RCIA is the process that the Church has designed to help women and men respond to the impulse of God’s movement in their lives, drawing them to communion and fellowship in Jesus Christ, to personal holiness, and to better engage the world by drawing others to Him.

In our lives, we are constantly searching for meaning and a purpose. Who am I? What was I made for? The human heart hungers for relationships that nurture our maturity and ability to love and to be loved. Often we seek happiness through things of this world, which in the end still leave us feeling restless. This brings to our awareness that there is still a void – something is still missing. When we step back and reflect upon this void in our hearts, it often leads to the discovery of God.

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you,” points out St. Augustine. This reawakening leads to conversion of heart, and a personal commitment to a relationship with God and his Church community that helps teach and guide us in this journey.

How can I become a Catholic? The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the normal way for unbaptized persons and those who have been baptized in another Christian tradition to become a Catholic.

For the Unbaptized, RCIA gradually uncovers the story of God’s salvation for all; the mystery of Jesus’s life, death and resurrection; as well as the workings of the Holy Spirit and how they are revealed in the beliefs, sacramental life and spiritual practices of the Catholic Church. Within the setting of a parish community and in accordance with the Church’s liturgical year, the St. Thomas program follows the prescribed stages and rites that culminate at the Easter Vigil Mass.

For Baptized Christians who seek full communion with the Catholic Church, the RCIA Program includes rites throughout the year and initiates those Candidates fully with the reception of the sacraments at Easter.

To find out more information about the RCIA Program here at St. Thomas Parish, contact Mary Kroupa, coordinator, 683-6569.