Rite of acceptance 2011-2012- Briefing

Who am I and what is the meaning and purpose of life? 24-Jul-11Who is God?

31-Jul-11Who is Jesus Christ

7-Aug-11Briefing of Sponsors ( concurrent) 14-Aug-11What has faith got to do with my life? 14-Aug-11

RITE OF ACCEPTANCE**•God’s plan for us•Jesus and His Ministry•The Teachings of the Church•The Sacraments 21-Aug-11

RITE OF ELECTION (1ST Sunday of Lent)26-Feb-12

RITE OF ELECTION (1ST Sunday of Lent)26-Feb-12

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION- BAPTISM (EASTER VIGIL) 7-Apr-12

RITE OF ACCEPTANCE** & Introduction to the Bible. 21-Aug-11

RITE OF ELECTION (1ST Sunday of Lent)26-Feb-12

Ist Scrutiny: I am the Living Water**11-Mar-12

2nd Scrutiny: I am the Light of the World**18-Mar-12

3rdScrutiny: I am the Resurrection and the Life** 25-Mar-12

WHAT IS A RITE?’

IT REFERS TO THE WORDS AND ACTIONS USED IN LITURGICAL ACTS, SUCH AS THE MASS, THE SACRAMENTS AND OTHER FEASTS

LITURGICAL RITES OF THE RCIA :-•ARE GATEWAYS AND SOURCES OF GRACE FOR CONVERSION.

•MARKS AN INQUIRER’S MOVEMENT FROM ONE PERIOD TO THE NEXT AS A SIGN OF HIS/HER SPIRITUAL PROGRESS.

What happens in this Rite?•In this Rite, the inquirers express their desire to respond to Christ’s call to enter more deeply into a relationship with Him and in turn the community pledge their support for the catechumens.

•The Rite includes signing the inquirers on their forehead and over their other senses by the celebrant with the sign of the cross.

•This ritual of signing the senses, highlights one important understanding of this sacramental action : the manifested presence of Christ who really and truly strengthens the inquirers

The purpose of the The purpose of the RiteRite:: To gather Inquirers and Catechists before the To gather Inquirers and Catechists before the

assembled Church for the first timeassembled Church for the first time To permit Inquirers to publicly declare their intentions To permit Inquirers to publicly declare their intentions

to become members of the Church to become members of the Church To recognize the role of their SponsorsTo recognize the role of their Sponsors To publicly join Inquirers to the ChurchTo publicly join Inquirers to the Church To distinguish To distinguish CatechumensCatechumens (the unbaptized) from (the unbaptized) from

the the Candidates Candidates (baptized Christians of other (baptized Christians of other traditions)traditions)

((Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults,Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, 41-45) 41-45)

What happens:What happens: Inquirers who are ready for the Catechumenate will Inquirers who are ready for the Catechumenate will

gather at the 5.00pm Mass on 21gather at the 5.00pm Mass on 21stst August, with their August, with their sponsors if they are available. Pews will be reserved sponsors if they are available. Pews will be reserved for them and their families in Churchfor them and their families in Church

The Rite will take place immediately after the Homily.The Rite will take place immediately after the Homily. Inquirers, Sponsors, and Team members will be called Inquirers, Sponsors, and Team members will be called

to stand before the Assembly, facing the altar.to stand before the Assembly, facing the altar.

What happens:What happens: And what happens next? And what happens next? Signing of the cross on the Signing of the cross on the forehead and over their forehead and over their

other senses by the celebrant with the sign of the other senses by the celebrant with the sign of the cross. cross. (ears, eyes, lips, shoulder and heart )(ears, eyes, lips, shoulder and heart )

The person will say “….”The person will say “….” You respond by saying “…. “You respond by saying “…. “ After the After the RiteRite concludes, the new Catechumens and concludes, the new Catechumens and

new Candidates, together with their sponsors and the new Candidates, together with their sponsors and the RCIA team will process out of the Church.RCIA team will process out of the Church.

THE LITURGICAL RITETHE LITURGICAL RITETHE RITE OF ACCEPTANCETHE RITE OF ACCEPTANCE

2121STST August 2011 August 2011

The Rite of Acceptance marks the beginning of the Catechumenate period.

The enquirers express and the Church accepts their intention to respond to God’s call to follow the way of Christ

Expectations during the Catechumenate:Expectations during the Catechumenate: The Parish Community: Active prayers, support, The Parish Community: Active prayers, support,

encouragement during the Dismissals and Rites, encouragement during the Dismissals and Rites, and an open invitation to Catechumens/Candidates and an open invitation to Catechumens/Candidates to begin taking part in the apostolic work and life of to begin taking part in the apostolic work and life of

the Church (the Church (RCIA RCIA 75, 4)75, 4)

The Clergy: Pastoral formation and guidance, The Clergy: Pastoral formation and guidance, recognition and support; done privately with each recognition and support; done privately with each participant and publicly in the life of the Church participant and publicly in the life of the Church and in liturgies with the Assembly (75, 1)and in liturgies with the Assembly (75, 1)

Expectations during the Catechumenate:Expectations during the Catechumenate: The RCIA Team: Lessons, appropriate materials, The RCIA Team: Lessons, appropriate materials,

listening, and the “tools” for participants to listening, and the “tools” for participants to “set out on a spiritual journey…from an old nature “set out on a spiritual journey…from an old nature to a new one made perfect in Christ” (75, 2)to a new one made perfect in Christ” (75, 2)

The Sponsors: Attendance with their participant at The Sponsors: Attendance with their participant at all sessions and Rites as scheduled. Sponsors also all sessions and Rites as scheduled. Sponsors also communicate with the clergy and the RCIA as communicate with the clergy and the RCIA as necessary about any special needs or situations that necessary about any special needs or situations that may arisemay arise