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  • Home
    • Our Mission
    • Join Our Parish
    • Our Pastor
    • Our History
    • Staff Directory
    • Parish Events
  • Services
    • Our Cluster Parishes
    • Rosary and Novena
    • Prayer Chain
    • Memorial Page
    • Mass Cards
  • Ministries
    • Prayer and Worship
    • Education & Faith Development
    • Outreach/Social Justice
    • Administrative
  • Faith Development
    • Circle of Grace
    • Generations of Faith
    • Generations of Faith FAQs
    • Adult Bible Study
    • Seasonal Book Club
    • Word of God Faith-Sharing
  • Sacraments
    • Baptism
    • First Communion
    • Reconciliation
    • Confirmation
    • Right of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
    • Sacrament of the Sick
    • Matrimony
    • Ordination
  • Outreach
    • Bereavement Support
    • Food Pantries
    • HOPE Club
    • Home/Hospital Visits
  • Parish Support
    • Weekly Offertory Envelopes
    • E-Giving
    • Parish Reports
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) at St. Matthew’s:
An Invitation to Journey in Faith
​
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“Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’  They said to him,
​‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’  He said to them, ‘Come and you will see…’”
– John 1: 38-39
​An overview of the RCIA journey: The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) is a faith journey for adults desiring to become full members of the Catholic Church.  Through a gradual and community-centered process of prayer, faith sharing, study, and rituals, the RCIA process prepares people for full initiation within the Catholic Church through the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and/or Eucharist.
 
Who is welcome to begin the RCIA journey?  All people who are open to discerning their personal experience of faith and learning more about the Catholic community of faith are welcome to begin the RCIA process.  The RCIA process is designed especially for:
      Adults never baptized who might desire to become a Catholic.
      Adults baptized in another Christian church who might desire to become a Catholic.
      Adults baptized Catholic who have not received the sacraments of Eucharist or Confirmation.
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The steps of the RCIA journey: The RCIA process includes four periods:
  • Inquiry (also called pre-catechumenate): This is a time for you to “come and see” and ask: “Do I want to go through the process and become a full member of the Catholic Church?”  Members of the RCIA team – made up of St. Matthew’s community members – will support and guide you through this period of exploration and questioning. 
  • Catechumenate: Beginning with a special liturgical moment called the “Rite of Acceptance,” during this period our St. Matthew’s Parish formally welcomes you, supports you and prays for you.  The RCIA team continues to support and guide you as you study Catholicism more deeply and meet Jesus Christ more intimately. 
  • Enlightenment: This period also begins with a special liturgical moment called the “Rite of Election,” in which you are formally presented to the bishop and experience rituals of commitment and strengthening.  During this time together we deepen our prayer and study experiences, “break open” the Lenten Scriptures, and participate in a Retreat Evening, all leading to our celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation and Welcoming (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist) on the Vigil of Easter, the night on which the Church celebrates new life in Christ.   
  • Post-Baptismal (also called the mystagogia): This period is a time to enter more deeply into the extraordinary mystery of living as a Catholic Christian.  This is a time to share joyfully your experience of new life in Christ, to grow spiritually, and to discern how to share the wonderful gifts God has given to you with our faith community and beyond.  Even though this is considered the final period in RCIA, it is by no means the end of the journey.  Our faith development is life long!
 
What’s involved logistically?
  • Attend RCIA sessions (schedule TBD).
  • Participate in liturgical rites during the RCIA process.
  • Seek out a Sponsor: a Catholic relative or friend, a person who is a Christian witness and role model for you, and a person who will accompany you on this faith journey.  The RCIA team can help you find a Sponsor.
  • To register or for more information, please call our RCIA Coordinator through the parish office at 518-765-2805.  All inquiries will be kept confidential.
Our St. Matthew’s community looks forward to sharing and celebrating
this journey of faith with you!
​Home
     Our Mission
     Join Our Parish
     Our Pastor
     Our History
     Staff Directory
     Parish Events
     Our Cluster Parishes

Services
     Prayer Chain
     Mass Cards
     Rosary and Novena
     Memorial Page
​Ministries
     Prayer and Worship
     Education & Faith Development
     Outreach/Social Justice
     Administrative
Faith Development
     Generations of Faith
     Generations of Faith FAQs
     Generations of Faith 2020-2021 Theme
     Adult Bible Study
     Word of God Faith-Sharing

​Sacraments
     Baptism
     First Communion
     Reconciliation

     Confirmation
     Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
​     Sacrament of the Sick
     Matrimony
     Ordination
Outreach
     Bereavement Support
     Food Pantries
     HOPE Club
     Home/Hospital Visits

​Parish Support
     Weekly Offertory Envelopes
     E-Giving
     Parish Reports
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