The Church welcomes enquiries from anyone who would like to know more about the Catholic faith. Those interested in becoming Catholics join a preparation programme under the title of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) but which is often referred to as the “Journey of Faith”. These sessions allow enquirers to discuss aspects of the faith and learn more about Catholic life from members of the parish, many of whom have themselves been through the process of the RCIA. The aim is to provide a supportive environment in which all questions can be raised, however challenging, and to allow all to come to know the reality of the Catholic faith today.  For those already baptised the programme leads to reception into the Church and, usually, confirmation and receiving communion for the first time.  For those not yet baptised they will receive all three Sacraments of initiation- Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist (Holy Communion).

The RCIA process is a series of carefully planned stages in which those thinking about becoming Catholic embark on and join us in a continuing and deepening conversion into faith and discipleship. The RCIA takes the distinctive history and spiritual needs of each person into account, differentiating between the baptized and the unbaptized, the catechized and the uncatechized. The needs of mature, practicing Christians from other faith traditions are considered on an individual basis.

The RCIA draws its model from the "catechumenate" of the ancient Church. Becoming Christian in the early days of the Church involved a sharp break with the surrounding culture. New Christians entered into the joy of new life and a life-sharing community of faith, but also entered into a way of living which demanded deep commitment and entailed great risks. In the modern world, our faith also demands deep commitment -- our beliefs and the beliefs of our society are often in tension. The Church revived the catechumenate -- embodied in the RCIA -- because new believers in the modern world need careful preparation and caring support as they enter into the mysteries of Christ and the commitment of Christian living.

Awakening to Christ and seeking out the Church through the RCIA comes about in a variety of ways. The first step for some is a sense that "something is missing" -- a sense, perhaps provoked by some crisis, that there is more to life than what they now have or a better way to live than how they now live. For many others, the journey begins because of a relationship with a Catholic -- a close friend or a spouse. Still others are drawn by seeing the example of a Catholic life well lived, or by exposure to a Catholic writer like St. Augustine or Thomas Merton. Whatever the reason for the awakening and decision to seek, the RCIA process is the first step on a lifelong journey of intellectual, emotional and spiritual conversion. The full RCIA process consists of four periods of awakening, growth and formation marked by celebration of three major rites involving the whole St. John Bosco community.

During the first period of the journey, the inquiry period, seekers ask hard questions about Christianity and receive truthful, life-sharing answers from Catholic Christians. The informal discussions during the inquiry period help the seekers link their personal life stories to the Good News as witnessed and lived by the Roman Catholic community. As each inquirer desires to continue the conversion journey within our faith community, he or she is invited to experience the first major rite of the RCIA process, the Rite of Acceptance.

At Sunday Mass, inquirers enter the second period of the journey, the catechumenate, by being marked with the sign of the cross on the ears, eyes, lips, heart, shoulders, hands and feet -- a symbol of both the joys and the costs of Christian discipleship. Our catechumens and candidates do not travel alone during this period. Sponsors are chosen from the parish community to act as spiritual companions, providing personal support, sharing experience of Christian life and helping make the catechumens and candidates feel "at home" with Catholic religious practice.

The catechumenate period ends when a catechumen or candidate is ready to begin the third period of the journey, the period of purification and enlightenment, which coincides with Lent each year. On the first Saturday of Lent, catechumens travel to St. John’s Cathedral in Portsmouth to celebrate the second major rite of the RCIA process, the Rite of Election, while candidates receive the Call to Continuing Conversion. The period of purification and enlightenment follows, which is a time of final preparation for initiation. The period is one of prayer, fasting and reflection for both catechumens, now known as the Elect, and candidates. During this period, the Elect experience scrutinies, which are special rites in preparation for baptism.

The candidates and the Elect are initiated through the third and consummating rite of the RCIA process, the Sacraments of Initiation, at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, the night before Easter Sunday. On that night, when light drives out darkness, joyful sounds fill the silence, and we proclaim and renew our resurrection hope, the Elect culminate their long journey to initiation in the waters of Baptism -- then, with the candidates, the newly baptized are sealed with the oil of Confirmation and share the Body and Blood of Christ in the form of bread and wine as full members of the Roman Catholic community.

The forth and final period of the RCIA journey is called the mystagogia, which means "leading into the mysteries". The newly initiated meet to explore and confirm the Easter experience. Although mystagogia is the final stage of the RCIA process, it is in turn the beginning of a pilgrimage of lifelong, continuous conversion in full communion with the Roman Catholic community of Christians. If you are thinking about becoming a Catholic please arrange to have a chat with Fr. Chris who will put you in touch with the RCIA team.