ST MARY OF THE ANGELS

Boulcott Street     Wellington     New Zealand

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Becoming A Catholic

• Are you interested in becoming a Catholic?
• Right of Christian Initiation of Adults(RCIA) - Background
• Overview of the RCIA Programme at St Marys
• The RCIA Programme for 2008-09
• The Catholic Enquiry Centre

Interested in the Possibility of Becoming a Catholic?

Do you want in a gentle, non-obligating, non-threatening way, to join with others to find out more about the Catholic experience, faith and life?

We are offering a reflective process called RCIA that leaves you free to respond and choose: Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.

For information and discussion about RCIA come (feel free to bring a friend) to one of the two enquiry Meetings.

• St Mary of the Angels Parish Hall Boulcott Street (across lawn from the Church)
• 7.30 pm - 9.00 pm on Tuesday 19th & 26th August 2008.
• RCIA evenings begin 7.30pm Tuesday 2 September 2008
• Presenters: Cecilia Kim, Dr Kathy Orr-Nimmo, Fr Thige O’Leary sm.

The RCIA programme is the ancient process of Christian Initiation designed for adults who consciously and freely seek the living God and wish to enter the way of faith and conversion as the Holy Spirit opens their hearts. This process is especially designed for persons who think they would like to be in full communion with the Catholic Tradition.

The RCIA programme is for Catechumens – adults who have never been baptised; and Candidates – adults who have received Christian baptism and who now wish to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church. It is for men and women of every culture, language and nation.

RCIA is also for the Catholic people of the parish. RCIA needs the support of the Catholic community as helpers, sponsors and assistant catechists. RCIA needs members of the parish because the proper context for Catechumens and Candidates to explore the Catholic Faith is within a Catholic community. Catholics benefit immensely from the programme.

If you wish to discuss becoming a Catholic at any time please contact one of our Pastoral Team through the parish office phone (04) 473-8074

At St Mary of the Angels, the RCIA programme begins with two Enquiry Meetings (usually in August each year) for those who are interested in learning about the Catholic Faith and who are considering the possibility of becoming a Catholic. The Enquiry Meetings are an opportunity to ask questions and decide whether or not you want to participate in the programme.

The RCIA programme itself begins in September with a weekly, one-and-a-half hour meeting. Meetings go through until December and resume after Christmas. The format of meetings consists of prayer, instruction, reflection and discussion. The season of Lent is a special time of focus for those Catechumens and Candidates who choose to become Catholics. Their decision is sealed on Easter Saturday night when the Catechumens receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation & Holy Eucharist, and the Candidates are received formally into the Catholic Church with the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist. The season of Eastertide is a special time for further instruction, consolidation and support for the new Catholics.

• Enquiry Meetings : Parish Hall, 7:30-9pm, Tuesday 19 or Tuesday 26 August 2008 (attendance at only one meeting required).
• RCIA Programme : 7:30-9pm, Tuesdays starting 2 September 2008 up to and including 9 December. Then Tuesdays from 20 January 2009 through to the Tuesday before Easter 7 April 2009.
• Baptism and Reception into the Catholic Church for those who are ready : Easter Saturday night, 11 April 2009.
• Mystagogy Programme for newly Baptised and newly Received Catholics: 7:30pm-9pm Tuesdays from 14 April 2009 until Tuesday before Pentecost Sunday (31 May 2009).
• Sunday Eucharist: throughout this time of meeting and reflection (2 September 2008 to 31 May 2009) participants are encouraged to attend Sunday Mass as a group for prayerful mutual support and encouragement.

The mission of the Catholic Enquiry Centre is to promote knowledge of the beliefs and practices of our Catholic Faith in New Zealand.

For more information please visit the website for the Catholic Enquiry Centre, phone (04) 385-8518.

We serve:

• People searching for faith:
• Who were once Catholics
• Who have no religious background
• Who came from another religious tradition
• Catholics who want to become more active in their Church, or who want to share their faith.
• People who want to find out about the Catholic Church in general.