 The catechumenate is one of the gifts to
the Churchfrom the Second Vatican Council. In the early Church new
members were initiated through a process very similar to the one you find
outlined below. After the persecutions of Christians ended and
Christianity became the state religion in about 315AD, families began to
baptize their infants and eventually the catechumenate was no longer used
for initiation into the Church. People who wished to join the Catholic
Church were given private instructions, usually by a priest and then
celebrated the Sacraments of Initiation. Thankfully, Vatican II restored
the process for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and today this
is the norm in the Roman Catholic Church. |
| INQUIRY PERIOD |
| A time to meet others, share a bit of your own story, listen to the stories of others, and ask questions about the Catholic faith. Also a time to get in touch with your own fears, hopes, and dreams, and to discover the presence of God within you. |
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| August 1 | Welcome and Overview of RCIA |
| August 8 | The Journey of Faith and Community |
| August 15 | Tour of the Church |
| August 29 |
Overview of the Mass |
| September 5 | Labor Day Holiday - no session |
| September 12 | Ways of Prayer: Responding to God's Call |
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| CATECHUMENATE |
A time to explore the Catholic faith and its implications for our lives as these unfold in the Sunday Scriptures. A time to pray, study, reflect, serve, and worship with the larger parish community. |
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Sept 19 | Scripture: God’s Library |
| Sept 26 | Scripture and Tradition | |
| October 3 | We believe in God, the Creator |
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| October 10 | Jesus Christ: Son of God and Savior |
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| October 17 | Holy Spirit, Giver of Life | |
| October 24 | Communion of Saints | |
| November 7 | Christian Morality |
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| November 14 | The Liturgical Year | |
| November 21 | The Kingdom of God |
| SEASON OF ADVENT |
| November 28 | The Three Comings of Christ |
| December 5 | Mary, Mother of God |
| December 12 | The Incarnation, the foundation of sacrament |
| December 19 | Baptism and Confirmation |
CHRISTMAS BREAK |
| January 9 | Sacrament of Eucharist; The Church as the Body of Christ |
| January 16 | Sacrament of Reconciliation |
| January 23 | Sacrament of the Sick |
| January 30 | Sacrament of Holy Orders |
| During February individual interviews will take place in preparation for the Rite of Election | |
| February 6 | Sacrament of Matrimony |
| February 13 | Sacramentals |
| February 20 | Preparation for Lent and Preparation for the Rite of Election |
| February 22 | Ash Wednesday |
| February 25 or 26 | Rite of Election/Call to Continuing Conversion Saint Patrick Church 1000 N. Beckley Station Road Louisville, Kentucky 40245 at 11:00 AM |
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| ENLIGHTENMENT |
| A time to grow with the Church in faith and love of the Lord as we prepare for Easter. Special rites on the Sundays of Lent are celebrated . |
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SEASON OF LENT Sometime during the season of Lent there will be a retreat |
| February 27 | Reflection on the Rite of Election and Preparation for Penitential Rite |
| March 4 | Penitential Rite, 11:30 AM Mass |
| March 5 | Preparation for 1st scrutiny |
| March 11 | First Scrutiny, 11:30 AM Mass |
| March 12 | Preparation for 2nd Scrutiny |
| March 18 | Second Scrutiny, 9:00 AM Mass |
| March 19 | Preparation for 3rd Scrutiny |
| March 24 | Third Scrutiny, 5:00 PM Mass |
| March 26 | Preparation for Holy Week |
| April 1 | Palm Sunday |
| April 2 | Rehearsal in Church |
| April 5 | Holy Thursday |
| April 6 | Good Friday |
| April 7 | Easter Vigil - 9:00 PM |
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| MYSTAGOGIA |
A time for letting the mystery of Easter fill us with joy and gratitude. We seek effective ways to share in the Church's mission of transforming this world into Christ's kingdom of justice, love and peace. Our sessions continue during this period for several weeks. This time of mystagogia ends on the Feast of Pentecost. |
| SEASON OF EASTER |
| April 9 | Reflection on the Easter Vigil celebration Reflection on the call to ongoing conversion |
| April 16 | Life in the Church |
| April 23 | Stewardship |
| April 30 | Night Prayer with Monks at Gethsemani |
| May 7 | TBA |
| May 14 | Celebration of Eucharist with Catechumens, Candidates and families followed by a family picnic |
| May 27 | Pentecost |
