Adult Education
Sacraments of Initiation for Adults
The celebration of Church sacraments is a unique experience of encountering Our Lord and receiving his graces. The Church views her sacraments as treasures to be shared with the faithful. To prepare for the celebration of the sacraments requires an intentional desire and readiness to cooperate with the graces of the sacrament, and sufficient knowledge to understand what is expected. For adults, this process can be achieved through a variety of ways.
R.C.I.A.
R.C.I.A
., the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults is one way in which adults may enter the Church as unbaptized or baptized. This process is also in place for baptized Catholic adults who have not celebrated First Holy Communion and Confirmation and need more formation to complete their full initiation.R.C.I.A. is a process used by the early Church to prepare unbaptized adults to be received into the Christian Church (later known as the Catholic Church). It was an intense period of study, prayer, and conversion in which an individual may have gone through for up to three years and upon their readiness, a sponsor would testify to the entire assembly of the conversion, authenticity, and genuine readiness of the individual. This process was put aside for centuries and then revived through the Second Vatican Council and has since, gone through some adaptations for modern needs, but retaining the steps and intentions of the original process.
The process at this parish is normally nine months, beginning in September and concluding in May, the Saturday before Pentecost. The decision to accept baptism, or to become Catholic, or complete one’s initiation has to be the free will of each person. The Church does not coerce, guilt, trick, or otherwise manipulate this decision. However, the Church also has the responsibility to ensure each individual is ready and publicly demonstrates the desire, maturity, and lifestyle that reflects understanding of becoming a member of Christ’s church.
ADULT CONFIRMATION
Baptized Catholic adults who have celebrated First Holy Communion but lack the Sacrament of Confirmation may also prepare to complete their Christian initiation. The length of preparation and formation is dependent upon the catechetical needs of the individual.
In Confirmation the individual’s baptism is reinforced, or sealed. This sacrament, like baptism, may only be celebrated once. It is closely linked with baptism in that there is an anointing with oil (Chrism), laying on of hands, and special activity of the Holy Spirit. When celebrated apart from Baptism & First Holy Communion, the bishop or a priest designated by him is the minister of Confirmation.
Preparation for Adult Confirmation occurs in the Spring and Summer at the Co-Cathedral.
. Candidates prepared in the Spring celebrate the sacrament on Pentecost Sunday
Candidates prepared in the Summer celebrate in the Fall (with high school candidates).
Attendance & participation at all sessions is mandatory.
INTERVIEW FOR R.C.I.A., AND/OR CONFIRMATION
A formal interview is required to determine the process for any person approaching the Church for sacrament preparation, whether baptized or unbaptized. This interview is a tool used to assess each individual’s intentions and needs, including canonical issues to be addressed and resolved prior to celebrating the sacraments. Canonical issues usually include a current marriage which is not formally recognized by the Church, or a re-marriage without a Church annulment. These are considered impediments to celebrating the sacraments, but not to attending Mass or participating in the preparation or catechetical sessions.
Prior to attending any R.C.I.A. or other sacramental preparation session, one must make an appointment with the Director of Adult Education for an interview. Interviews must be made in advance by the deadline-drop in’s are not encouraged. If there are no canonical impediments to be addressed, the individual will be admitted to the process which meets their needs at the next earliest opportunity. If there are canonical issues to be addressed, the Director will inform the inquirer and will assist him/her to begin the process of resolving the issue. Interview deadlines are enforced.
SCHEDULE FOR R.C.I.A. FOR ADULTS
:Interviews: Call/e-mail Debbie anytime before Aug 30th
Session dates: Sep 3-May 19, 2011
Meeting Days/Times: Thursdays, 7-9pm (
except holidays) from Sep 3-May 19 and Sundays, 11-12:10pm, from Nov 20-Apr 17, 2011 (except holidays)Location: Cathedral Centre, 3rd Flr Dining Room (unless otherwise notified)
Commitment: Sunday and Thursday sessions are both required and are not interchangeable. Attendance at all sessions is expected and required. Absences require advance notification. An excess of 3 absences may result in delayed reception and/or make-up sessions.
SCHEDULE FOR ADULT CONFIRMATION:
Summer 2010
DEADLINE HAS PASSED-Please see Spring 2011 scheduleInterviews: June 11th deadline
Classes: June 23-Aug 18
Class day/time: Wednesdays, 6:30-8:00pm
Location: Cathedral Centre, 3rd Flr Dining Room
Adults prepared in the summer to be merged with Teen Confirmations on November 20, 2010, at 5:00 p.m. Mass.
Spring 2011
Interviews
: Feb 22-Apr 1Classes: Apr 6-June 8
Class Time: TBD (evenings)
Pentecost: June 12th
Adult only Confirmations are celebrated in this archdiocese on Pentecost Sunday, at 3pm. All documents and completion of preparation must be met prior to receiving the sacrament of Confirmation.
(Documents: Recently issued Baptism Certificate, Sponsor form, and Saint Name)
OTHER ADULT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
:CATHOLIC YOUNG ADULTS
The ministry to young Catholic adults was revived by a core group of young people in early 2010. This ministry serves young adults ages 20-40, single or married, with children or no children. Some events have a cost, and others are free. Where a cost is involved, each participant is expected to pay his/her portion.
C.Y.A. has established a four-fold mission of Worship/Prayer, Service, Education, and Social Community-building. All activities will center at times on one or multiple aspects. To learn more about this group, the calendar of events, and to join the Google group, go to the home page of the Co-Cathedral, then "Parish Groups," and click on Catholic Young Adults.
For more information on social events,-mail Melanie at penfemme@gmail.com. For details on joining the Catholic Young Adults, contact Carlos Cuevas (cuevman@gmail.com) or Stephanie Rendon (stephrendon@yahoo.com).
BIBLE STUDY: Ongoing since Feb 8, 2010
The Gospel of Matthew study over 28-weeks is taken from Catholic Scripture Study International, with Fr. David Garnier as the facilitator. This is an ideal project for anyone interested in an in-depth understanding of the scriptures, within a group setting. The course fee is $50 and must be paid in advance upon registration. Classes are on Mondays, 6:30-8:00pm.
Consider giving this course as a gift for a loved one as an investment in your shared faith. Whatever the occasion, it will surely be one that keeps on giving as the recipient will grow in his/her faith and love for the scriptures.
MARY & MARTHA’S PRAYER STUDY-to continue this Summer!
Begun at Lent, we studied the Rosary, The Divine Office, Lectio Divina, and Meditation. The sessions begin with a half-hour study of the prayer for that week, then followed with the actual prayer itself. This is a great opportunity for the women of our parish to come together and pray, and build a community of loving support. All the women of the parish are welcome. Bring a guest or come on your own! Come to one session-or pick and choose what you can do; there’s no limitations!
Summer Dates/Times TBD (June-August)/Ongoing dates TBD upon participation
No cost! Sessions occur at Cathedral Centre-room tbd
Parking is at Cathedral Centre, adjacent to the building on the Jefferson side.
MARRIAGE PREPARATION
The Marriage Preparation guidebook is available on the parish website, under "Sacraments." In this guidebook you will find an array of helpful information such as our theology on Marriage as a Sacrament, guidelines, special considerations, and costs. Most inquiries can be answered simply by reading the guidebook, but we are also here to answer any concerns or questions you may have.
As in the other sacraments, there are steps in the preparation and requirements. If a couple inquires into celebrating this sacrament at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, they will encounter a number of necessary questions about their current sacramental situation, such as, are they both Catholic? If one or both are not fully initiated, would they be willing to go through preparation to be fully initiated prior to getting married? Have either party of the couple ever been in a marriage recognized by the State (and not just the State of Texas, but any State)? These, and others are all very important questions which help us determine the needs of each couple and the best course of action. Complete honesty is absolutely necessary to ensure the integrity of the process and validity of the Sacrament.
To begin the process of inquiring, couples are encouraged to read the Marriage Guidebook provided on our website, under "Sacraments," and then call the Parish Office to set up an appointment with the secretary in charge of wedding preparations, JoLynn Zann. All registrations for wedding preparation must be handled by appointment. From this appointment, couples will be directed as to when to begin classes, make deposit, who to contact regarding other sacramental needs and/or prior marriage issues.
MARRIAGE PREPARATION & CONFIRMATION
Contrary to popular belief, it is not required to be Confirmed prior to celebrating marriage. Rather, the Church strongly encourages that Catholics who approach the Sacrament of Matrimony be fully initiated.
To be fully initiated means that one has celebrated Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation. Full initiation prior to marriage serves to provide the fullest possible graces available to the baptized Catholic, which are needed to carry out the expectations and demands of living out their marriage vows. It also aides in the understanding of what the Church teaches about sacraments because ideally, the fully initiated Catholic is living out his/her baptismal promises, celebrating the sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation regularly and reverently, and taking part in the life of the Church through their parish.
A person who contacts us about celebrating the Sacrament of Matrimony will be asked if he/she has celebrated Confirmation. If the person is not Confirmed, he/she will be directed to contact the Director of Adult Education to begin that process, including the interview, as well as any related needs.
MARRIAGE PREP SESSIONS
Marriage preparation sessions are for the benefit of the couples entering into marriage. Therefore, the more a couple participates and engages in the classes, the more they will benefit and the more meaningful the process will be to them. Couples are expected to be attentive, on time, and considerate of the instructor, and other couples in the class. While we try to aim for a 2pm dismissal, this is dependent on the timeliness of the couples attending.
There will be different speakers for the different sessions, and each speaker has their own unique gifts and
presentation style. Couples are expected to give each presenter their full and active attention.
PROOF OF VALID BAPTISM
As Catholics, we believe in One Baptism for the forgiveness of sins, therefore, we do not "re-baptize" people who have already been validly baptized. The person who was never baptized or whose baptism did not use the Trinitarian formula with Water will, according to teachings of the Catholic Church receive baptism for the first time upon their entry into the Church.
The Catholic Church recognizes a valid baptism as one carried out in the Trinitarian Formula and with Water (In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit). Most mainline Protestant Christian churches use this same formula and therefore those baptisms are recognized as valid. Anyone unsure whether their baptism was in this formula may inquire and seek help with this determination.
BAPTISM CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS
Baptized Adults from non-Catholic Christian churches
: Baptized adults seeking full communion with the Catholic Church and/or Marriage to a Catholic must provide a proof of their baptism prior to celebrating the sacraments they are seeking.Baptized Catholics: Catholics seeking to complete their initiation or Marriage must provide a recently issued copy (6 mos & newer) of their Baptism Certificate. To request a new copy of your baptism certificate, contact the church where you were baptized. If you are unsure where you were baptized, you may need to investigate by asking parents, grandparents, older relatives or family friends.
Baptism certificate requirements of Catholics does not exempt those baptized in other countries. All Catholic churches follow the same recording practice, regardless of location. It may be necessary to contact the arch/diocesan office of the town/village where you were baptized to obtain contact information and/or records. The responsibility for obtaining/researching baptism records is with each individual seeking to celebrate a sacrament, however the Co-Cathedral staff may be able to provide additional suggestions.
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