Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)

A person who is considering the possibility of becoming a Catholic, or who simply wishes to learn more about the Catholic Church, will find no better way to do this than to become a part of the Cathedral RCIA.

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is a process designed to form and inform inquirers who fall into three categories:
1. The unbaptized person
2. The person baptized into a faith tradition other than Catholic
3. The baptized Catholic who was neither confirmed nor reared as a Catholic.

At this Cathedral, the RCIA meets every Thursday evening, with the exception of holidays. The climax of the process comes when those who choose to do so are confirmed and baptized (if necessary) in the Catholic Church.

Our Thursday evening sessions begin promptly at 7 p.m. and close promptly at 8:30 p.m. They usually begin with a song, a prayer, a scripture reading and a lecture; this may be followed by small-group discussions, a closing prayer and refreshments.

A few months after beginning the RCIA process, each inquirer is assigned a sponsor. This sponsor is not to be confused with a baptismal or confirmation sponsor. The RCIA sponsor is a practicing Catholic, usually a member of this parish, who goes through the sessions and rites (ceremonies) of the process with the inquirer, serving as a friend and mentor.

There are various periods and phases and rites in the RCIA process, which will be explained before the inquirer experiences them. To do so now would only be confusing. The only things that are important for the reader to understand now is that there is no charge and absolutely no pressure put upon an inquirer.

Conversion is a serious matter of conscience; it is a matter of rejecting who and what we were to take on a new spiritual identity. It is not rejecting a bad life and opting for a new and good one. To convert is to grow in one’s understanding of his relationship with God and to act upon that new understanding when his conscience compels him to do so.

In one sense, everyone should be continually converting, or growing closer to God.

If you have further questions, please call Father Kibby or Joceline Lemaire at the Cathedral office at (615) 327-2330.

Look for upcoming RCIA happenings included in the Cathedral calendar in Activities & Events. 

For full details on RCIA at the Cathedral visit their website at: http://www.nashvillecathedralrcia.com.

If you are interested in registering, you may CLICK HERE to Register Online.