Are you an adult, interested in joining the Catholic Church?

You don't know where to start, what to do? RCIA is the answer! What is RCIA? RCIA stands for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. It is the official process through which adults are initiated into full participation in the Catholic Church, including baptism, confirmation, and communion.

How does it work?

Every year between late September and April (or 2-3 weeks after the Easter Vigil), an RCIA group meets on Wednesday nights for two hours at St. James, to share faith experiences and learn the teachings of the Church. Usually, there are 15-20 people seeking initiation. Each is paired with a sponsor, someone who is a full member of the Church and who leads the candidate through the process. There is also an RCIA team, made up of ten people who lead the weekly sessions.

Do I need a sponsor?

Every candidate needs a sponsor and it is a rewarding experience if your sponsor is someone you know, such as a Catholic friend or spouse. Every year, however, about half of the candidates do not have a specific sponsor in mind. In those cases, the RCIA team will pair a candidate with a sponsor, drawn from a list of volunteers from St. James. We will find a sponsor if you need one!

What happens at RCIA?

The RCIA group meets weekly between October and April. The weekly meetings last two hours, although there are no meetings during the Christmas season. In addition, there are several special events, including a weekend retreat in the spring. The meetings do two things: teach the candidates about the Catholic Church, and allow sponsors, candidates, and team members alike to share their faith experiences. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic, such as the Scripture, social teaching of the Church, or the meaning of the Eucharist. The process ends with baptisms, confirmations, and first communions in a beautiful ceremony the night before Easter.

Isn't seven months too long?

No! It's too short! Candidates, sponsors, and team members become friends over this time and most hate to see it end. And there is a great deal of material to be covered, from the history of the church to the meaning of various liturgies.

Okay, I want to join. What do I do?

You may call Father Richard Blinn at (530) 756-3636, extension 204 or RCIA Coordinator Roy Bibbens at (530) 756-3636, extension 307. Either will be able to give you additional information about the various stages of the RCIA program. If you have a sponsor in mind, you may wish to meet with Father Richard or Roy together with your sponsor. There is no cost for the program, except for a small fee for the weekend retreat.