Each year men and women embark on an exploration of the Catholic faith.
Some are deciding if they are called into the Catholic Church, others have been Catholic all their lives
and are now interested in discovering what this really means.
Together we witness to the fact that our search for God
is a lifelong journey,
a journey on which we make the most progress
when we walk it with others.
Questions About RCIA
What is RCIA?
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, or RCIA, is a process of faith formation that presents an adult exploration of the Catholic faith. RCIA is a chance for people to learn the basics of what it means to be Catholic, to ask their burning questions, and to seek ways to more fully open their lives to Jesus Christ. RCIA is primarily for adults considering becoming Catholic and for Catholics who were never confirmed. RCIA prepares men and women to make a conscious choice whether or not they want receive the sacraments of initiation offered by the Catholic Church (Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation).
What is the time commitment for RCIA?
The RCIA process at St. Thomas Parish is open-ended, and group members progress at their own pace. Inquirers are accepted at any time throughout the year, and full initiation into the Catholic Church occurs when each person is ready to accept the responsibilities of being a Catholic. The sacraments for adults are usually celebrated at the Easter Vigil. We recognize that many people have work and family schedules so our team works with each person to meet their availability. In addition, there may be other commitments depending on what part of the process you're going through.
What if I'm not sure I want to become Catholic, or be confirmed?
Not a problem! In fact, we're assuming that this is the case. Our RCIA is structured in a way that invites you to make smaller commitments until you're sure you want to proceed. The initial meetings are designed to answer some basic questions, and give you a feel for what the journey will be like. After the first few gatherings, we'll explore the core Christian message while beginning to answer your most burning questions. When you are ready, we invite you to decide where you'd like this process to take you.
If I'm already a baptized Catholic, but have not received Confirmation, what can I do?
Confirmation is supposed to be the time when we choose the Catholic faith for ourselves at the "age of reason," but many of us realize that we weren't really aware enough to say "yes." Often, we don't really engage in our spiritual journey until much later in life. It's not uncommon for us to realize as adults that we want to know more about our faith, and to wrestling with some of the more difficult questions we have. We invite you to meet with our RCIA director and see how you would fit into the RCIA process.
Is there any cost associated with RCIA?
None whatsoever.
I still have questions. Who can I talk to?
Where do I sign up?
If you would like more information about the R.C.I.A. Process at St. Thomas Parish, please complete our online request form...
Couples planning marriage are expected to to meet several times with the priest who will preside at the wedding liturgy or the Deacon. The period of preparation requires one year, so that all arrangements can be worked out well before the wedding. Either the bride or the groom must be a registered member of the parish. Call the parish office to check calendar for church availability.
