RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS
Welcome to the parish community of St. Thomas More!
If you are interested in learning more about the Catholic faith or becoming Catholic, come join us for Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, Rite of Christian Initiation of Children, and Reception of Baptized Christians into the Full Communion of the Catholic Church! This will be a journey of growing in faith, knowledge, and understanding. If you are interested in being part of the process or would like to accompany one of these individuals, please contact Kim Zea in the parish office at 503-222-2055 or email kzea@stmpdx.org. Please fill out and email the RCIA registration form to Kim Zea.
RCIA Registration Form 2011-2012
You may feel expectant, anxious, hopeful, or enthusiastic. Whatever you are feeling, you are not alone, our Parish community welcomes you and we will be her for you.
In many ways, today begins a new journey of faith to explore, to inquire or to learn more about the Catholic Church. You bring with you your own life experience: your education, your work, your family, your relationships, your concerns, your hurts, your struggles, your hopes, your dreams, and your story. You may already have a strong relationship with God or you may be seeking to strengthen such a relationship.
You may already have a connection with other faith traditions or the Catholic Church through a relative, friends, or spouse. Whatever your connection may be, we value your life experiences and welcome you.
Through the RCIA process you will begin a faith journey with Catholics already members of this community. You will be joined by other members who are searching as you are and will walk the journey with you.
We as a parish community do not promise to give you all the answers to your questions about the Church or God. Instead, the people of this parish offer you assistance in searching for a deeper relationship with God. Our faith and strength is evident and can be realized as you will see lived out through the Catholic Church.
We hope to share our life of faith, prayer, server, struggles, and joys in community with you. May our new journey together be filled with joy and enriching moments of love, compelled by hope.
WHAT IS THE R C I A ?
RCIA is a process for welcoming new members into the Roman Catholic Church. It is a Community Journey and a Personal Journey that leads all of us to a transformation of mind and spirit. It is a journey in which church members and inquirers reexamine their own relationship with God. The main purpose of the rite is to assist inquirers in their journey. There are four periods of the journey:
PRECATECHUMENATE OR INQUIRY – This is a time to build trust and share personal stories and questions. It is a time to foster initial conversion.
CATECHUMENATE – This is a time to deepen Faith within the living community through catechesis, fellowship, and prayer.
ENLIGHTENMENT – This is a time of intense spiritual preparation for the sacraments of initiation into the Church: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.
MYSTAGOGIA – This is a time for deepening the sacramental life through reflection on the sacraments received with an emphasis on the gospels. Intertwined through these four periods are three Liturgical Rites or celebrations which take place in Church.
