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2009-2010 RCIA Information

Sunday Evenings at 7:30 p.m.

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Welcome to RCIA, the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, at the Newman Catholic Student Center. RCIA is the process of becoming a Catholic, a restoration of the ancient process by which adults entered into full communion with the Catholic Church. We believe that your decision to look into RCIA is your response to an invitation from Jesus. If your heart and mind are open, the Lord will help you to know Him better and to grow in knowledge of His Church. Our prayer is that you will find in the Church a spiritual home, a place to grow in God’s grace.

The community of Christ the Teacher parish is thankful for your presence among us. You bear witness to our own faith journeys, and we are walking with you. It is helpful to think of RCIA as a process, not a program, and one that involves the whole parish. Your presence among us at the Rites reminds us (from the cradle Catholic to the newly initiated) of our own identity and why we are Catholic.

Sponsors: Your sponsor’s role is to support you in your formation and to help welcome you into the Church. S/he should be someone with whom you feel comfortable praying and sharing your faith life. Sponsors also must be practicing Catholics in canonically valid marriages and receiving Communion licitly. If you don’t have a sponsor, don’t worry -- there are volunteers at the Newman Center who love to serve as sponsors in RCIA!

Gatherings: We will meet each Sunday from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Sponsors are welcome and encouraged to attend. Sponsors must attend on the following days: Sunday October 25 (Rite of Acceptance), Sunday February 21 (Rite of Election in Rockford), Sunday March 28 (Reconciliation Service), and of course Holy Saturday (the Easter Vigil Mass).

Documents: For those baptized in the Catholic Church or in another Christian faith tradition, we will need a copy of your baptism certificate. Write or call the church at which you were baptized and ask them to send you a copy.

Cost: There is a $20 charge to cover the purchase of The Catechism of the Catholic Church. This is the only fee that will be asked of you during the entire RCIA process.

Please feel free to contact Maria Alderson or Fr. del Toro with questions or concerns at any time in the RCIA process. Office phone: 1-815-787-7770

Fr. del Toro – frdeltoro@newmanniu.org (x 28 at Newman)
Maria Alderson – mariaalderson@comcast.net (x23 at Newman)

RCIA 2009-2010 Sunday Schedule

(red = sponsors must attend)

All Sunday gatherings begin with class at 7:30 p.m. followed by Mass as a group at 9 p.m. (two exceptions: Sunday February 21 Rite of Election in Rockford at 4 p.m.; Sunday March 28 Reconciliation at 7 p.m.)


Precatechumenate (and Part One of CCC)
The first stage of RCIA is a time of reflection, discovery, and first hearing the message of the Gospel. It ends with the Rite of Acceptance into the order of catechumens at which you declare your intent to be received into full communion with the Church.

Sun Sep 28:  The Profession of Faith: I Believe - We Believe (CCC 26 – 184)

Sun Oct 4:  The Profession of Faith: I Believe in God the Father (CCC 185 – 421)

Sun Oct 11:  The Profession of Faith: I Believe in Jesus Christ (CCC 422 – 682)

Sun Oct 18:  The Profession of Faith: I Believe in the Holy Spirit (CCC 683 – 1065)

Sun Oct 25:  Finish Profession of Faith; Begin The Celebration of the Christian Mystery: Liturgy (CCC 1066 - 1209); Rite of Acceptance and Rite of Welcoming


Catechumenate Period (and Part Two of CCC)
Following the Rite of Acceptance, the Catechumenate Period is a time to be “brought to maturity” in the faith through more intense catechesis in church doctrine and teaching. This period can last years (for us, it’s Oct. 25 to Feb 21). It ends with the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion at the cathedral in Rockford on the first Sunday of Lent.

Sun Nov 1: Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism and Confirmation (CCC 1210 – 1321)

Sun Nov 8: Sacraments of Initiation: The Eucharist (CCC 1322 – 1419)

Sun Nov 15: Sacraments of Healing: Reconciliation and Anointing (CCC 1420 – 1532)

Sun Nov 22: Sacraments at the Service of Communion and Mission: Holy Orders / Matrimony (CCC 1533 -1666)

Sun Nov 29: Finish Sacraments; Sacramentals (CCC 1666 – 1679)

CHRISTMAS BREAK


Catechumenate Period continued (and Part Three of CCC)

Sun Jan 10: Begin Life In Christ

Sun Jan 17: Continue Life In Christ. Minor rite of exorcism.

Sun Jan 24: Continue Life In Christ. Blessing of the catechumens.

Sun Jan 31: Continue Life In Christ. Anointing of the catechumens.

Sun Feb 7: Finish Life in Christ

Sun Feb 14: No class

Wed Feb 17: Ash Wednesday service project

Sun Feb 21: Rite of Election at St. Peter Cathedral in Rockford at 4 p.m. (no evening class; Mass on your own)


Period of Purification and Enlightenment (and Part Four of CCC)
During the weeks before Easter we prepare ourselves to enter into the mystery of the passion, death and resurrection of the Lord through fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. The Purification and Enlightenment period in the early Church evolved into what we now know as Lent. “It is a time to uncover and heal all that is weak, defective, or sinful in the hearts of the elect; to bring out, then strengthen all that is upright, strong and good” (Rite of Christian Initiation 141).

Sun Feb 28:  Begin Christian Prayer

Sun Mar 7:  Spring Break; no class

Sun Mar 14:  Continue Christian Prayer; First Scrutiny; Presentation of the Lord’s Prayer

Sun Mar 21:  Finish Christian Prayer; Prepare for Confession; Second Scrutiny

Sun Mar 28:  Palm Sunday: Reconciliation Service; Third Scrutiny; Presentation of the Creed

Sat April 3:  Holy Saturday (Times are Tentative! )
     9:30 a.m. Bagels and Coffee, Prayer, Preparation Rites, and Ephphetha
     11 a.m. Rehearsal for Mass
     1 p.m. Lunch
     1:30 p.m. Break for resting and getting dressed up
     6:30 p.m. Pictures and Early Seating
     7:10 p.m. Line up for Procession
     7:30 p.m. Easter Vigil Mass
     10 p.m. Reception

Sun Apr 18:  Mystagogy; Sacrament Certificates

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