The Christian Initiation of Adults (Commonly known as CIA) is the normal way in which adults and children over the age of 7 become active, participating members of the Catholic Church.
A very important part of preparation for this active participation is developing the desire and ability to reach out to others, inviting them to "come and see" (John 1:39) where the Lord is to be found, which is in the community of his disciples.
The most important thing to keep in mind about the C.I.A. is this: It is not merely a new way to prepare adults and children over the age of 7 for baptisms; baptism is only one of the final steps. The goal of the process is full communion, which means "full, conscious and active participation" in the Eucharist and in the whole life of the Catholic faith community.
Preparation for initiation is a preparation for full discipleship, including the mission to tell others about Christ and the Catholic Church. This is a very serious commitment, requiring much time for discernment with the help of others who walk beside the applicant as Christian friends and teachers.
Many persons who want to join the Catholic Church have already been baptized in another Christian Church. They follow a process specially adapted to take into account the fact that they are already baptized.
At first the adult inquirer may accept a Catholic friend's invitation to join him or her at the Sunday Eucharist. The inquirer's first attraction toward the Church may be deepened a little bit more by the first experience of prayer with Catholics. He or she may welcome the chance to stay and chat with the parishioners to whom he or she is introduced. In time, the inquirer will experience the fellowship of many Catholics, and will meet other adults who are also inquiring about the faith.
Parish staff members and religious educators will join the inquirers in the parish meeting room or the homes of their Catholic friends for fellowship, shared meals and prayer. When they operate as a team in this way, the parishioner and other staff are generally called the initiation team.
The Second Step is the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens and the Period of the Catechumenate.
Some of the inquirers eventually decide that they would like to begin more formal study of the teachings and practices of the Catholic community. To be ready for the next step, the inquirer needs only to have a desire to seek initiation into the church. They become aware of this desire in discussion with initiation team. And they are admitted into that higher level of preparation in a special ceremony in the church, called the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens. In this ceremony the Church symbolically claims the inquirers for Christ by signing them with the cross.
This is the first time that the inquirers declare their faith publicly before the parish community. No one likes to do something like that all on his or her own. Some moral support is needed and a sponsor accompanies each inquirer. Sponsors are people who have shared their faith with the inquirers, believe that they are ready to begin formal instruction and are able and willing to stand up and say so in church. After this church ceremony, the inquirers are called catechumens. This name means that they are learning the teachings of the Church and beginning to live as Catholics do.
Rite Election and Period of Enligthenment and Purification
The Christian Initiation of Adults is the normal way in which adults and children over the age of 7 become full, active, participating members of the Catholic Church. The Third Step is the Rite of Election and the Period of Enlightenment and Purification.
The period of the catechumenate ends when the catechumens discern, with the help of the sponsors and the parish initiation team, that God is calling them to receive the sacraments of initiation at the next Easter Vigil. Before they can receive the sacraments, the catechumens must be called by the bishop, or a priest or deacon delegated by the bishop. They must also join their fellow parishioners in their annual Lenten preparation for Easter.
For this reason, the catechumens are received by the bishop at a special ceremony, called the Rite of Election, which is usually held on the first Sunday of Lent. This ceremony usually takes place in the diocesan cathedral, but the bishop may choose to use another church if he wishes.
The Rite of Election marks the end of the period of basic instruction and formation, so the catechumens are not longer called catechumens. They are now called elect. The elect share in the same Lenten discipline as the rest of the parishioners, because they all share the same goal - to prepare themselves to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord at Easter and to receive the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, First Eucharist).
On the Sundays of Lent, the elect are prayed for in a special way, to help them prepare more fully for the sacraments. In this very simple, yet powerful way, parishioners show that they care deeply for the elect as sisters and brothers in the Lord and they look forward to the day when they will be able to share the Eucharist together. The sponsors continue to accompany the candidates in church and in the study sessions (which are now mainly bible studies based on Sunday readings).
The Fourth Step is the Initiation and Full Participation. The whole parish assembles for the Easter Vigil. The Church has always recognized that, in baptism, we die to sin in Christ's death so that we may rise to new life with Him. The major celebration of the Lord's resurrection is, therefore, the most appropriate occasion for the elect to celebrate their Baptism, Confirmation and First Eucharist.
For the newly initiated, the time between Easter and Pentecost is a special opportunity to reflect on the commitment which they have made to the Lord, to His Church and to the local Christian community. The readings of the Eucharistic liturgies, which explain the meaning of the resurrection and of baptism, have special value for the new Catholics.
The new Catholics are encouraged to continue the apostolic activities, which they began as catechumens, to undertake other ministries, or to share their talents and insights with the parish community in other ways.
For additional information please contact Christoph Nauer, (925) 283-0272 #203 or chnauer@stperpetua.org.
