Becoming Catholic (Formally RCIA)

The Becoming Catholic Program (formally RCIA) is the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and also called the Baptismal Catechumenate.

This is the process of initiation into the Catholic Community of Faith for persons who are experiencing a conversion in their lives and seeking either Christian baptism in the Catholic Church or full Communion with the Catholic tradition of Eucharist and Confirmation. It is a journey that enables the study of the Gospels, Catholic Christian teaching, the acceptance of Christian values and morality, and the development and deepening of a life of prayer and action with the support and involvement of the local Christian community. The Becoming Catholic Program is more than a course of instruction. Ultimately, it is a process of conversion, designed to meet the unique and individual needs of the participants and to foster a personal relationship with God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

The Five Stages of the Becoming Catholic Process: 

• Inquiry or Pre-Catechumenate. At this time participants are encouraged to ask questions and explore the basic tenets of the Catholic faith and to reflect upon these in light of their own life experiences. There is no commitment required at this stage. Depending on their personal journey and readiness, this stage can last from a handful of weeks to months or years. 

• The Catechumenate. When a person is ready for a greater commitment to the faith and desires to move towards receiving the sacraments, this is when they enter the Catechumenate after going through the Rite of Acceptance. It is during this time that most of their study consists of deepening their knowledge and understanding of the faith while drawing closer to Christ. One can only enter the Catechumenate after attending the Inquiry and setting up an interview. 

• Purification & Enlightenment. For those preparing for baptism, this stage takes place during the Lenten season when they reflect upon their own faith experiences in a more intense, prayerful way. 

• Sacraments of Initiation. Candidates for baptism celebrate their initiation into the Church on the holiest of nights-the Easter Vigil – where they are baptized, confirmed, and receive the Eucharist. For those who have already been baptized, but have not received their confirmation or Eucharist, they, too, will receive their sacraments during the Easter Vigil. 

• Mystagogia. This is a time for fully initiated members of our community to reflect upon their experiences of being new Catholic Christians and find their place in the ordinary life of the Church. Although formally, mystagogia usually takes place from Easter to Pentecost, we are called to continue our faith journey and growth for the rest of our lives. 

Interested in Becoming Catholic and Entering the Program?

To begin, it is essential to establish a clear understanding of the correct path with Juliann Dwyer. Following this, you will participate in the Inquiry sessions held on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month in the Chapel. The schedule is provided below for your reference. Inquiry is an ongoing process that does not have a set start or end date and will continue throughout the year. For further information or to contact Juliann, please reach out to her at 702-476-2281 or juliannd@stmlv.org

We also have Becoming Catholic Elementary and Becoming Catholic Teen. For more information, please contact Lety Cano at letyc@stmlv.org or 725-204-9912.

Interested in being a Sponsor?
You must be baptized and confirmed and if married (married in the church) to be a sponsor. The sponsor accompanies and supports the catechumen, candidate or confirmand during the various rites and to Mass. The sponsor is also a listener and mentor, sharing with their catechumen or candidate their love for the faith. For further information or to contact Juliann, please reach out to her at 702-476-2281 or juliannd@stmlv.org