The RCIA

Rites of Christian Initiation of Adults

by Peggy Lovrien

It is easy to notice people who are kind and full of compasion for others.  They are the ones who introduce patience into frustrating situations.  They listen well to others but they seldom pass on juicy gossip about other people.  They carry out their work with ethical justice and their vocabulary is void of the words one hears on the street.  One notices them.  Feel free to approach them and ask them why they behave as they do.  You just might hear about the virtues of God and their active intent to put those virtues into practice.  You might hear a person like this talk about his or her journey in life as one of constant change, that is, changing one's life to mirror the life of Jesus.  You will learn that Catholics believe change, or conversion of one's life into the life of Jesus, is a life long committment.

The Catholic Church has a way to begin a beautiful life like this.  It is called the RCIA or Rites of Christian Initiation of Adults.  It is a period of time that marks one's journey in conversion. 

God calls individuals to conversion, that is, to enter into change.  Individuals can always change their lives to mirror the life of Jesus.   God's ways are clearly articulated in the Bible.  Catholics help people to discover how God loves all people and always initiates his affection. 

We can learn about God's loving ways in the Old Testament and the New Testament of the Bible.  Like a faithful and ever present parent, God has stood by throughout human history waiting for us to mature.  As a People, we stumble, fall, call each other names, and strike at each other but God waits for us to mature and sends us messengers to guide us through it all. 

The RCIA process gives you, the seeker, faithfilled people from the local parish who knows what it means to seek the goodness of God and to listen to God's messengers.  All their lives, these Catholics return to the Eucharist weekly to be nourished by Word and Sacrament.  Through this weekly, and sometimes daily, ritual prayer with the community of believers, Catholics deepen their wisdom and understanding about God and God's ways. 

You will want to meet these people.  They will inspire you with faith, compassion, love, kindness, and zeal to bring dignity and grace to all God's people.  They aren't perfect.  None of us are.  But they all believe that imperfection is hooked by God's love always reeling us back into the boat, the Church, in order to learn how to "walk on water" like Christ, calling others into the unbelievable love of God.

We call them, the RCIA team.  Really, they are people just like you.  They have jobs, family commitments, and friends.  What makes them unique is their faith in God.

You can be unique like them.  Go to this link and look up your local Catholic parish in southern Minnesota.  It is time to be around people who strive to be people of God's love.   Come and see.