Rite of Christian Initiation of Teens (RCIT)

Vision:

RCIT is a process designed for Junior High and Senior High School teens, who desire to begin a journey of faith on the way to complete initiation into the Catholic faith.

It provides teens with the opportunity to examine their faith in Jesus Christ within the context of Catholic doctrine, tradition, and worship. The program is designed for:

• Teens who have never received baptism in any church
• Teens who were baptised and/ or received First Eucharist in the Catholic Church, but did not receive further catechetical formation and are seeking to complete their initiation through the sacrament of Confirmation and the Eucharist, if not yet received
• Teens who were baptized in another Christian Church and now wish to come into full communion with the Catholic Church

The program takes place within St. Michael's Catholic Community of the faithful, where the teens learn about their faith and the sacraments while their sponsor(s) and parent(s) join them in their spiritual growth. The process is a gradual one in which parishioners join with the candidates/catechumens, their sponsor(s) and parent(s) in their spiritual growth through:

• Sharing scripture
• Building community
• Celebrating liturgy
• Serving the needs of others

Philosophy:

The Christian initiation of the teens requires a personal desire and openness for conversion. The RCIT program provides opportunities for teens to hear the word of God, to accept the word, and choose to apply the word to their daily life. It invites the teens to grow spiritually and develop a closer relationship with our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Process:

It is a comprehensive process involving study, discussion, spiritual direction, prayer, and reflection on the Scriptures. The whole process focuses on conversion and includes four periods and three rites.

All of these stages of initiation take place in the midst of the community. In various rites, the faithful affirm their support for the catechumens. The daily lives of the faithful show the Christian life to the inquirers and catechumens. In turn, the faithful are strengthened and challenged in their faith by the presence of the catechumens.

The following four periods and three rites of RCIT highlight the journey to Christian initiation:

• Period I: Pre-Catechumenate

  The journey actually begins long before the participants come together to share in the formal process. During this period, it is a time for inquirers to share experiences and tell their own stories of faith, a time of asking questions about the Catholic Church, and a time of growth or renewal in Christian Conversion.

  Stage I: Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens

  The participants now arrive at their first step on the journey as they become firm in their desire for initiation into the Church. Through a special rite, they express their intention to respond to God's call to follow the way of Christ, and the Church accepts them as candidates for initiation.

• Period II Catechumenate

  The period of the Catechumenate is a time for the nurturing and growth of the candidate's faith, for deepening an initial conversion to Christ, and for entering into the Catholic tradition. The process occurs through reflecting upon the Scriptures and the teachings of the Church, through prayer and worship, and through participation in the apostolic life of the faith community.

  Stage II: Rite of Election (or Enrolment of Names)

  The candidates have shown a sincere desire to become one with the community and are ready for the second step in the initiation process. Through a special liturgical rite, the candidates officially request entrance to the Church through the Easter sacraments of initiation, and the Church formally ratifies their readiness to receive these sacraments.

• Period III: Purification and Enlightenment

  This is a time of reflection, prayer, and intense spiritual preparation. The elect enter into the 40 days of Lent to prepare themselves to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord at Easter and to receive the sacraments of initiation.

  Stage III: Rite of Initiation

  At this Stage, the candidates enter the community of the faithful through the sacraments of initiation, which are Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. This Rite of Initiation is celebrated during the Easter Vigil Liturgy

• Period IV: Mystagogy

  In the weeks which follow, the newly initiated meet together to share their experiences of the Easter sacraments and to grow toward a deeper understanding of the mysteries of our faith.

The Word:

The word of God is central to the formation in faith of catechumens (unbaptized) and candidates for full initiation. During Stage I: Rite of Acceptance, they are instructed "to understand the dignity of God's Word which is proclaimed and heard in the church" (RCIA #61). During Period II: Catechumenate Period, catechumens, and candidates will attend the Liturgy of the Word at the Life Teen Liturgy. After the liturgy of the word, they will be sent forth from the Mass with their catechist to "break open" the richness of God's word, which was proclaimed, to the assembly at the Sunday liturgy.

Breaking open the word allows the candidates/catechumens to review the readings and discuss what the readings are telling us. It also provides them with a deeper understanding of our faith.

Expectations:

The RCIT candidates/catechumens are required to select a sponsor who will attend the RCIT sessions with them and provide spiritual guidance and support while they journey through the initiation process. The sponsor should be a practising Catholic with a strong knowledge of our Catholic beliefs and traditions.

The RCIT candidates/catechumens are expected to attend on a regular basis, all weekly sessions with a parent and/or a sponsor. The support from a parent or a sponsor allows for the continual educational and spiritual growth of the teen.

The candidates/catechumens are expected to pray and to read the next Sunday's scriptures during the week and to journal on these scriptures. They are also expected to attend one retreat and to be present for the Rite of Acceptance, the Rite of Election, the Rite of Scrutiny and the Rite of Initiation. The Rite of Initiation takes place during the Easter Vigil Celebration.

The candidates/catechumens are expected and encouraged to attend the Life Teen/Family Mass.

Registration:

Anyone who is seeking a better understanding of the Catholic faith or who is interested in becoming a member of the Roman Catholic Church is invited to contact the parish office (403) 249 0423, local 115, for more information.

Who May Register:

While RCIT is designed to instruct those seeking to become Catholics, teens who just wish to learn about the Catholic faith, or who are unsure of their intentions toward conversion are welcome to attend RCIT sessions.

However, only those committed to seeking the full communion of the Catholic Church will be permitted to participate in the Rites of Acceptance, Election, and Initiation.

Teens of the Catholic faith who wish to deepen their relationship with Jesus are also welcome and encouraged to attend RCIT classes.