This journey includes four periods or stages, each concluding with a rite (liturgical celebration). Every person's journey is indeed personal and different from another's, although the steps or periods are similar in that there is always discernment, self-discovery, and deepening in encounters and experiences of faith. Our pathway doesn't have an end; it is a life-long journey. The Order of Christian Initiation offers the road map that prepares us to live in communion with God and with one another.

Welcome! This period begins with your interest to explore the Catholic Church and the open invitation to share your interest with our adult faith formation director who will listen to your story and questions. Together, you will design a pathway that best meets you where you are and where you want to go. You will meet and get to know Catholics and others who may be on a similar path. You will hear and see the Gospel Message as you reflect on your life in its light. You will likely have questions arise, or discover questions answered. We will provide resources to help guide you as you discover what God has in store for you. There are no expectations from us other than to come with an open mind and heart. There is also no minimum or maximum time requirement; one can remain in this period for as long as you wish. 
   When you discern that you would like to continue this journey, you will celebrate the first rite. For those who are not yet baptized, it is the Rite of Entrance. If you are baptized in another Christian tradition, this rite is the Rite of Welcoming.

The first commitment to formally cross the threshold from Inquiry to the Catechumenate is the Rite of Entrance. Within this rite you will be welcomed by your church community within a Sunday Mass. You move from an Inquirer to a Cathechumen, which from that point until your Baptism, you may be dismissed from the Mass with a trusted person from our church community following the homily to begin Breaking Open the Word of God. During this time you will explore what was just proclaimed in more depth.

During this period of Catechumenate, you will be introduced to teachings and practices of the Catholic Church that have been passed down through the Ages, as well as how we know and receive and live these teachings and practices.

As with the Period of Inquiry, you will continue discernment, ask questions in a safe and open environment, and explore the Catholic faith. After a period of time you will again meet with members of our team who will listen to where you are and whether you feel you are ready to move forward to the next period of your formation. This can last an indefinite period as well, based on your readiness, although generally we look at a period of around 12 weeks. 

When your discernment leads you to this new, deepening commitment, the parish celebrates you through the Rite of Sending.  For those not yet baptized, it soon follows with the Rite of Election where several parishes in our Diocese come together to be recognized and welcomed by our Bishop. This is held on the first Sunday of Lent. It has been a tradition to also celebrate the Call to Continuing Conversion for those who are already Baptized and wish to be received into the full communion with the Catholic Church.

The Rite of Election signifies the beginning of the third threshold of your journey and is usually held on the First Sunday of Lent. The threshold marks your journey from Catechumen to Elect. This period offers retreat-like preparation for the celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation and includes three very special prayers called Scrutinies, along with a Handing on of the Creed and The Lord's Prayer. 

This period is also when candidates preparing to be received into the full communion with the Catholic Church and baptized Catholics to receive make their final preparations to receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist. Rather than the three scruitines, candidates may participate in a Penitential Rite, which is specific for those baptized Catholic or another Christian tradition.

The focus within this six-week period is spiritual preparation, to purify the mind and heart and deepen the understanding of Christ through reflection and prayer. This period continues throughout Lent and concludes with the Easter Vigil Mass when elect celebrate their full initiation into the Mysteries of Christ with the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist.
 

The elect receive all three Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist) during the Easter Vigil Mass. Saint Augustine called the Easter Vigil Mass the "mother of all holy Vigils" (Sermo 219).

For baptized candidates as well as Catholics who may not have been able to complete their Sacraments of Initiation earlier, the Sacraments can be received at various times throughout the year. Candidates makes their Profession of Faith and then receives the Sacrament of Confirmation their First Holy Communion.    

Mystagogy is from the Greek language and means, "to lead through the mysteries" This period begins with our baptism or having been received into the full communion with the Catholic church. During this period we continue to unpack and explore all that has prepared you for the moment of celebrating the Sacraments of Initiation as well as the daily encounter of new life. This is a period of accompaniment for new Catholics as you discover what it means to fully participate in sacramental mysteries of the Church, as well as becoming establised in parish life.