Initiation of Adults and Older Children (RCIA)

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is the way in which adults are welcomed into the Catholic Church and complete their initiation. This applies to unbaptised adults who are preparing to receive the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist), and those who have been baptised in other Christian communities who now wish to be

received into the Catholic Church. In many parishes, RCIA groups often include adult Catholics who were baptised as infants and are now seeking to complete their Initiation.

Older children (those aged seven and above who have reached “catechetical age”) are also baptised and received into the Catholic Church through an adapted form of the RCIA. The number of such children coming forward to be received into the Church in our Diocese grows each year. The process for such children should be understood as one in which they are drawing closer to God, not as a ‘catching up’ with the sacraments.

This web page will allow you to access resources to aid your understanding of RCIA for adults and older children, catechetically and liturgically. It provides guidance for catechists and sponsors, the RCIA Preparation Pack, various articles on the RCIA as well as links to other useful websites.