RCIA

Are you interested in learning more about the Catholic Church?

Are you a baptized Catholic who has been away from active membership in the church and wish to return?

Are you feeling that the Lord is calling or urging you to come to him?

Are you concerned that your marriage would prohibit your joining the church?

Then we invite you to come and be part of our RCIA journey. It begins in September and you are invited to join us. Read the brief outline below and complete the brief on line registration. We’ll be glad to call and extend a personal invitation and to answer any of your questions.

Each year, many people come to a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ through the Catholic Church. The RICA process here at St. Francis provides a personal, gentle, guided journey for those adults wishing to learn more about and join in full communion with the Church as new members or people seeking to return to the church The modern RICA is modeled after the Catechumenate practices of the early Church when adults who sought entry proceeded through various stages of growth and formation.

Here at St. Francis, our Catechumens meet together each Wednesday evening at 7:30 P.M. for 90 minutes from mid-September thru just after Easter. In these meetings, which are led by priests, deacons and members of our parish community, Catechumens share prayer, faith experiences, study Church teachings, traditions and beliefs. In addition to meetings, there are periodic liturgical rites which are celebrated as the Catechumen proceeds to an understanding of faith and love as Catholic men and women to be.

In 1988 the Catholic Bishops of the United States directed that adults wishing to become Catholics do so as set forth in the RICA process. The process stresses the connection between the three sacraments of Christian initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. At the annual Easter Vigil mass, the elect (adults who have completed the process and make the decision to become Catholic) are welcomed into the church with the reception of these sacraments of initiation.

The members of our RCIA team of priests, deacons and lay people want to help you answer the question: “To what may God be Calling you?” 

We are committed to helping you on your journey and look forward to speaking with you!

We also provide RCIC, the Rite of Christian Initiation for Children, for teens who may have missed out on their early sacraments. This program typically runs parallel with the Faith Formation and takes place on Sundays after the 4:30 PM Mass.