BECOMING CATHOLIC

On a regular basis Peter Barbernitz hosts gatherings for new and already-interested Inquirers. These are very informal gathering to look at various aspects of our Catholic faith for those who aren’t ready (and may not ever be ready) to transition into the church.  Give Peter a call at 410 964-1430 if you are interested in coming!  Or send an email to Peter at pbarbernitz@sjerc.org   

RCIA stands for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.  It is the church's process for bringing adults into the church - both those who have never been baptized as well as those who have been baptized in other denominations.

We meet on Sunday mornings at the Oakland Mills Interfaith Center from 10:00am to 11:30.   We wrap up our session and then attend the 11:30  mass together.  After the homily we are dismissed from the assembly in order to continue our study of the readings.    Oakland Mills Interfaith Center is at 5885 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia MD  21045.

We will begin this year on Sunday Sept. 12, 2009 and the program will run until Sunday May 8, 2010.

Team members & sponsors for our 2010/2011 year:

• Peter Barbernitz
• Susan Castellan
• Pat McNamara
• Jack and Ann Breihan
• Raphael Aguon
• Jim Benjamin
• Pat Bennet Lynch
• John Gornto

 Sunday Sept. 12 –       WELCOME TO RCIA / OVERVIEW

 Sunday Sept. 19  -       How Catholics approach Scripture

Sunday Sept. 26 –        Who is God?   Where do we look for him?  Creed Part one.        

Sunday  Oct. 3 –          Who is Jesus?

Sunday Oct. 10 –         RITE OF ACCEPTANCE AND WELCOME

The traditions and stories that formed Jesus and us –

the Hebrew Scriptures  (People, places, events) with

timeline

Sunday Oct. 17 –         The Gospel of Matthew

Sunday Oct. 24 –         Scripture AND Tradition 

Sunday Oct. 31 –         We are in this together, united by Baptism, in communion 

Sunday Nov. 7 –          Stories of Conversion - St. Paul and the Early Church                                     

Sunday Nov. 14 –        The Church as God’s People on a Journey                  

Sunday Nov. 21 -          Our Catholic Heritage and Culture.

                                    Liturgical Calendar.                                     

Sunday Nov. 28 –       NO SESSION -  THANKSGIVING WEEKEND / ADVENT 1

                                   THERE WILL BE BREAKING OPEN THE WORD &

DISMISSAL

 Sunday Dec. 5 –            The Role of Mary in the Church. 

Mary as a model of faithful love.                                         

Sunday Dec. 12 –         Catholic Social Teaching & The moral issues of our day:

poverty, abortion, death penalty, war, euthanasia etc.  

Sunday Dec. 19 –         Incarnation.  – God so loved the world that God gave us his

                                                only son -

Sunday Dec. 26 –        NO SESSION, NO DISMISSAL AND NO BREAKING OPEN

 OF THE WORD, CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS BREAK

 2011

 Sunday Jan. 2 –            We Encounter God through Symbols, rituals and grace -   

Sunday Jan. 9 –            Sacraments of baptism and confirmation                                    

Sunday Jan. 16 -          Theology of the Eucharist                                     

Sunday Jan. 23 –          Parts and prayers of the mass

Sunday Jan. 30  –         Sacrament of Marriage                                    

Sunday Feb. 6  -          Sacrament of the Sick                                    

Sunday Feb. 13 –         Developing an adult conscience  

Sunday Feb. 20 –         Sacrament of Reconciliation 

Sunday Feb. 27 –         I believe exercise…                                   

Sunday March 6 -        PRESENTATION OF THE CREED in the group

Catholic Prayers and devotions / rosary –

Tuesday  March 8  -    optional but encouraged,  Pancake Supper  OM  6:00

Wednesday Mar. 9 -    optional but encouraged  Ash Wednesday Service  WL 7:30pm

                                    Lent begins, Catechumenate period ends,

                                    Period of Purification and Enlightenment begins                        

Sunday March 13 –      No Session at 10:00 FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

RITE OF SENDING at the 11:30 mass

RITE OF ELECTION at Cathedral 3:00

 Wednesday Mar. 16 - Penance service for RCIA participants OM 7:00pm

 Saturday March 19 -    (Weekend of the Second Sunday of Lent)

Retreat 9:00 to 3:00

                                    Shrine of St. Anthony

                                    12290 Folly Quarter Road

                                    Ellicott City  MD  21042

                                    410 531-2800                                   

Sunday March 20 –      No session at 10:00,

There will be dismissal and Breaking open the Word

 Sunday March 27 -      Reflection on Woman at the Well – FIRST SCRUTINY                                   

Sunday April 3 –          Reflection on the Man Born Blind – SECOND SCRUTINY                                   

Sunday April 10 –        Reflection on the Raising of Lazarus – THIRD SCRUTINY

                                   

HOLY WEEK

Sunday April 17 –        (Palm Sunday), Reflections on the story of the Passion                                  

Wed. April 20 –           Rehearsal for Vigil for sponsors only

Thursday April 21 -      Holy Thursday mass at 7:30 pm

Friday April 22 -          Good Friday service at 7:30 pm

Saturday April 23 -       Preparation Rites 10:00am (gather at 9:00 OMI)

                                    Easter Vigil at 7:30 pm (return by 6:45pm) 

Sunday April 24   –      NO SESSION, EASTER SUNDAY

 Tuesday April 26 -       Potluck for all, including families and children 6:30 pm

Room 10/11                                   

Sunday May 1 –           No session – participate in the Mass for Neophytes at Basilica

                                                with the bishop, tour of basilica afterwards.

Sunday May 8 –           Getting involved at St. John’s

  

Joe Boys, accompanied by his sponsor Sandy, signing the Book of the Elect.

Below, Mike Mondy does the same.

 

RCIA Graduates Share Stories
Gerald:
I’d like to share with you how I got started in RCIA and some of what I experienced during last year’s class. For many years I had wanted to become a Catholic, but for various reasons never took action to follow through. About 20 years ago I was at the funeral for my uncle, who was a Baltimore City firefighter and lost his life in the line of duty. As you can imagine it was a very large funeral with fire departments from all over the East Coast, but what left the biggest impression on me was what the priest said that day. He said that my uncle as a child had asked the Church for everlasting life. I thought at that very moment this is what I want too. I want my soul, my spirit to live forever once my body in this form is dead. I respected my uncle; he was my friend and I thought I might like the Catholic Church although I was raised in a Baptist family. Last year I finally took action and came to the RCIA reception. After attending church at St. John’s the past five years with my wife, I knew I wanted to be a part of this community. At the reception, which is a meeting for questions and giving information to those interested in becoming Catholic, we received a schedule with each week’s topics listed. When I saw how much information would be covered I thought there must be a test of some kind before you were officially Catholic. I immediately stuck my foot in my mouth and asked Pat Barbernitz, our RCIA leader, and Father Tillman, "Is this a pass/fail course?" I’m convinced that they both thought this will be a challenging, interesting group. RCIA was a wonderful experience. It was the beginning of a new spiritual journey to have a deeper relationship with God and understand the awesome responsibility to live life as a Christian and to live a good Catholic life. I accepted this responsibility of living a Christian life with the gifts I received through baptism at the Easter vigil. In that moment of baptism, when I entered the pool and Father Tillman poured the water over my head, I had to catch my breath and I could feel the physical presence of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit enter me. I had a great sponsor, my wife, Mary Jane. Our group leaders were patient, listened, answered our questions and were enthusiastic in their teaching. We developed new friendships that will last eternally. Finally there is no pressure and no obligation to try RCIA, but I will guarantee that if you make the decision to try it you will have a positive life changing experience.

Dave:
Last year I wasn’t sure what step to take next. I decided to give RCIA a try. From the first informal reception, I felt welcomed. I met men and women who, like myself, were seeking a spiritual home in the Catholic Church—we had a nervous look to us. At that first meeting, I also met men and women who were there to help us in that journey. As that short meeting ended and we gathered around the coffee and doughnuts, I began to make some of the best friends: friends who were central to a wonderful nine-month journey. My nervousness just melted away. We met each Sunday morning, learning about the church, discussing that day’s Mass, often laughing, and sometimes crying. We faced family crises—death in the family, struggles of separation, sick babies, arid we also shared family celebrations—a marriage, the birth of a child. One member even passed her medical board exams! When I joined RCA, I expected to learn about God, the Church, and the Bible. I expected to study, to pray, and to grow spiritually. I had no idea, however, how much my faith would become intertwined with the relationships that grew during that time. You know, I never felt pressure or obligation during RCIA (well, except for the Sunday when it was my turn to bring the doughnuts). Only near the end, as our confirmation approached, were any of us asked if we thought the Catholic Church was for us. RCIA was a wonderful experience that continues to inspire me. If you are interested in learning more about this Church, I encourage you to give RCIA a try.

Ronni:
I recently became a member of the Catholic Church after going through the RCIA process. My husband, is Catholic, but it was my own decision to become Catholic. I made the decision to become Catholic back in 1999 after many years of discussing the Catholic Church with my husband’s mother. We had our marriage blessed and our two children baptized on the same day in September of 1999. I had been attending some RCIA meetings at that time; then we found out we would be moving to Germany. After four years in Germany and attending Masses, I knew that I was sure about becoming a member of the Catholic Church. We moved to Maryland last year, and found St. John’s Parish to be the place we call our Church home. I decided that it was time to join the RCIA again and begin my journey. Then, on the wonderful night of this past Easter Vigil, I was baptized and confirmed. That was not the only celebration for our family though; our daughter received her first communion that night as well. I was surprised to find that we were all unique as individuals in RCIA, but we all had the same desire: To begin a new relationship with Christ. RCIA is place to begin the process of becoming Catholic, but in the beginning it is also the place to ask questions and get answers. It is not a place where judgments are made or tests given. The commitment comes after months of learning and knowing in your heart that this is where you want to be. No one makes the choice for you; it is between you and God. RCIA involves many people and out of that comes many friendships. If anyone is interested in becoming Catholic, this is the place to begin that journey. But, if anyone just wants to know more about the Catholic Church, RCIA will be a place to get answers. There is no obligation, so do not feel pressured.
 

Kevin McDonough was already baptized as a Catholic but went through RCIA so that he could receive Confirmation and Eucharist.

How the Community Helps RCIA Members
This year, the people involved in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) at St. John’s will be attending 11:30 Mass at Oakland Mills together. Generally, they will be sitting in reserved seats in the center of our worship space each week, and will be dismissed after the homily. One of the most important parts of RCIA is the action of the community in helping new members. These catechumens and candidates will be learning the following important lessons about how to be Catholic from you:

• How do Catholics participate in liturgy?
• Is community important for Catholics?
• How do Catholics feel about welcoming new members?
• How important is the Mass?

What You Can Do

• Smile and greet the catechumens and candidates before Mass as they take their special places.
• Remember the faces of the catechumens and candidates, and speak with them wherever you might meet them.
• Try to learn their names.
• Participate at liturgy in a lively manner, providing a good example for them.
• Include them in your prayers, especially as you continue with the liturgy of the Eucharist and they are dismissed for formation

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