Ministries RCIA

These Rites are celebrated to help deliver the elect from the power of sin and Satan, to protect them against temptation, and to give them strength in Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (RCIA 141). The Rites of Scrutiny are meant to uncover, and then heal, all that is weak, defective, or sinful in the elects’ hearts and to bring out through repentance all that is upright, strong, and good. Three Scrutinies are celebrated in the parish community on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of Lent, after the homily. The Scripture readings for the Scrutinies ordinarily come from Cycle A of the Lectionary: the Gospel story of the Samaritan woman at the well for the 1st Scrutiny, the Gospel story of the healing of the man born blind for the 2nd Scrutiny, and the Gospel story of the raising of Lazarus for the 3rd Scrutiny. The celebrations of the Scrutinies also remind the whole parish community of the need to reflect on their own sins and the need for God’s help.

Sunday Mass during Lent has been different as people called “the elect” and “candidates” have been called forth to the altar. RCIA is mainly for these two groups of people: the unbaptized and baptized Christians seeking full communion with the Church. Our Church prepares to welcome these participants in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) through the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, First Holy Communion & Confirmation) at the Easter Vigil Mass.

But RCIA is not only for those seeking full initiation into the Church; RCIA involves the whole Christian community. We invite our parish community to join us in celebrating the 3 scrutinies with our Catechumen (Elect) and Candidates as they journey closer to the Sacraments of initiation. As a Community we ask you to embrace, welcome and pray for them. On Sunday March 19, 2017 at the 10:00 AM Mass, Saturday March 25, 2017 at the 4:30 PM Mass and Sunday April 2, 2017 at the 10 :00 AM Mass we will celebrate the 3 Scrutinies. We also invite you to the Presentation of the Lord's Prayer at the Stations of the Cross at 7:00 PM on Good Friday, April 14, 2017 and the Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday April 15, 2017 at 7:30 PM.

Scrutinies, Rites of Repentance and self-searching, offer the Catechumens the support they need to approach the waters of Baptism worthily. For those who are already baptized, the scrutinies invite us to embrace the same spirit of self-searching and repentance. At Easter we renew our baptismal promises as we see the Catechumens baptized. So during Lent we renew our repentance as we see the Catechumens scrutinized. The scrutinies remind us of the seriousness of our Christian life and inspire us to turn from evil and pursue good. They enliven our recommitment to Christ at Easter.