Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)

RCIA Coordinator: Teresa Crichton
The Catholic Diocese of Colorado Springs  Sacramental Preparation Policies

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Interested in becoming Catholic?
Please fill out the form below or contact Teresa Crichton (719-481-3511 ext. 1090).

Who should attend inquiry meetings?
Inquiry meetings are for any adults (18+) who are considering either being baptized into the Catholic faith, or adults who are interested in joining the church from another faith.  These classes are also used for catechizing adults who still need to make either their First Communion or Confirmation.  In these meetings, we discuss basic beliefs and teach basic prayers of the Catholic faith.  It is non-committal.  These meetings are designed to help discern whether a person wants to continue with the RCIA process through which they will begin to directly prepare to receive the sacraments.

For more information, or if you have any questions, please contact Teresa Crichton (719-481-3511 ext. 1090).

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Neophytes
The Neophytes ministry is a continuation of RCIA. Following the RCIA year, the neophyte year brings the neophytes (formerly candidates or catechumens) and their sponsors to continue to meet and learn more about being Catholic and inviting them to discern where God is calling them to be in the various ministries of the Church and community.

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What is RCIA
The RCIA is a communal process and involves a number of stages punctuated by liturgical rites to aid and assist the potential convert toward the final rite, usually at the Easter Vigil at which time they will become full members of the Catholic Church, with reception of appropriate sacraments. The entire process at St. Peter takes several months, from the fall of the year to the next Easter vigil.

The process includes Catechumens, Candidates and Inquirers. Catechumens are people who have never been baptized by any Christian Church. Candidates are individuals who have been baptized in any Christian church (including Roman Catholics) but have not been confirmed in the Catholic Church. Inquirers are those who want to know more about the Roman Catholic Church; the Inquirers who wish to continue move onto the next stage to become Catechumens or Candidates.

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