doyle, Church of the Nativity, 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood, KS, 66209.  We will plan to have an individual meeting with everyone who contacts us before classes begin so that you will have a chance to have your questions answered.  If a person is certain that they will be participating in RCIA, they can download the form from the link below, complete it, and bring it to that meeting.

RCIA Registration Form