Right of Christian Initiation For Adults (RCIA)

WHO IS THIS FOR?

This is a programme of instruction in the faith for adults:

• Have you been worshiping with us, but never officially took the step to become Catholic?
• Have you been away from the Church…and have now returned, but want to know more?
• Have you been Catholic all your life, but never celebrated all the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist & Confirmation)?
• Have you joined us from a different faith background and would like to find out more about the Catholic Church?
• Do you know of anyone who has lapsed from the practice of their faith and would like to respond to an invitation to return to the Father’s House?

If any of these questions apply to you, the RCIA programme is a great way to help you on your journey of faith!
 

RCIA is back for 2021

Time: The programme is run every Tuesday, 7:30 - 9:00 pm
Venue: In our Parish Hall at Our Lady of the Visitation, Constantia.

2021 WEEKLY TOPICS

PERIOD OF ENQUIRY

• 6 April 2021 - Introductory Meeting: Introduction to what RCIA program is, filling out forms, talk about sponsors who are invited to walk with catechumens.
• 13 April 2021 - Places and people of the Catholic Church: Explain different spaces within a Catholic Church; different Catholic buildings (eg church, cathedral); the different people who serve the Church as ordained clerly and lay people in various ministries.
• 20 April 2021 - Jesus: The Source and Summit of our Faith: Jesus as central logos of Catholic faith, encounters with Jesus in scripture (who do you say I am?), reflection (who am I and what am I seeing?).
• FREEDOM DAY - No Class
• 4 May 2021 - Revelation of God: Describing revelation of God through all aspects, nature, people, etc - culminating in the fullness of Revelation through Christ.
• 11 May 2021 - A Journey Through the Bible (1): Introduction to different books of the Old Testament and how they tell our story of salvation, what we share in common with the Jewish people.
• 18 May 2021- A Journey Through the Bible (2): Introduction to the books of the New Testament; and its relationship to the Old Testament and to our world today.
• 25 May 2021 - The Mass Explained: Have Fr. celebrate Mass but explain the different parts of the Mass.
• 1 June 2021- Salvation History: Fulfillment of Covenant: Look through Covenants in Old Testament, Jesus as new Covenant, Eucharist as centre of the Catholic celebration.
• 8 June 2021 - Church Tradition: a brief history of Catholicism: Brief introduction through the early Church, Church Fathers, role of teachings of the Church.
• 15 June 2021 - Question and Answer Session: Participants bring their "burning questions".
• 22 June - 26 July 2021 BREAK

PERIOD OF FORMATION

• 27 July 2021 - Building a personal relationship with God: Six ways to get close to God.
• 3 August 2021 - Our Call to Conversion: God's presence in our lives: Conversion not as a single moment, but through the experiences of our lives; life as a pilgrimage; encouragement to journal (document) journey of faith.
• 10 August 2021 - Finding your own spirituality: Tapping into the spirituality of different Catholic communities.
• 17 August 2021 - Living in the Spirit of the Beatitudes: Prayer through attitude and action.
• 24 August 2021 - Faith & the Real World: Where is God in suffering?: Exploring how a loving God permits suffering.
• 31 August 2021 - Faith & the Real world: How to live our faith in daily life: Is it possible to live a Christian life outside of Sundays?
• 7 September 2021 - Church: The Family of God: Introduction of the process of entering into full communion with the Church; the family as a domestic Church, Church as the community of believers, all on a common pilgrimage of faith, introduce the idea of a sponsor.
• 14 September 2021 - Mary: Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church, our Mother: Mary's story, her role in the Church -- what she is and what she isn't, how we honour her, Mary as mediatrix who always points to the Son.
• 21 September 2021 - The Saints: Role Models for our Daily Lives: Share stories of different saints; reflection on how these saints can be inspiration for our daily lives.
• 28 September 2021 - The Trinity: One God in Three Persons: A walk through how Father, Son, Holy Spirit are all aspects of one God, revelation of different aspects of God, perfection of love and unity in the Trinity.
• 5 October 2021 - The Ten Commandments: The Ten Commandments not as a list of "don't" but rather a call to a life of holiness.
• 12 October 2021 - What is Truth: Ethics and Morality in a Relativist World: Following from 10 Commandments lesson, this lesson looks at specific issues around ethics and morality; the Church provides a response against relativism; Church teaching offers patterns for living a life closer to God's perfect plan of love; how do we tell right from wrong.
• 19 October 2021 - Catholic Social Teaching: Foundations of modern Catholic social teaching; major themes of CST.
• 26 October 2021 - Practical application of Catholic Social Teaching: Use Pope Francis' Encyclical on the Environment -- Laudate Si.
• 2 November 2021 - Church and Heaven: The Last Things: Heaven, Hell, Purgatory; the Church's teaching on this, putting "myths" of popular culture into context eg: exorcism, possession.
• 16 November 2021 - The Creed: The Church's one belief (Part 1): Context for the Nicene Creed and spend the next two weeks working through the Creed as the cornerstones of Catholic belief.
• 23 November 2021 - The Creed: The Church's one belief (Part 2): Context for the Nicene Creed.
• 30 November 2021 - Liturgical Seasons + Advent Preparation for Christmas Cycles in the Church's year; the colours and symbolism of different liturgical seasons; What is season of Advent, why we have it as start of Church's liturgical year, the traditions of Christmas and their invitation to prayer: eg Christmas Wreath, Advent Candles, Jesse Tree, Christmas Carols.
• 7 December - 10 January - CHRISTMAS RECESS
• 11 January 2022 - The Sacraments: An Overview: Brief introduction to sacraments, how they reflect the life of the Church, and call to deepening relationship with Christ; three categories: initiation, healing, vocation
• 18 January 2022 - Sacrament of Initiation: Baptism & Confirmation: An invitation to be part of the Catholic family
• 25 January 2022 - Sacrament of Initiation: Eucharist: The centre of the Catholic Faith
• 01 February 2022 - Sacrament of Healing: Reconciliation: What is sin? Confession: what is it? How do you confess? What do you confess?
• 08 February 2022 - Sacrament of Healing: Anointing of Oils What is meant by sacrament of the sick?
• 15 February 2022 - Sacrament of Vocation: Marriage: The purpose of Marriage; brief introduction to JP11's teaching on human relationships and sexuality
• 22 February 2022 - Sacrament of Vocation: Holy Orders: Invite priests and members of religious communities
• 01 March 2022 - An Introduction to Lent:The Season of Lent and final preparation for full initiation into the Church; the purpose of Lent as a call to conversion, repentance from sin, call to charity.
• 08 March 2022 - Lenten Evening of Reflection: To help participants reflect on what they want to strive for this Lent as they make final preparations to come into full communion with the Church.
• 15 March 2022 - Traditions of Lent: Stations of the Cross
• 22 March 2022 - Traditions of Lent: Connection to O.T - show video of Pesach.
• 29 March 2022 Final preparations Invite Fr to session for any final questions about the faith, etc. Also an opportunity for confession/chat with the priest.
• 05 April 2022 - Holy Week: Jesus' Passion and Resurrection: Walk participants through Holy Week, significance/symbols of the Tridium.
• 12 April 2022 - What will happen at the Easter Vigil: Go through the entire Mass and what the participants will be required to do

PERIOD OF MYSTAGOGIA

• 19 April 2022 - Where to Now: A Call to Witness: Role as Christians is to live our faith in daily life; in the home and in society; we are called to be evangelizers
• 26 April 2022 - Sharing our Conversion Stories: Newly Initiated and those who walked with them are invited to share their conversion stories; what has touched them most during the course of the year; where to next for them; complete evaluation forms
• 3 May 2022 - Final Dinner: Or as appropriate as per the pandemic

John's Baptism of Christ (by Leonardo Da Vinci)