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Evangelization
Mission Statement
The mission of evangelization at Holy Angels is to work
to fulfill the
plan of God the Father that every person be saved from sin and become
His
child and a member of His family, the Catholic Church, through faith
and
baptism in His Son, Jesus. As devoted followers of Jesus, this
mission
is shared by every member of Holy Angels as they seek to spread this
good
news to all the people they encounter in their daily lives.
Adult Education
Speakers 2009
R.C.I.A.
Rite
of Christian Initiation
of Adults
- How does one become Catholic?
- What is the R.C.I.A.?
- Why become Catholic?
How does one become a Catholic?
The Catholic Church is a family of
faith.
To become a member of this family it is necessary that a period of
formation
take place. The goal of this formation is to pass on the heritage
of our family. This heritage includes what we believe, how we
worship
God, and how we live as disciples of Jesus. How long and what
this
period of formation looks like depends on your personal situation.
- Not Baptized: If
you are not baptized,
you must go through the R.C.I.A. process and receive the Sacraments of
Initiation at the Easter Vigil.
- Baptized/Not
Catechized: If you are
baptized, but were not raised in a practicing Christian family, you
also
would need to go through the R.C.I.A. process.
- Baptized/Catechized:
Finally,
if you
are baptized and were raised in a practicing Christian family and have
extensive connection to the Catholic Church, you do not have to go
through
the entire R.C.I.A. process. A shorter time of preparation is
necessary
and you may be received into the Church whenever you are ready.
In all situations, the first step is
to contact your
local parish and speak to a priest or the Director of the R.C.I.A.
program.
At Holy Angels, please call (630) 897-1194.
What is the R.C.I.A.?
The R.C.I.A. is the process by
which adults and
their children become members of the Catholic Church. The process
is based on the Catechumenate which the early Church used to facilitate
the formation necessary for a convert to follow in the footsteps of
Christ.
Like the process in the early
Church, the formation
is sensitive to your individual needs before you make any commitment to
the Catholic Church. Therefore, the process is divided into four
periods. The periods are as follows.
Period of Inquiry
This first period focuses on
presenting the basics
of the Catholic faith and answering any questions you have. (You
may continue to attend Catholic Inquiry sessions for as long as you
desire.
No commitments are made or expected during this time.) If, after
having your questions answered and hearing the faith simply and clearly
presented, your interest in becoming Catholic has changed to a desire
to
enter the Church, you are ready for the next step. The length of
this period depends on the need of the individual.
Period of the Catechumenate
This period begins with a public
ceremony in
the Church called the Rite of Acceptance. In this Rite you become
a member of the Church, although not a fully initiated member.
The
formation of this period consists of a comprehensive presentation of
the
faith, introduction into the life (prayer and worship) of the Church,
and
guidance in living a moral life. Once this formation is complete
you are ready to move forward. Again, the length of this period
depends
on the needs of each individual.
Period of Enlightenment
This period begins with another
public ceremony
called the Rite of Election. In this Rite, you come before the
bishop
and reaffirm your intention to join the Church. You have now
entered
the final period of preparation before fully entering the Church
through
the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and
Eucharist).
The formation of this period is much more reflective and prayerful as
you
get ready to receive the great gifts of grace from your Lord. the
season of Lent is when this formation takes place.
Initiation
At the Easter Vigil, held Holy
Saturday evening,
you will receive the Sacraments of Initiation and become a fully
initiated
member of the Church. As the Church celebrates Christ's
resurrection,
you will become a new creation through these sacraments.
Period of Postbaptismal
Catechesis
During the weeks of the Easter Season
you will
learn at a new level the great mysteries you have received and the
mission
to witness the love of Christ to the world. This occurs because
of
the grace you have received in the sacraments. This final period
is a reminder that the initiation process is not the end of becoming a
Christian, but merely the beginning of becoming one.
Why become Catholic?
For every individual the answer is different. But,
from the perspective
of the Catholic Church there is one answer that applies to every man,
woman,
and child. God wants all mankind to be united into one holy
family
worshiping Him in Spirit and truth. Christ established the
Catholic
Church to be the family of God. This role was given to her by
Christ
when He said, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit..."(Matthew
28:19) Christ gave the Apostles the fullness of truth and grace
in
order that the Church could accomplish her mission. That fullness
still resides in the Catholic Church through her teachings and
sacraments.
I invite you to come and see if the Church truly is what
she believes
herself to be, the family of God established by Christ. To learn
more about the Church, please contact your local priest or call the
Holy
Angels Parish Center at (630)897-1194.
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