Below you will find text and notes for the various rites in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults.
Dates for the 2023-2024 OCIA / RCIA cycle are included below in each of the drop downs.
Rites and Prayer Resources from the Office of Worship
Rite of Acceptance – English / Spanish
The Rite of Acceptance is a parish based liturgy that is held at the Pastors discretion and may be held multiple times in a year.
Video: Six Signs of Readiness for the Rite of Acceptance (Team RCIA)
The Rite of Welcoming happens at the parish, typically in the late Fall. It is designed to welcome the baptized members of the RCIA into the community and prepare them for formation and entrance into the Catholic Church.
Binder Insert – Rite of Welcoming the Candidates (pdf)
The Call to Continuing Conversion will be celebrated as a combined rite with the Rite of Election on Sunday, February 18th at 3 p.m. at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Register here for the combined Rite of Election and the Call to Continuing Conversion.
2023 Rite of Sending ~ February , 2024
The Rite of Sending the Catechumens for Election typically takes place within a Mass on the First Sunday of Lent. After that Mass, or after the dismissal of the Catechumens, they sign the book of the Elect. That afternoon, the Catechumens, their sponsors and the RCIA coordinator attend the Rite of Election at SS Simon and Jude Cathedral.
Sunday, February 18th, 2024 at 3 pm at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church.
For the first time, the Rite of Election will be combined with the Rite of the Call to Continuing Conversion. All participants in RCIA (baptized and unbaptized) are invited to participate in this Rite.
First Scrutiny – March 3, 2024
Each parish with a catechumen must devote at least one Mass of the Third Sunday of Lent to the First Scrutiny. The Readings at that Mass must be from Year A. A parish may opt to have other Masses also read from Year A, but doing so deprives the larger congregation of the full scope of the Lenten readings.
The First Scrutiny Text (Word doc)
Primer Escrutinio (Word)
Second Scrutiny – March 10, 2024
Each parish with a catechumen must devote at least one Mass of the Fourth Sunday of Lent to the Second Scrutiny. The Readings at that Mass must be from Year A. A parish may opt to have other Masses also read from Year A, but doing so deprives the larger congregation of the full scope of the Lenten readings.
Second Scrutiny Text (Word doc)
Segundo Escrutinio (Word)
Third Scrutiny – March 17, 2024
Each parish with a catechumen must devote at least one Mass of the Fifth Sunday ) of Lent to the Third Scrutiny. The Readings at that Mass must be from Year A. A parish may opt to have other Masses also read from Year A, but doing so deprives the larger congregation of the full scope of the Lenten readings.
Third Scrutiny Text (Word doc)
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Saturday, April 8th, 2023
The Elect (unbaptized who have gone through the Rite of Election) are baptized during the parish Easter Vigil. They receive all their sacraments at once – Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion in the same Mass.
RCIA Rite of Baptism and Confirmation for the Easter Vigil (coming soon)
Sunday, April 9th, 2023
Typically those who have been baptized in other Christian faith traditions are received into the church and receive the sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Communion during a morning Mass on Easter Sunday. Candidates for Confirmation should make their first confession in the week before their Confirmation and First Holy Communion.
RCIA Rite of Confirmation for Adults (coming soon)
RICA Rito de Confirmacion para los Adultos