 catechumens and candidates will near the end of their journey to the font and become fully initiated into the Catholic faith.){kind=link}
On 19 April, hundreds of RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) catechumens and candidates will reach the pinnacle of their journey and become fully initiated into the Catholic faith in parishes across the archdiocese at the Easter Vigil.
Catechumens who have not been baptised will receive the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, confirmation, and the holy Eucharist. Those who have been baptised in other Christian traditions, will be received through the Rite of Reception by being confirmed, and receive the holy Eucharist.
It will follow their election into the church at the Rite of Election on 9 March, which saw a record 384 catechumens and candidates gather at St Mary’s Cathedral, this year, to be presented to Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP. It represented a 30 per cent increase in converts from the previous year.
This journey has been far from simple. Many participants have dedicated nearly three and a half hours over six months every weekend to their formation.
“One of the common misconceptions about RCIA is that it’s like signing up for a course of classes. What they were really signing up for, so to speak, was an apprenticeship of the Christian life and to receive our Lord Jesus Christ,” explained Simon Yeak, who has overseen the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) in the archdiocese for the past five years.
“We can’t change lives overnight, therefore we have the RCIA, which is a journey where we accompany these people, walk with them, help them learn what it is to be a Christian.”
Hurstville mum May Lui is one of the catechumens who will be baptised on Easter Vigil Saturday. For the former non-believer, believes it’s been a life-changing journey well worth the sacrifices.
“It was hard at first, but everyone was so nice, so patient with me. I could feel God and began to know about him. And I grew to love him,” she recalls.
“I’m so excited about what lies ahead. Now I know him, everything is good. I’m very happy to try to be joining my Catholic family that knows and loves God.”
Chinese Australian couple, Ruby and Thomas Chen, embarked on their profound RCIA journey together and are excited to be making their holy Communion and confirmation on Saturday.
“We always do things together,” Ruby affirms, “we can share this growth with our children as we will now soon all be in the faith together.
Earl Lappen, RCIA coordinator from St Raphael’s Parish in Hurstville, says his group of 10 catechumens and candidates is very excited.
“You can see it in their expressions and their eyes,” Earl says.
“These candidates have completed a meaningful period of spiritual formation.”
The candidates recently participated in a special RCIA retreat focused on The Three Scrutinies, exploring Jesus as “the living water, the light of the world, and the resurrection and the life,” reports Earl.
For many, this was their first experience of a Catholic retreat, deepening their understanding of the faith they’re embracing.
All will come together for the Pascal Eucharist Mass celebrated by Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP at St Mary’s Cathedral on 25 May.
While Easter Vigil Saturday represents the culmination of the formal RCIA process, Yeak says this is just the beginning of their faith journey.
“The most important thing that we have tried to instil in our RCIA coordinators is to continue walking with them, that they will always be nourished and loved. I believe this will be the most vital part of their journey; not leading into becoming Catholic, but going forth and living that life,” he said.