What does “RCIA” mean? RCIA stands for the Rite for Christian Initiation of Adults. It’s the process used throughout the world for initiating new members of the community.
Restored for use throughout the Catholic Church in the 1970s, RCIA’s beginnings go back to very early Christian times. In fact, the period we call Lent originated as a time of prayer and self-examination for adults preparing for Baptism, Confirmation, and First Communion at Easter.

RCIA combines reflections on the central truths of Christianity with prayer and certain rituals, or “rites”. These rituals reinforce the underlying changes that God is bringing about in the RCIA participants and allow the rest of the community to follow the process. The people newly dedicating themselves to the Catholic form of Christianity are a special example to the rest of us- because conversion from the ways of the world to God’s way of seeing things is not a one-time event but a lifetime process for all of us. The commitment of the new people helps the rest of us by reinforcing our own faith.

What changes take place? Over time the process helps the candidates experience changes in their understanding of things. They find out the basics of what Catholics believe and probe the hard questions of life—what does it mean? Where is it going?

It promotes behavioral changes, as the candidates continual the gradual, lifelong move away from the selfishness of sin and towards the loving service of others.

Most important, it helps re-create their spiritual life, as God’s Spirit frees up their mind and their hearts and light up their way.