Catholic Corner
August 18, 2022

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA):  Part 9 of  9

This article is part of a series. If you haven’t read the previous parts in the series, it would be helpful to do that before continuing on, as they are most informative if read in order. The entire series can be seen in the box on the page.

This seems like a lot to do! What should I be doing to help this happen for all who are seeking the Lord…children, teens, adults, unbaptized, seekers, fellow Christians?

Initiation IS the responsibility of every baptized person. So here are things we all do:

  1. We worship consistently, actively and with great joy!
  2. We engage in our own ongoing learning about how to follow Christ as Catholics.
  3. We encounter Jesus in the Scripture and the Sacraments.
  4. We learn how to talk about our encounters with Jesus with others.
  5. We find where the Lord has called us to contribute to bringing God’s Kingdom to life here on earth and we go there to serve.

And here are specific actions some members of the community are called by God to do with regard to initiation:

  1. Serve as sponsors, godparents, or prayer partners.
  2. Serve on a baptismal preparation team for parents presenting infants/children for baptism.
  3. Serve as a member of a Confirmation preparation team for youth.
  4. Serve as a member of the RCIA team.
  5. Serve as a part of a parish hospitality/celebration committee that marks initiation with special activities.

Don’t worry…if you feel called to this work, there are others in the parish who will help you learn what to do and how to do it. The only requirement initially is that you know that God is calling you to participate in one or more of these specific roles and that you are saying “Yes!” to that call. Preparation and formation will follow. And you’ll not be left alone to do it! Remember, initiation is the responsibility of ALL the baptized!

Feel called to any of these ministries? Contact the Director of Liturgy at liturgy@stagnesshepherdstown.org and she can connect you!

Related Articles in the RCIA Series