Why an RCIA Process? Wasn’t the old Inquiry Class good enough?
Christians are made, not born. There is nothing automatic or instant in the Rite of Christian Initiation. The development of faith takes time; it cannot be rushed. The candidates must be allowed sufficient time for their faith to ripen. Ordinarily, this means anywhere from one to two years of formation depending, of course, on the background and spiritual maturity of the candidates. In the past (in fact, in the very early Church), a person desiring reception into the Christian Community studied, prayed, fasted and did good works for three years. Initiation takes time. Initiation is more than doctrinal instruction. It is a way of coming to know the traditions, the people, the prayer and the actions of the community. Five Stages of the RCIA Process • Inquiry or Pre-Catechumenate: This is a time, of no fixed duration or structure, where participants are encouraged to ask questions and explore the basic tenets of the Catholic faith and Gospel values and reflect on these in the light of the
