In the JosaFASTs this Lent, our RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) candidates and their sponsors will be sharing their thoughts on the RCIA program, Lent, and their faith journey. They have been meeting with the RCIA team for some months and now enter their final, intense period of formation and preparation for this significant moment in their faith lives.
The RCIA process has given me the opportunity to learn about the Catholic Faith and gives me a greater appreciation for the connectedness and history of the Church.
I have learned a lot about the Catholic Faith that I was unaware of prior to going through the process. I feel I have been brought closer to God, both in intellectual learning and closeness of spirit. I was originally baptized Lutheran, but went to a Catholic high school; I knew some of the history of the Church, but was unaware of why things were done the way they are done. I found it very interesting when learning about the history of the church, how the Catholic Church served as a government-type institution, presiding over marriages and becoming record keepers when certain governments did not.
In addition to some of the historical aspects, I have learned the importance of many of the rituals of the Faith. Learning the meaning of the sacraments and the gravity of receiving them shows me the importance having a strong faith and being revenant. I have learned about the process of why Catechumens and Catechists are admitted during Easter, tracing its roots to the start of the Church, providing a strong tie through the lineage of the Church.
During this process, I have been brought closer to Kelsey, my Fiancé and sponsor. We have shared an interest in raising our future children in the Catholic Faith, and being in the same Church ourselves for our marriage. I feel very blessed to have gone through the process and given this opportunity to join the Catholic Faith. One of the largest things I have learned is that the process of learning does not end at the Easter Vigil, it is just beginning, and will continue for my lifetime.
Matthew Ross, Candidate for Full Communion into the Catholic Faith
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