Follow the RCIA path to God

Four men open their hearts to the Catholic Faith

By RENATO GANDIA
WCR Staff Writer
Spruce Grove

As a young boy, Mick Ludu felt he had faith, growing up in the midst of Catholic family members and friends. Stan Tomlinson has been around Catholics all his life, but never looked at the possibility of becoming one until recently. Eddy Jensen's children are all baptized and progressing in receiving other sacraments.

So Jensen said, "It's time that I become Catholic."

These four men have been journeying in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) and all look forward to being baptized at the Easter Vigil.

With three women, who will also be confirmed, they have been attending RCIA classes since September at Holy Trinity Parish in Spruce Grove/Stony Plain.

RCIA prepares participants to receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist, usually during Easter celebration. This process can take up to a year, depending on the individual.

There are four periods in their journey: evangelization and pre-catechumenate, catechumenate, purification and enlightenment, and mystagogy (post-baptismal catechesis).

The first period is also called the inquiry period, which can last for one year.

Parish RCIA coordinator Jean Keetch said, "In real life, I believe that people start going through their inquiry without us."

When the inquirers join in the journey, they are being evangelized.

"During this period, we try to give a presentation on who is Jesus, who is God, what is the Church and then of course something specific to the Catholic faith, like the role of Mary," Keetch said.

The first week of Advent to the first week of Lent is the time when they catechize and teach Catholic theology on sacraments, sacramentals and other topics.

The first week of Lent begins the period of purification and enlightenment leading up to Easter when people are either baptized, or baptized and confirmed. During this time, three rites of scrutiny are celebrated.

These rites are meant for self-searching and repentance.

"I try really hard not to allow or not to give any theological presentation during this period," Keetch said.

She believes if one doesn't get it by then, the person should be continuing on another year or a few months.

"What is really important at this point is the period of conversion. We have evangelized them, catechized them, now at this period they have to be able to experience conversion," she explained.

"It's something in my heart that I really felt good about." - Stan Tomlinson

Conversion is not very easy by any means, although some people expect it to be easy, she said. "You can never have conversion without faith."

During this period, they talk about love, sin and reconciliation. They have meditations and reflections about the topics.

After they received the sacraments of initiation, the group still meets for some weeks for the period of mystagogy, during which presentations on social justice, ministries and other topics are given.

Berniquer, who attends a Catholic school, admitted he has never been religious. But going to a Catholic school and learning about the faith made him want to be a Catholic. Then his father died recently.

"When somebody dies in your family, you take everything into account. Any time can be your time," said the 16-year-old elect.

Ludu, 38, said, "My journey started when I was a child. I sometimes spent weekends with my Catholic friends and went to church with them.

"I think even prior to (RCIA), there's always been some faith," said Ludu, who is married to a Catholic and whose father belongs to the same faith community.

As he aged and with his child being baptized in the Church, he thought he should go with his feelings about the faith since he was a child. He then started attending RCIA in Red Deer.

Tomlinson, who worked in prison for 20 years, said, "I felt something in my heart and I didn't know what it was. But I was searching and bouncing around."

When the opportunity to become part of the RCIA journey came to him, he felt peace in his heart and soul.

"I can't explain it," he said.

"It's not because my wife is Catholic and not because my children are baptized. It's something in my heart that I really felt good about."

Keetch, who has been RCIA coordinator of the parish for three years, went through the RCIA herself 16 years ago and said she had an incredible experience.

She became involved in the process because she has a passion for the Christian faith. "I have a real passion for how it is expressed in the Catholic denomination. "I really want to give people the right impression of Catholicism." She tries to let them know "how my Baptism affected me, how my Confirmation affected me and how I live my Baptism."

The team is also extremely important, Keetch said. "If you only have one person, it cannot be done. If there is only one person who facilitates it, all they get is one person's faith, one person's theology, one person's devotion."

Having different types of personalities within the team is crucial so people get a broad view of Catholicism.

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