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2005 Lenten Schedule

February 13, 2005 - 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 9 AM Mass. The Rite of Election & Call to Continuing Conversion will be celebrated by Bishop Loverde on Sunday afternoon 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!

February 20, 2005 - 2nd Sunday of Lent
9 AM Mass - Includes a Penitential Rite for Candidates who have already been baptized

February 27, 2005 - 3rd Sunday of Lent
9 AM Mass - Includes the 1st Scrutiny for the Elect

March 6, 2005 - 4th Sunday of Lent
9 AM Mass - 2nd Scrutiny of the Elect

March 13, 2005 - 5th Sunday of Lent
9 AM Mass - 3rd Scrutiny of the Elect

Monday, March 21, 2005 - Parish Penance Service
Baptized candidates will experience their first Sacrament of Reconciliation

Thursday, March 24, 2005 - Holy Thursday
Elect and Candidates will participate in Holy Thursday Mass

Friday, March 25, 2005 - Good Friday
Elect and Candidates will participate in Good Friday service

Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 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 15, 2005 - 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!

Lent 2005: 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; for some, it's been a journey of years. 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. Refer to the schedule to the right.

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

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