RCIA welcomes new Catholics into church community

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
Sept. 27, 2007

Debbie Weber started the process of becoming Catholic about two weeks ago at Sacred Heart Church in Boone.

"My granddaughter goes to school at Sacred Heart, so I have attended some activities with her," said Weber. "Her education at the school has been very good religious wise. I want to share this with my granddaughter."

Weber, who comes from a Protestant background, said she likes the rituals of the Catholic Church.

"It is more conservative and that is what I am seeking," said Weber. "I really get a good feeling when I go to the Mass. I hope this (RCIA) enriches my faith. I hope to become more involved other than just going to Mass."

RCIA, which stands for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, is a process through which men and women enter the Catholic Church. It includes several stages marked by study, prayer and rites at Mass.

Those joining the church are catechumens or candidates. Catechumens have not been baptized and candidates have been baptized in either the Catholic Church or in a Protestant community.

The catechumens and candidates undergo a process of conversion as they study the Gospel and profess faith in Jesus and the Catholic Church.

Mark Thomason, director of catechesis, evangelization and RCIA for the Diocese of Sioux City, said that RCIA programs are as varied as the parishes in the diocese are varied.

"It should be a personal approach to the faith," he said. "We are working on having a universalized core curriculum, but at the same time having enough flexibility to learn what they personally need."

During the RCIA process, the participants learn about the basic tenants of the faith - the four pillars of the catechism, Scripture, the pope, Mary, the sacraments and many other aspects of the Catholic faith.

The RCIA process follows the ancient practice of the church and was restored by the Second Vatican Council. In 1974 the Rite for Christian Initiation for Adults was formally approved for use in the United States.

At the end of the process, catechumens receive the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and Holy Eucharist at Easter Vigil. The candidates receive confirmation and Holy Eucharist.

The process does not end at Easter Vigil. At most parishes, classes continue a few weeks after Easter.

"As a diocese, we are offering four RCIA follow-up sessions as well," said Thomason. "The goal for that is to get the larger RCIA community together so that people can meet other people who have gone on the same journey. What I am hoping is that people can network with other converts and be inspired to stick around longer."

He said the average number of people entering the Catholic Church in the diocese is 150 per year.

Last year at this time Larry Haitz was a candidate in RCIA at St. Boniface Parish in Sioux City. This year he is part of RCIA as a team member. He likes how the Catholic Church follows the Bible as opposed to some of the Protestant churches.

"I enjoyed it and they asked for help this year," he said. "Being a candidate, I didn't know what to expect. It will be a little different than it was last year."

RCIA answered a lot of questions for Haitz.

"I have studied it (Catholicism) for a long time, but there were some things I still didn't get," he said. "RCIA explained quite well everything I needed to know."

At Holy Family Parish in Emmetsburg, parishioner Mary Ann Young began her 10th year as an RCIA team member this month.

"I gain so much from it every year," she said. "As I told the group the other night, I gain so much because of the give and take and the different participants. The whole thing is you not only learn about other people but you help them strengthen their faith. I pray that they are given the gift of faith."

She said each pastor has a different way of teaching and presiding over the group, which helps her continue to learn.

Father Clement Currans, pastor at Holy Family in Emmetsburg and head of RCIA, said it is a great program. This year there are four candidates and one catechumen at Holy Family.

"New parishioners bring a new energy to any church community," said the priest. "It is probably one of the better programs that came out of Vatican II."

As a team member for three years at St. Joseph Parish in Le Mars, Mary Ann Ruether, said she likes to share her faith and to walk the journey with those who are contemplating coming into the church. Seeing the progress of the candidates as the process goes along has strengthened her faith.

"Learning more through this process has made me come to a better understanding of the faith," she said. "We need to keep journeying and learning. When you participate in the Mass or the sacraments, it is not a boring thing. It is an enriching thing because you understand the why, the how and the what for."

RCIA programs have started at most parishes in the Diocese of Sioux City. Depending on the parish, there may still be time to join RCIA this year.

Anyone interested in more information about RCIA should visit the Diocese of Sioux City Web site at www.scdiocese.org or call their local parish.