Journey of Faith
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Many parishes refer to this as the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) but we prefer the more descriptive term suggested by the story in the Gospel of Luke of Jesus meeting up with two disciples on the road to Emmaus. The Journey begins with the world famous Alpha course which invites participants to a strong connection with Jesus Christ.
Journey of Faith - the road to the Rites of adult Christian Initiation
The process is designed for those adults and children over the age of seven who are:- Unbaptized but have started to attend Mass regularly
- Baptized in another Christian tradition but feel drawn to explore faith in Christ through the prism of Catholic Tradition.
- Baptized Catholic but not raised very strongly in the Church and desire to complete their sacramental iniitiation.
- Children in the 3rd grade and above with at least one parent willing to participate in the adult Journey of Faith beginning with Alpha.
- The Rite of Acceptance/Welcome: Takes place within the context of a Sunday Mass. on or around the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord in January.Those wishing to enter into the second phase of the RCIA (the Precatechumenate or study phase) make a public commitment to accept the way of the cross, and the members of our parish family publicly welcome these individuals and promise to support them in their ongoing journey of faith. They 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 faith in Jesus Christ is rooted in the Sacred Scriptures.
- The Rite of Sending Forth is celebrated at Mass on the First Sunday of Lent. This is the rite in which the sponsors and the parish community affirm the readiness of these individuals for the Easter Sacraments and to pledge prayerful support for them. After inscribing their names in the Book of the Elect, they are sent forth to the Rite of Elect/Continuing Conversion where they will be presented to the Archbishop who will offcially call them to celebrate the Sacraments of Initiation during the Sacred Triduum..
- The Rite of Election,as referred to above, is celebrated at the Cathedral in Oklahoma City on the First Sunday of Lent. 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 Scrutinies: 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 to be ready to receive the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil. The Scrutinies are designed for the unbaptized, and take place during Masses on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays in Lent. The
The Sacrament of Penance is celebrated during Lent for those baptized in other faith communities. Each candidate for Full Communion makes an individual appointment to experience their first confession.