The Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA) offers non-Catholics interested in joining the Catholic Church a structured opportunity to immerse themselves in the Catholic faith, reflect on their commitment to Catholic values, traditions and practices and prepare to become full members of our faith. This intense journey requires eight months of prayer and reflection, independent study and time spent learning with a parish mentor. The program culminates when the participant is welcomed into the Catholic faith through the reception of the Sacraments during the Easter Vigil liturgy.

If you are interested in learning more about the Catholic Church or are considering joining the Catholic Faith, we encourage you to check out the following questions and answers to learn more about the RCIA program offered at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church.

What do the letters, RCIA, mean?
The letters "RCIA" stand for the "Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults".

Why did the Catholic Church create the RCIA process?
The RCIA process was created to provide a process for individual adults (age 16 and older) to become members of the Roman Catholic Church.

How long does it take?
Normally a person who has never been baptized or was baptized in another Christian denomination will spend approximately 8 months learning about, reflecting on and preparing to enter into the Catholic Church through the RCIA process.

What are the primary goals of the RCIA process?
The RCIA process is concerned with the total formation of the person who is interested in entering the Catholic Church. This includes accepting the Church’s beliefs (doctrinal formation), living with the Church community (practical formation), praying with the Church community (liturgical formation), and serving with the Church community (apostolic formation).

How does it work?
A person seeking to become Catholic journeys through four periods of formation: Doctrine, liturgy, apostolic work and Christian living. In other words, believing, praying, serving and living with the Church. These periods are linked by three liturgical stages, which ritualize the conversion process. This journey brings the individual closer to God as he or she prepares to enter fully into the Catholic Faith during the Easter Vigil liturgy. It also provides a witness to the entire parish community of the power and strength of our faith.

Who to Contact

If you would like to find out more about RCIA process at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church, contact Randy Mueller, Nativity's Faith Formation Director at 651-696-5454 or e-mail him at rmueller@nativity-mn.org. He will be happy to answer any questions you might have.

RCIA Personal Information Form

Bring the following information with you to the Initial Interview. To save time, print out the form, fill it in and bring it to your meeting with the Faith Formation Director at Nativity Parish.