Evangelization Organizations
Growing the Faith of Grownups
At St Andrew's we recognize that the faith of children is primarily
influenced by parents and other adults. Adult CCD helps adults to develop
a faith that makes connections between how we pray on Sundays and how we
live the week around...a faith that really works...a living faith that
makes a difference.
In the Fall of 2006 we initiated a year round program of faith
enrichment opportunities for adults. It is organized around Six Week
Sessions on varying topics. These will be held at three different times of
the year with generous breaks in between each "semester".
Journey of Faith - Rites of Christian Initiation
The RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is a process whereby
those interested in learning about the Catholic faith come together on a
weekly basis to learn about the scriptures and the teachings of the Roman
Catholic Church, and at the same time, to discover where God is present in
their lives.
The process is designed for those adults and children over the age of
seven who are:
- Un-baptized
- Baptized in another tradition
- Baptized Catholic, but with no further religious training or
sacraments
There are four rites:
- The Rite of Acceptance: This is the first rite of the RCIA process.
It takes place within the context of a Sunday Mass. Those wishing to
enter into the second phase of the RCIA (the Precatechumenate or study
phase) make a public commitment to accept way of the cross, and the
worshipping community, the members of our parish family, publicly
welcome these individuals and promise to support them in their ongoing
journey of faith. The candidates (baptized) and catechumens
(un-baptized) are signed with the sign of the cross to remind them of
their commitment, and they also receive the Word of God, to remind them
that the Scriptures are the source of our faith.
- The Rite of Sending: The second rite is celebrated in our parish the
week before the Rite of Election, and is a sending forth rite, which
symbolizes the parish sending the candidates to the cathedral the next
week with our love, prayers and support.
- The Rite of Election: The third rite is a celebration that is held
at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral in Oklahoma City. It is also
celebrated on the same day at all Dioceses in the world. Those wishing
to be Baptized or Received in to Full Communion of the Catholic Church
come together to officially enter their names in the "Book of the
Elect," which signifies their intention to be initiated at the Easter
Vigil. The Bishop joyfully welcomes those to be baptized as children of
God, as well as those who have already been baptized but seek full
communion of the Catholic Church.
- The Pennitential Rite and Scrutinies: The the Penitential Rite and
the 3 Scrutinies are rites designed to help those seeking initiation
into the Catholic Church to overcome their areas of weakness, and to
strengthen their areas of goodness. The parish family joins in prayer
with them, asking God to purify them and help them be ready to receive
the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil. The Scrutinies are
designed for the unbaptized, and take place at 3 separate Masses in the
3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays in Lent. The Penitential Rite is designed for
the Baptized, and takes place during a Mass on the 2nd Sunday in Lent.
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