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Lent 2004: Journeying with Those Joining
our Catholic Church

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 the US in 1972. The Church is now expected 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 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:

February 29, 2004 - 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 11am Mass. The Rite of Election & Call to Continuing Conversion will be celebrated by Bishop Loverde on Sunday at 2:30 at the Arlington Cathedral. After the Rite, the unbaptized participants are now called the "Elect", those elected by God to be reborn by the Water of Life!

Why do we switch to the Cycle A readings?
There are 3 annual cycles of the Sunday scripture readings, Cycle A, B, & C. Each year at Advent, the beginning of the Church year, we begin a new cycle. Last Advent, we began Cycle C. However, whenever we celebrate the Scrutiny prayers (on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of Lent) with those adults preparing for baptism at Easter, we are called to use the readings from Cycle A.

Why?
The imagery of the prayers used in the Scrutinies, also called "major exocisms" has been carefully chosen to echo the major themes of the Year A Gospel readings (water, light, and resurrection). The Gospel for the 3rd Sunday of Lent from Cycle A shows Jesus interacting with the Samaritan woman and offering her living water. On the 4th Sunday of Lent in Cycle A, we encounter Jesus and the man born blind who comes to see the Light. On the 5th Sunday of Lent in Cycle A, we witness the love and care of Jesus as he raises his friend Lazarus from the dead.

These 3 gospels from John are among the Church's most ancient instructional texts associated with baptism.
Come & be renewed.

March 7, 2004 - 2nd Sunday of Lent
11am Mass - Includes a Penitential Rite for Candidates who
have already been baptized

Marrch 14, 2004 - 3rd Sunday of Lent
11am Mass - Includes the 1st Scrutiny for the Elect
Readings from cycle A at 11am Mass

March 21, 2004 - 4th Sunday of Lent
11am Mass - 2nd Scrutiny of the Elect
Readings from cycle A at 11am Mass

March 28, 2004 - 5th Sunday of Lent
11am Mass - 3rd Scrutiny of the Elect
Readings from cycle A at 11am Mass

Monday, April 5, 2004 - Parish Penance Service
Baptized candidates will experience their first Sacrament of Reconciliation

Thursday, April 8, 2004 - Holy Thursday
Elect and Candidates will participate in Holy Thursday Mass

Friday, April 9, 2004 - Good Friday
Elect and Candidates will participate in Good Friday service

Saturday, April 10, 2004 - 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, May 20, 2004 - Pentecost
Adult candidates who were baptized Catholic but seek the Sacrament of Confirmation will be confirmed this day by Bishop Loverde at the Cathedral. Please pray for them!

For more information about RCIA, contact Michelle Miller at rcia@stcharleschurch.org or 703-527-5500 x115.

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Lent 2004: Journeying with Those Joining our Catholic Church

Lent 2004: Journeying with Those Joining
our Catholic Church