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Lent 2003: Journeying with Those Joining
our Catholic Church & Those Completing Their Initiation

Join the 2004 Journey

Did you know that Lent started out in the Early Church as the preparation period for baptism? The whole community would join in teaching and supporting in prayer these "elect" as they prepared for their baptism and membership into the Church. Around the 5th century, with the increase of infant baptisms over time, Lent lost its baptismal focus and our attention was turned to public works of penance. In the 7th century the focus of Lent became private penance along with prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. By this time, the communal process of welcoming adults and families to baptism and initiation into the Church at Eater had completely disappeared. The restoration of this communal process, known as the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), began during the 2nd Vatican Council and was promulgated in 1972. The Church is now to weave the baptismal focus back into Lent.

Members of the RCIA community of St. Charles have been journeying towards the Easter Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and/or Confirmation for many, many months. During Lent, our faith community will be celebrating special prayers and Rites with them as they complete their preparation for full initiation into our faith community. Lent also gives us "cradle Catholics" who were baptized as infants, the opportunity to journey with these seekers as well as to prepare to renew our own baptismal promises as adults, at Easter. Here is what to expect:

March 8/9 - 1st Sunday of Lent
The parish community will inquire as to the Catechumens' (unbaptized) and candidates' (baptized) readiness to celebrate the Easter Sacraments before being sent to be recognized by the Bishop on Sunday afternoon. This Rite of Sending will occur at the Sat 5pm, Sun 9am & 11am masses. The Rite of Election & Call to Continuing Conversion will be celebrated by Bishop Loverde on Sunday at 2:30 at the Cathedral. After the Rite, the unbaptized participants are now called the Elect, those chosen by God to be renewed by the Water of Life!

March 16 - 2nd Sunday of Lent
9 AM Mass - Includes a Penitential Rite for Candidates who have already been baptized who are preparing for the Sacraments of Eucharist and/or Confirmation.

March 23 - 3rd Sunday of Lent
9 AM Mass - Includes the 1st Scrutiny for the Elect
Readings from cycle A at 9am Mass
Presentation of the Creed after Mass

March 30 - 4th Sunday of Lent
9 AM Mass - 2nd Scrutiny of the Elect
Readings from cycle A at 9am Mass

April 6 - 5th Sunday of Lent
9 AM Mass - 3rd Scrutiny of the Elect
Readings from cycle A at 9am Mass
Presentation of the Our Father after Mass

Monday April 14 - Parish Penance Service
Baptized candidates will experience their
initial Sacrament of Reconciliation

Thursday April 17 - Holy Thursday
Elect and Candidates will participate in Holy Thursday Mass

Friday April 18 - Good Friday
Elect and Candidates will participate in Good Friday service

Saturday -April 19 - Holy Saturday
The Big Night! The Easter Vigil! St. Charles will celebrate adult baptisms,
reception of 1st Eucharist, and the celebration of Confirmation! Glory to God!

Sunday - June 8 - Pentecost
Adult candidates who have been preparing outside of the RCIA process for Confirmation will be confirmed this day by Bishop Loverde at the Cathedral of St. Thomas Moore. Please pray for them!

For more information about RCIA, contact Michelle Miller at rcia@stcharleschurch.org or 703-534-1727.

  or RCIA »

This information appeared as an insert to the March 22/23, 2003 bulletin