The Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens is the first of the “threshold rites” of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) process. Many of the men and women who began the RCIA process at our parish in late August will participate in the Rite of Acceptance this Sunday, 1 December at the 8.45 Mass so the entire People of God can take an active part in the celebration. The Inquirers who are ready to participate have found in these past three months a beginning or deepening of their spiritual life, the fundamentals of Christian teaching beginning to guide and direct their lives in the work of conversion and prayer, and a desire to share in the community life of faith that is the Church. At the Rite of Acceptance these men and women will state their intention of becoming Catholic to the Church, and the Church in turn, will accept them as persons to become her members. These men and women began RCIA as Inquirers and by the celebration of the Rite of Acceptance, a change in identity occurs as they will now become Catechumens or Candidates. Some of these men and women have not been baptized and will become Catechumens – that is, those who will begin a journey to prepare for their Initiation into Jesus Christ and His Church by way of Baptism, Confirmation and holy Eucharist. After this ritual, the Catechumens are embraced by the Church as her own with a mother’s love and concern and considered part of the household of Jesus Christ. The ritual calls this rite “the first consecration by the Church” of those Inquirers who become Catechumens, they are literally marked with the cross of Christ as God’s own. Other men and women in the RCIA process have been validly baptized in Protestant or Evangelical Communities and desire to come into full communion with the Church and complete their Christian Initiation with the sacraments of Confirmation and holy Communion, these men and women will become Candidates.
Inquirers to become Catechumens: Shannon Hubbard and Cody McClain
Inquirers to become Candidates: Emily Anson, Peter Anson, Brian Evans, Susan Evans, Jason Green, Alison Helser, Holly Landis, and Judith McGonagle
For all of them, we give thanks and praise to God who has led them here to this moment. In celebration of God’s work in them, and their response, a reception will follow the 8.45 Mass in the Spirit Center. All are invited to attend, meet our Catechumens and Candidates, and share in their joy.