OUR LADY OF JASNA GORA AND OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY CLINTON, MASSACHUSETTS
SACRAMENTS: RCIA Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
Watch the Video about R.C.I.A.► RealPlayer | Windows Media COME TO THE WATER... A journey of an adult person to baptism, communion and confirmation, and the church
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You might have never been baptized or affiliated with any church. Or, you were baptized but have never been connected to a community. Or you have drifted, for one reason or another, away from the church. You would like to be confirmed and deepen your relationship with God and, more importantly, belong to a community of love, prayer, and purpose. You feel that God is calling you to join his church, follow him, and do something, or you might not even be sure what you are looking for.
But deep within you, you can hear this voice that says: Come and see! You have a feeling as if something were missing from your life. You are searching for something. There seems like there is more questions than answers.
You ask yourself... How can I get back to the church? What do I have to do? I have never been baptized so where do I start? What is God's plan for me?
Why don't you give me a call? I would love to talk to you and get to know you. I might be able to answer some of your questions. But those answers are already hidden deep in your heart. There is no obligations, no strings attached, no need to commit to anything as yet. Just talk! It is simply an invitation.
Here in our parish, we have what is called R.C.I.A. program. But it is not really a program. It is a journey of faith, for people like you, who seek to either be baptized into the Catholic Church, confirmed, deepen their faith, reconnect after being away or are not really sure what they are looking for.
What I would like you to know is that you are not alone, that there a people who are here to help you, to listen to you, and to answer your questions. Since you are reading this note, it means that God has already planted something in your heart, and might be calling you to himself.
Why wait? Give me a call.
In the meantime, I will be praying for you. And whichever way God leads you, may you find peace, love, and a community that will care for you. May you find the One who has created you; the God who loves you.
God's blessing
Fr. Tomasz
You may reach me via email or call me at (978) 365-2724 The First "get to know one another" meeting will take place on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. in the Rectory (the white house next to the church). ..........................................................................................................
R.C.I.A consist of a series of learning, sharing, and discussion evenings which seek to answer questions about God, Church, and Faith. We seek to provide - fun, hospitable, friendly, relaxed, informative atmosphere. - a chance to get to know different people who might have similar questions about faith and the Catholic Church - an opportunity to explore your relationship with God, Christ, and the Church.
The goal of R.C.I.A. Program is to become a fully initiated member of the Roman Catholic Church, which mean to receive the Sacraments of Baptism (if you were not baptized), Communion, Reconciliation, and Confirmation.
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If you can identify with any of the statements below, R.C.I.A. is something that you might be interested in:
...I have never been baptized but I am interested in becoming a member of the Catholic Church. My wife and children are Catholic.
...I have been baptized but not in the Catholic Church (Lutheran, Episcopal, Congregationalist, etc.). I am thinking about joining the Catholic Church.
...I have been baptized in the Catholic Church, but never received the Sacraments of First Communion, Reconciliation, and Confirmation.
...I have been away from the church for a long time. I would like to come back to the Church and receive Sacraments of Confirmation and Communion; learn more about the Catholic Faith and see if this is what I would like to commit myself to.
...My spouse is Catholic, and I have been attending the Catholic Church with her since our children were born. I have grown to love and appreciate the Catholic Church and am thinking about becoming a member of the Church.
...I was baptized Catholic, but I never practiced my faith. My children have been baptized in the Catholic Church, and even though I have been away from the Church, I have come to a realization that now is a time to take my faith more seriously, for my own sake and the sake of my children. I want to give them what I missed, and it seems that life without God is empty.
...I am 19+ years old
■ R.C.I.A Team. Fr. Tomasz Borkowski Debbie Goodsell Marlene Reynolds Michael Hughes ..........................................................................................................
More information will be available soon. But know that you can always call us to learn more about R.C.I.A
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by Sylvia DeVillers
In 1930, my mother “became a Catholic” so that she could marry my father, of staunch German-Catholic stock. Mother had been baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran tradition, and was certainly a good Christian woman. Her formal entry into Catholicism consisted of several short talks with the pastor, after which he told her she could begin “going to Communion” at Mass whenever she wished
My mother’s entry into Catholicism was not unusual for those days. However, she never quite bought the Catholic faith. In her heart she remained a Lutheran, saying often that “God doesn’t care what church you go to.” She was indifferent, though dutiful. It was my father who spoke of his church with love and affection, and who taught me and my siblings about God and prayer and faith.
Today, my mother would participate in the process of initiation quite differently. Today, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults provides guidance and inspiration for those who wish to be received into the Catholic Church. They are warmly welcomed and, at their own pace, are given the opportunity to investigate what Catholics believe and do. They grow in their understanding of Catholicism by being a part of a community that supports them and models the Catholic way of life for them. They deepen their understanding of the Gospel message to love and serve others. They have sponsors who accompany them throughout the entire process. They have plenty of time to discern when or if they can accept the Catholic faith. Along the way, they celebrate various liturgical rites that mark their ongoing conversion process. In time, they are received into the Church, making a profession of faith that expresses what they truly believe. And finally they receive Eucharist for the first time as part of the faith community that they can now call their own.
