Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

Through Christian Initiation of Adults (commonly called RCIA which stands for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) interested adults are gradually introduced to the Roman Catholic faith and way of life. Children who were not baptized as infants or baptized as non-Catholic are also initiated through an adapted process of this rite.

The RCIA is a communal process and involves a number of stages punctuated by liturgical rites to aid and assist the potential convert toward the final rite, usually at the Easter Vigil at which time they will become full members of the Roman Catholic Church. The entire process takes several months, but participants are generally invited to proceed at a pace which suits them individually. The Church prefers to call this a process and not a program.

For more information about becoming Catholic please call Tammy Nesbitt at 570-748-7303.

Individuals who are already Catholic can become part of this process by serving as a sponsor, catechist or by just attending the gatherings and experiencing the process with us. The RCIA team is a group of practicing Catholics who meet and share their faith with those who are interested in learning about the Catholic Faith and Church. These gatherings are well organized with various topics discussed. They stimulate learning and faith sharing and make you part of Jesus’ ministry of evangelization for you are helping to spread the Word of God. By being part of this process you also attain peace and closeness with God and neighbor knowing you have helped others in their faith formation. If you are interested in meeting new people who are seeking to learn about our faith and you have a desire to share your knowledge and experiences of the Catholic faith with others, this would be an exciting ministry for you. For more information please call the Religious Education Office.