WHAT IS RCIA?

The RCIA stand for the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults.  This is a process for welcoming adult newcomers (inquirers) into the Roman Catholic Church.  The RCIA is a Community Journey that leads to a transformation of mind and spirit.  Guided by the Gospel and by the examples set by church members, newcomers can find their place in the community of believers.  It is also a Personal Journey in which church members reexamine their own relationship with God.  The enthusiastic and joyous response of newcomers to the discovery of Christ in their lives can spark renewed faith in the lives of other church members.

The RCIA helps fulfill a mission in which we are spreading the Good News of the Gospel as Jesus commanded.  "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation."  Mark 16:15   The Good News is the fact that God loves each and everyone person on this earth unconditionally and that God sent his only son to die for our sins. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal live."  John 3:16  God wants us to enter into a relationship with him and the RCIA helps us enter into a relationship with God and become a member of the Christian community.

What is the purpose of RCIA?

The main purpose of the rite is to assist prospective catholics in their journey to become active members of the church community.  The rite is also intend to revive the missionary spirit of all members of the faith community.

The RCIA program is intended to meet the needs of men and women who are:

• not baptized
• baptized in the Roman Catholic church but not evangelized or completely initiated
• baptized in another Christian church, but in need of further instruction and initiation

This site is still under construction, if you have any questions about the RCIA please do not hesitate to call St. Patrick at (601) 693-1321 or email us at info@stpatsofmeridian.org.