Thinking about becoming Catholic, not sure? Come to RCIA

Our Inquiry classes will begin in September on Thursday's 7pm -9pm.

NEW SCHEDULE TO BE POSTED SOON

 

What is RCIA?

RCIA, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, is the process by which persons become fully initiated Catholics. RCIA is for adults:

  • Who were never baptized.

     
  • Who were baptized in another Christian faith and who wish to become Catholic.

     
  • Who were baptized Catholics but were never confirmed.


RCIA meets weekly on Thursday's beginning in September. Sessions typically include prayer and instruction on some aspect of the Catholic faith.

Each RCIA candidate is paired with a parish sponsor who also attends the weekly sessions.

Candidates are initiated gradually through a series of liturgical rites. They receive the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil, the highlight of the Church year.

RCIA Sponsorship

What does it take to be an RCIA sponsor?

  • A desire to be a friend and companion during an important time in someone’s life.

     
  • A commitment to the RCIA community and journey.

     
  • An eagerness to learn that will benefit you and your candidate.

     
  • Being a confirmed Catholic who regularly practices their faith and leads a life in harmony with the faith.

A sponsor attends the weekly RCIA sessions with each candidate or catechumen. He/she helps the newcomer to learn about the Catholic faith and about St. Mary's. You don’t have to be an expert on the Catholic faith, but you do have to be someone who values your Catholic faith and wants to share it with others. Through RCIA we are building people of faith into the Church, just as the apostles did!

Being an RCIA sponsor is a big commitment but it also offers big rewards. Besides helping someone join the church, you’ll make new friends, have fun, and learn a lot about your own Catholic faith!


When Are Sponsors Needed?

St. Mary’s asks sponsors to attend right from the start of RCIA. In the early sessions, sponsors help to provide a welcome to the newcomers. Many recent RCIA participants say that St. Mary’s spirit of friendly hospitality was an important factor in their decision to join the Church.

After about 8 weeks, RCIA participants who wish to seriously explore membership in the Catholic faith are paired with a parish sponsor. A candidate may ask you to serve as his/her sponsor or the RCIA team might match you with a candidate or catechumen who needs a sponsor.

Build up the Church as the apostles did -- Volunteer to be an RCIA Sponsor!



Contact Information

Fr. Shawn Monahan, OMV
519 East 4th Street
Alton, IL 62002
(618)465-4284

or

Carolyn Simansky  
email her by clicking below
Carolyn Simansky

 St. Mary's Parish
A parish community dedicated to helping
ordinary people connect faith and life regularly

                                                                 

Reference Links for RCIA classes

Click Here for Pictures from RCIA Retreat

Catholic Answers, great Catholic resource  www.catholic.com & www.catholic.org       

Another Catholic Resource Web page:  www.newadvent.org

Diocese of Springfield IL - www.dio.org

Source material for class handouts www.acmrcia.org

If someone asks you where they can buy our RCIA bible and there are none left in our bookstore: Click here for Amazon.com

Vatican Document on Instruction on the Holy Eucharist

Info and Lyrics for Fr. Stan Fortuna -www.francescoproductions.com

Fr. Stan is coming to St. Louis Click here for Concert Info May 3

Additional information following a very lively class:HUMANAE VITAE  NFP, Contraception Why Not   Gaudium et Spes NB: para # 47-52

Couple to Couple League secrets to a happy marriage - www.smartmarriages.com

Theology of the Body, Chris West - Conference info and more - www.bsps.org

Vocations: www.vocation.com

www.catholicexchange.com

More links from OMV web references

Just for kicks - Fr. Shawn's Photo Page & Ordination Photo's    

Be an RCIA Sponsor
Be a companion on the journey and deepen your own Catholic faith
Sponsor's Prayer
God of all ages, you send out your Spirit to touch the hearts of people so that they may believe in you and in Jesus, whom you sent.

Look kindly on all catechumens and candidates as they listen to your voice. Open their hearts to your Spirit and bring to fulfillment the good work you have begun in them.

As I reach out to welcome new members into the church, make me an instrument of your love. Teach me to reverence what is holy in others, and to be patient with what I do not understand. Deepen my faith in the gospel, and help me to pass it on by good example. With those who are hesitant or afraid, let me be a source of encouragement. And with those who are weak, let me be a pillar of strength.

I humbly accept the ministry of sponsor and pray that you will continue to guide me and sustain me in welcoming new members into your household.

I praise you through Christ our Lord.

AMEN

 

   Old Schedule... new one coming ...

1st Class, 9/15     Is there anyone out there?  Can you hear me now?  Why Religion?  Does God exist?  Reasoning to Faith & Gift of Faith Introductions & Testimonies

2nd Class, 9/22    Where am I going?  Looking for directions?  Who is God? Trinity: A communion of persons Why Did God make/create me? Image and Likeness        What is RCIA and RCIC?

3rd class, 9/29     Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places”  Then why am I so messed up?  Sin and the Fall What did God do for me?  Jesus is the answer, the Paschal Mystery And the Angels Sing – The Heavenly Hosts 

4th class, 10/6     AT&T:  Reach out and touch Someone ;How do I know what He wants for me?  Revelation, Scripture & Prayer

5th class, 10/13   Answering the Call; What do I do about it?  Join yourself to His Church What is RCIA?  the long answer &/OR common objections

6th class: 10/20      Does it matter which church? Time for a background check; The prime factor:  Peter Apostolic Succession & Church Hierarchy

7th class, 10/27   Check out His Book:  It’s a best seller!  Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth:  Sacred Scripture  The Family Story:  The Story of Our Salvation     

8th class, 11/3     Tradition, Tradition!  Did you know Scripture is part of Tradition?  --Why do RC’s go to Mass every Sunday?  The Meaning of the Mass 

9th class, 11/10   Mi casa es su casa!  A tour of our Church; Good to the Bone:  Sacramentals & Relics 

10th class, 11/17 Where are we going?  The last stops on the line:  The Last Four Things  Can you give me an example to follow?  Mary & the Saints       

11th class, 12/1   Holes or Holiness  Me, a saint?  Yes, you too!  Holiness:  a universal call The Theological Virtues:  Faith, Hope and  Love                

12th class, 12/8   Tell me more about this Woman:  Something’s different about Mary  The Liturgical Year

13th class, 12/15 Does God give me any suggestions to help clean up my life? The 10 Commandments are not 10 suggestions! The Cardinal Virtues and Virtues of Chastity & Humility

14th class, 12/22 Road trip!!!!   Christmas Lights and Dinner at Our Lady of the Snows: Community, not just Jesus and me!

15th class, 1/5     Jesus must have had a computer, He always SAVES. The Sacramental Economy and Grace

16th class, 1/12  It’s not just a job, it’s a life adventure:  Aim High!  Holy Orders and the Consecrated Life

17th Class, 1/19  The spiritual energizer…how we keep on going and going … Called to a new life and strengthened in it…Baptism& Confirmation

18th class, 1/26   Oops, I did it again:  What to do when I fall down; The Sacrament of Reconciliation & how to go to confession

19th class, 2/2     Is It Real or is It Wonder Bread?  The Eucharist

20th class, 2/9     Why do bad things happen to good people?  Anointing of the Sick

21st class, 2/16   The love connection:  2gether 4ever = success;  Holy Matrimony & Family Life, what has happened to it? Parents, the primary educators of their children

22nd class, 2/23  “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you”  Creation & Life Issues, The Natural Law;   Lent, the Period of Purification and Enlightenment

23rd class, 3/2    Let me tell you about the Birds and the Bees from God’s perspective    Sexual Morality;  Rite of Election:  Stepping Out of the Boat

24th class, 3/9    God’s way … The natural way, Natural Family Planning. Co-creators

25th class, 3/16   Has anyone ever asked you if you wanted to be a priest?  The Priesthood of the Faithful &Evangelization

26th class, 3/23   Big Daddy:  The Our Father - a prayer of unity; Spiritual Life; Workshop on Reconciliation

27th class, 3/30   Holy Smoke & Holy Week; A review of The Creed; Meditation on the sacraments… church fathers.

28th class, 4/6     PRACTICE FOR EASTER VIGIL

29th class, 4/13  You have NO CLASS, go to MASSHoly Thursday, go to Mass

4/15 Easter Vigil, please be in the Mary Ann Room at 6:45

30th class, 4/20   Special surprise tonight

31th class, 4/27   You won’t believe what we are talking about tonight!  Be there or be square. 

32st Class, 5/4     Eternal and Earthly Banquets, A Celebration; Adoration at Sisters’ Chapel and Dinner at Tony’s

Click here for detailed schedule

Contact us now

Classes are on Thursday, 7 PM
.

 stmarysalton at aol.com


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www.Stmarysalton.com





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