Become a Catholic / RCIA

Mission Statement

Holy Family Catholic Church, Artesia - RCIA is committed to Christ’s command:

"GO, make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to carry out anything I have commanded you."

and with the support and prayers of godparents, sponsors, entire parish community welcomes and forms adults in the way of Jesus as it is lived on the Catholic faith and tradition; offers a series of initiation stages and rites that take place in the parish liturgical celebrations for learning, praying, personal change, spiritual growth and after the reception of the initiation sacraments offers a share in Christ’s mission to transform the world into a kingdom of truth, grace, holiness, love, justice and peace.

Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults

• Is God calling you to follow Him?
• Are you seeking greater meaning in your life?
• Are you experiencing restlessness?
• Are you interested in inquiring about the Catholic Church?
• Have you been baptized but haven’t completed your Christian initiation through the reception of the sacraments of Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist?
• Have you been distanced from the Catholic Church and are desirous of re-integrating yourself into the life of the Church?

Here at Holy Family Catholic Church, we have a process that enables people to explore a relationship with Jesus Christ and with the Catholic faith.

This process introduces our inquirers and candidates to Jesus and our Catholic teachings about God, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We also explore the Catholic understanding of the Bible and become more familiar with Scripture, the Church, Sacraments, Commandments of God, Precepts of the Catholic Church and Prayer.

We travel through all phases of our Catholic beliefs, traditions, rituals and practices during the RCIA process.

Each person, who, after a period of inquiry, chooses to become Catholic, makes his or her faith journey with a godparent or sponsor. The godparent or sponsor has the opportunity to deepen his or her faith life as he or she shares experiences during this journey with the catechumen or candidate. The godparents or sponsors don’t have "the answers" but instead have a living faith which they share with the catechumens and candidates in the process.

The RCIA journey begins with the Inquiry Period and the Easter Vigil Celebration are fully initiated in Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist.

Whether you would like to become a Catholic or you know of someone who would like more information about the Catholic faith, please contact us.

History of RCIA

In the early Church, the need for vigilance in admitting new Christians arose during the age of persecution, when Christians were being tortured and persecuted because of their faith. Then the Church encouraged careful religious and moral training. This is how the Catechumenate began.

In recent years the Church had discovered in its ancient tradition of Catechumenate a great treasure. The bishops assembled at the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council recognized it and by decree restored the Catechumenate. In 1972, the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship fulfilled the mandate of that decree with the promulgation of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. No longer would new members come into the Church merely through individual instruction or private convert classes. Rather, they would undertake the journey of conversion and faith in the midst of the community of the faithful.

In 1974 a "provisional" English translation of the new rite was approved by the American Bishops for use in the dioceses of the United States. The RCIA as it soon came to be known became mandatory in the dioceses of the United States of America on September 1, 1986. when the final and definitive translation of the rite was published.

In 1987, our parish implemented the RCIA process of initiation. Since 1987 to 2012 we had around 340 baptized into the Catholic Church and 680 who received their Confirmation and First Holy Eucharist.