Are you thinking of becoming a Catholic? The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the process whereby unbaptized adults prepare to receive Holy Baptism, thereby entering the Catholic Church. The RCIA program is also widely used as a way that baptized non-Catholics who are interested in entering into full, visible communion with the Catholic Church can receive instruction on the teachings of the Catholic Church and are given the opportunity to ask questions about those beliefs.
The RCIA program takes about eight to nine months, typically starting in September and ending in May. The culmination of the program is at the Easter Vigil when candidates and catechumens receive the Sacraments and become full members of the Catholic Church. Classes meet on a weekly basis at the Cathedral on Wednesdays from 5:30 until 6:30pm.
Just because you begin RCIA, doesn't mean you are obligated to become Catholic. Catholics and non-Catholics alike who want to deepen their understanding of the Catholic faith are welcome.
Resources for learning more about the Catholic faith are available at the Catholic Answers website. Or you can check out the content available at Catholics Come Home.
To learn more call Fr. Van Lieshout at the Cathedral office at (585) 254-3221 ext. 110 or email him directly--even if the RCIA program is already underway or hasn't yet started for the year. Everyone's journey is different, so a conversation with a priest is often the best way to begin and to assess your particular needs.