…Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age. (Mathew 28: 19-20)

God calls each of us in many different ways.  Some have never been to a church.  Others may have attended one church or another and never found what they are looking for.  Still others may have attended a Catholic Church for years, but never took the opportunity to become fully initiated.  Regardless of where you are in your faith journey, the RCIA can help guide you. 

The best way to learn about the Catholic Faith is from other Catholics, and the best place to meet and get to know other Catholics is at Sunday Mass.  The Church doors are open to anyone and everyone, and while a non-Catholic is not allowed to receive Holy Communion, they are welcome to receive a blessing from the Eucharistic Minister, and participate fully in the experience of the Liturgy.   

Many non-Catholics can feel intimidated when attending Mass because they don’t know what to do… when to kneel, when to stand, what to say.  Don’t worry...  Just be attentive to what’s going on around you and follow along.  The truth is that many Catholics sometimes are unsure what to do, especially if they are visiting from another parish that may have certain other local customs.  Overall, the structure of the Mass is universal… the same for every Catholic Church on earth.  It’s part of what binds us together as community.  There are, however some minor differences in certain actions due to local custom or parish tradition, such as whether you stand or kneel during the Eucharistic prayer.  Just watch and follow along. 

The Church recognizes, however, that you can’t learn everything you need to know, or find answers to all your questions through participation in Mass alone.  This is where the RCIA process comes in.  The RCIA is for: 

 Our Lady of Refuge has a diverse group of individuals participating in the RCIA, coming from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, all of whom may be at a different point in their faith journey.  This makes for lively discussion as participants learn from each other as they are lead by a team of experienced facilitators. 

The RCIA is not a series of classes you take in order to graduate as a Catholic.  Rather, it is a process of conversion to the Christian life.  It involves building an ongoing, life long relationship with God and the Church.  Making such a commitment takes time and requires serious discernment.  How long this process takes depends on the individual and their personal experience.   

The RCIA program at Our Lady of Refuge follows the guidelines set forth by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the North American Forum on the Catechuminate using what is commonly referred to as the “two year” process, with the Period of the Catechuminate lasting at least one full year.  It assumes that those going through the process have little or no knowledge of Jesus, his Gospel, or the Church, but those who do have some prior experience with the Catholic faith, or those who have had some level of Christian formation usually complete the process in less time.