Order of Christian Initiation

The Period of Inquiry

This is a time of introduction to the gospel of Jesus Christ and of reflection on one's own life in the light of the values of the reign of God. It is an unstructured time of no fixed duration for questions and an opportunity for the beginnings of Christian faith.

Period of Inquiry has as its purpose a time:

• To become acquainted with the Catholic Church
• To hear the good news of salvation from Jesus Christ our Savior
• A time to look within at one's one life story and see connections to or needs for the gospel story of good news.
• During this period, the gospel of Jesus is proclaimed, and inquirers look within their own story to make and mark connections.
• This reflective process becomes a continuing, on-going method used by inquirer and member alike.
• This period lasts as long as the person needs it to last, from a few months to several years, if necessary.

During this period, some may decide that this is not the right time for them to consider membership in the Catholic Church, either because of their own life circumstances or because they feel some other Tradition is better for them.

Acceptance into the Order of Catechumen

Those who profess their faith in Jesus Christ and sincerely desire to enter the church and celebrate with the worshiping assembly begin their journey of faith. They accept the way of Jesus, receive the sign of the cross of Christ and join in the liturgy of the word of God.

Period of the Catechumenate

Along with their sponsors for the journey, catechumens celebrate the liturgy of the word each Sunday, receive anointings, participate in prayers of faith and blessing and take part in the mission of the church to the world. During these months or years in the catechumenate, catechumen discover the love and power of God in their lives and in the church.

• Period of catechumenate embodies the first stages of commitment leading to full membership. For a person to enter this phase, s/he must already have come to faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and sincerely desire to become members of the Catholic Church.
• During this phase, the catechumens now gather with the Catholic community on Sundays for the first part of the mass, during which, together, we hear the Scriptures, respond to them, and reflect on the meaning of God's Word for us personally and as community through the homily. After the homily, catechumen are dismissed for BOW , and with their Catechist, continue a process of reflection and application of the Scriptures to their own lives.
• During this period, the initial conversion is deepened and appropriated; the person comes to know more and more deeply the love of God in their own lives and in the midst of the church community. This period, too, lasts as long as the person needs it to last, from a few months to several years, if necessary.

Election or Enrollment of Names

This is the liturgical rite, usually celebrated on the First Sunday of Lent in the cathedral of the dioceses, in which the bishop formally acknowledges the readiness of the catechumen and calls them to the sacraments of initiation. Catechumen respond by expressing their desire for these sacraments, and are now referred to as the Elect of God.

Period of Purification & Enlightenment

Usually during the Lenten season preceding the celebration of initiation at the Easter Vigil, this is a time of intense immediate preparation. Centered on the word of God, creed, Lord's Prayer and evangelical scrutinies, the Elect experience the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in their own lives.

• Throughout Lent, special prayers are offered at the Sunday Eucharist for the catechumen. These celebrations, called Scrutinies, call for the Elect to 'scrutinize' their lives and pray for strengthening in grace and virtue and for purification from all past evil and from any bonds which hinder them from experiencing the love of God. Throughout this period, the Elect are invited to join with the whole Church in a deeper practice of works of charity and in the practice of fasting.
• During this period, the common reflection on the Scriptures continues; the readings of Lent were chosen with the themes of continuing conversion in mind. Toward the end of the period, the Church continues the custom of "handing over" to the Elect the Creed (the summary of our faith) and the Lord's Prayer (which represents its practice of continuing prayer after the command of Jesus who taught us to pray).

Celebrating the Sacraments of Initiation

The Elect celebrate the initiation Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist ordinarily at the Easter Vigil. The waters of baptism put to death the old person of sin and give birth to the new person in Christ. Anointing with sacred chrism seals and strengthens the newly-baptized Christian. Faithful and active participation at the eucharistic table of the Lord as apostles and witnesses is the goal of Christian initiation and constitutes full membership in the church. The Candidates (those already Baptized in another Christian Tradition) make a public Profession of Faith and celebrate the intiation Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist. Candidates that have been in formation in the months immediately preceeding the Easter Vigil may be initiated at the Vigil along with the Elect, but may also enter the Church at various times throughout the year - remember, everyone's journey of faith is different.

• The Sacraments of Initiation are celebrated at the Easter Vigil, an extended night-watch of prayer, singing and hearing the Word of God.
• By the waters of baptism, a person passes into the new life of grace and becomes a member of the Body of Christ.
• Anointing with special holy oil called chrism seals the initiation by the power of the Holy Spirit and participation at the Table of the Lord in the eucharist marks full membership in the church.

Period of Mystagogy

Mystagogy is the 50-day Eastertide following the celebration of Christian initiation. Newly-baptized persons receive sacramental catechesis and participate fully with the faithful in the eucharistic life and in the mission of the church for justice and peace. A program of Christian formation and incorporation into the full life of the Christian community assists the newly-baptized persons until their anniversary of initiation. This period reminds everyone that growth in faith is ongoing and lifelong.

The Period of Mystagogy lasts from Easter Sunday until the completion of the Easter season, fifty days later on Pentecost Sunday and completes the initiation process. Those who have just shared in the sacraments of initiation are now called Neophytes and during this period of Easter joy they reflect on what they have just gone through and look to the future as to how they can now share in the mission of Christ who came to bring salvation and life to the whole world. This period of time reminds the whole church that life in Christ constantly calls us to grow and to look for new ways to live the life of grace, personally and together.