What Is Christian Initiation of Adults?
Christian Initiation of Adults or CIA (formerly known as RCIA) is a process initiated and sustained by the Holy Spirit, through which the non-baptized may be freely converted to the Lord and receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist. Likewise, those baptized in another Christian Faith or as infants, who did not receive further catechetical formation may choose to be fully initiated into the Catholic Church through the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist. Catholics who seek to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, as well as those who desire to deepen their understanding of the Catholic Faith and their relationship with the Lord are also most welcome to participate in CIA!
From September through May, inquirers participate in weekly Faith Formation sessions where Gospel values and the person of Jesus Christ are taught. The team of presenters include: Fr. Matthew Windle, Fr. Paul Kennedy, Deacon Chris Mars and several other well-prepared and faithful parishioners. Personally, getting to know the participants and serving on the team is the greatest joy of my ministry. In addition to the weekly sessions, CIA participants also attend various Liturgical Celebrations.
After the initial period of catechesis, the inquirer can freely choose to participate in the Rite of Acceptance and the Rite of Sending at the Cathedral. After the Rite of Acceptance, the inquirers are called Catechumens (those to be Baptized) and Candidates (those to receive Confirmation and Eucharist). On the Vigil of the First Sunday of Lent, our Catechumens, Candidates and their Sponsors traveled to the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul where Archbishop Nelson Perez formally recognized them not only as upcoming, fully initiated members of St. David Parish but also members of the Church of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Because Baptism is so important, our Catechumens became known as the Elect.
This Season of Lent is a time of reflection and conversion in particular for the Elect, marked by the Scrutinies which take place on the third, fourth and fifth Sundays of Lent. At the beginning of each Scrutiny, the celebrant asks the assembly to pray that the Elect are given a spirit of penance, a sense of sin and the true freedom of the children of God. Both the Elect and the Candidates prepare spiritually for the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation at the celebration of the Easter Vigil, April 19, 2025.
Throughout the Easter season and beyond, the newly received members of the parish will participate in a period of “Mystagogy” or deepening of the understanding of the truths of the Faith and the development of a personal relationship with Jesus, Mary and the Saints. They will also participate fully with the faithful in the Sunday Eucharistic Celebration.
Open your heart to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Is He urging you to deepen your understanding of the Catholic Faith and your relationship with the Lord Jesus? Is He urging you to prepare to receive the lifegiving grace of the Sacraments? Come, join us at CIA!
May God love and bless you! Sr. Kathleen Fitzpatrick, IHM