RCIC

The RCIC (Rite of Christian Initiation of Children) is a process specifically designed for children in one of five categories:
1. Children, ages 8 thru 12 who would like to be baptized into the Catholic faith, and receive their First Holy Communion & Confirmation. Children, ages eight and above are prepared for Baptism, Confirmation & First Holy Communion. Classes are held once a week.
2. Five and six year olds who have never been baptized and would like to be baptized into the Catholic faith. These children would attend a regular Kindergarten or 1st grade RE class, beginning in October. Parents would attend a baptism prep class and child would be baptized at a regular Sunday baptism ceremony.

3. Those children in 3-7 grade, who were baptized as infants and never received any formal religious education. These children are prepared to celebrate First Penance & First Communion through the RCIC process. The RCIC follows the same format as the RCIA (Rite of Christian of Adults).

4. Those students in 8-12 grade, who have not been regularly enrolled in an RE program through the current year, and have been baptized and received Penance and Communion, will attend a Teen Catechumenate class, as candidates in the RCIA process. This class will act as a refresher course in basic Catholic doctrine and will prepare them for the sacrament of Confirmation. Those students in 8-12 grade, who have been baptized but have not received Penance and Communion, will also be candidates in the RCIA process, and will prepare for Penance, Communion & Confirmation.

5. Those students in 8-12 grade, who have not been baptized, received Communion or Confirmation, will go through a full Initiation process in the Teen Catechumenate, as catechumens in the RCIA process.

The RCIC is not only a “class” process, but a process whereby the children are made to feel part of the parish community. These children must be attending Mass on Sunday in order to prepare fully for the reception of sacraments.

This is a family process. It is a commitment on the part of the parent to ensure that their child enters fully into this process. Parents meet on Tuesday evenings for an Adult Ed class on whatever topic their child is covering in their class. This takes place at the same time their child is in class and is designed to help parents along the journey with their children.
Contact: Jackie Ezersky, Director of Religious Education
(703) 494-3966 or jackie.ezersky1@verizon.net