What is RCIA?

 The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, or RCIA, is a communal process for formal initiation of new members into the Catholic Church. This process is a return to the formation of the earliest members of the Church in the first and second centuries.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops describes the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults as a process in which participants "undergo…conversion as they study the Gospel, profess faith in Jesus and the Catholic Church, and receive the sacraments…The RCIA process follows the ancient practice of the Church and was restored by the Second Vatican Council as the normal way adults prepare for baptism."

Likewise, the language used in the RCIA process is that of the early Church formation programs. Catechumens are those people who are seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church through all of the Sacraments of Initiation – Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. Candidates are people who have been baptized in a Christian tradition but are seeking initiation into the Catholic Church through Eucharist and Confirmation.

All are Welcome!

RCIA is a process of study, exploration, faith-sharing, and faith formation with specific liturgical rites for seekers and inquirers. Seekers and inquirers are non-baptized adults who desire to be fully initiated into the Roman Catholic Church and/or baptized adult Christians who desire full communion in the Roman Catholic Church.

Adults or older children who have not been baptized and desire to join the Church are invited into the ancient celebration of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. During this process, which is marked by regular ritual acts, participants are introduced to the liturgy, the teachings, and the life of the Catholic Church.

Adults or older children who were baptized in another Christian denomination prepare in a similar way for the sacraments of Confirmation and the Eucharist during their reception into the Catholic Church.

RCIA is a Journey

The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults is a process that proceeds over weeks and months. It has several steps:

List of Services

RCIA Team

People journeying through the RCIA process need sponsors and community support to help them grow in faith. The RCIA team of sponsors help guide, support and instruct those discerning whether to become members of our Catholic community. Team members share their faith with inquiring adults who are seeking more information about the Catholic Church, many of whom seek to celebrate one or more of the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation.

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a program that allows adult inquirers age 18 and over the opportunity to learn about becoming a Catholic, through faith sharing, discussion and experiencing the rites. It is a gradual enrichment process that takes place within the community of the faithful and culminates with the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist), at the Easter Vigil. Adults who are interested in entering into the RCIA process should inquire at the parish office. 


RCIA is for the following groups:

  • Catechumens - Adults who will celebrate all three sacraments of initiation (who may or may be coming from another faith tradition, e.g. Buddhist or Muslim)
  • Candidates - Adults who have already been baptized, but will celebrate First Eucharist and Confirmation
  • Confirmandes - Adults who have already received their Baptism and Fist Eucharist, but desire to celebrate Confirmation


Below is an overview of the various elements of the RCIA process:


RCIA starts with an inquiry period of around 2-3 months during which the RCIA team and the inquirers get to know each other during informal meetings. Afterwards, inquirers celebrate the Rite of Acceptance, which symbolizes the readiness of the candidate to begin the formation process. The candidates, catechumens and confirmandes then begin meeting on Sunday mornings for catechesis, faith-sharing and breaking open the Word. These meetings begin when the group is dismissed during the 9:30am Mass and continue until around noon.


All 3 groups of inquirers celebrate their respective sacraments during the Easter Vigil the following spring.


Please see the parish calendar for RCIA rites and sessions for detailed dates or contact the parish office for more information.


There is also an equivalent program for children called the Rite of Christian Initiation for Children (RCIC).


The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, or RCIA, is a communal process for formal initiation of new members into the Catholic Church. This process is a return to the formation of the earliest members of the Church in the first and second centuries.