Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist are celebrated at the Easter Vigil. The waters of baptism give new life in Christ to the unbaptized. Anointing with sacred chrism seals the newly baptized and the candidates (those already baptized) for full membership with the gift of the Holy Spirit and participate at the table of the Lord for the first time to receive Eucharist.
Period of Mystagogia
The period of Easter Sunday to Pentecost, 50 days, completes the initiation. It is time for the neophytes (newly initiated) to find their home in the community. A baptismal period to remind us that the process of spiritual growth is now completed with the celebration of the sacraments, but a lifelong task.
We meet on Sundays and the process is ongoing, anyone can enter the process at any time and will move forward when they feel they are ready to make a commitment.
Children Not Baptized as Infants
Children seeking initiation either at the wishes of their parents or guardians, or with parental permission, on their own initiatives as with adults seeking initiation is to be extended over several years if need be and is marked with the different periods. They will celebrate the Rites at the appropriate time and celebrate full initiation at the Easter Vigil.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
- Inquirers
- Persons seeking to learn about the Catholic faith.
- Catechumen
- An unbaptized person who has been accepted into the order of Catechumens, seeking formal entry into the Church.
- Candidate
- Anyone preparing to become Catholic, but the term is used specifically for a person baptized in another faith tradition.
- Elect
- A Catechumen who has been found worthy to take part in the celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation.
- Neophyte
- A newly baptized person who is in the final period of Initiation, namely — Mystagogia.
- Catechumenate
- The process by which the Church brings unbaptized children and adults to Christian Initiation.
- Initiation
- The process by which a person enters the Catholic Church and celebrates the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.
- Scrutinies
- Rites celebrated with the Elect on the3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of Lent, petitioning for the spirit of repentance, and understanding of sin and the experience of the true freedom of the children of God.
- Mystagogia
- The period of time following initiation, which centers on post-baptismal catechesis, that is, the meaning and experience of the mysteries of a baptismal faith.
- Catechesis
- The instruction and spiritual formation of catechumens and those persons who seek full communion with the Catholic Church.
- Sponsors
- Those persons chose to accompany the Inquirers when they seek acceptance into the order of Catechumens and remain with them as companions during the Catechumenate unto the Rite of Election; they may also be selected as Godparents.
Please consider using your gifts and talents as a volunteer in this process. Consider becoming a sponsor!