ST. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church

14908 Main Street

Upper Marlboro, Maryland  20772

email:  rectory@stmarysum.org

Business Hours for the Rectory 10am - 5pm Monday through Friday

Adult Initiation

RCIA: The rite of initiation is a guided spiritual journey of adults, which varies according to the many forms of God’s grace, the free cooperation of individuals, the action of the Church, and the circumstances of time and place. This spiritual journey of faith is spread out over the course of four distinct periods of formation . . .

1. Period of Inquiry - It is a time devoted to the first preaching of the Gospel to the candidates, to basic evangelization and initial conversion.

2. Catechumenate - This is a period of catechesis during which time different minor rites are celebrated to mark the progress of the catechumens and sustain them in their growing faith.

3. Period of Enlightenment - Coinciding with Lent, it begins with the celebration of election and is a time of more intense and more immediate preparation for the sacraments of initiation celebrated at Easter.

4. Period of Postbaptismal Catechesis - A period of time to reflect on and deepen their understanding of their own experience of the sacramental mysteries, and to enter more fully into the life and unity of the community.

Catechumens (unbaptized) and candidates for full communion are prepared at St.Mary’s together. The above mentioned stages refer to the catechumenate only.

The person (previously married) and now in a new marriage (after divorce) are not to be received into the Church until their prior marriage has been adjudicated by the Tribunal.

Godparents are to furnish catechumens with a strong witness to faith, to assist them in dealing with doubts and anxieties, and to guide them personally in their Christian lives after Baptism. Because godparents exercise a public office, Canon Law requires that they

• are Catholics who have been confirmed and have received the
  sacrament of the Eucharist;

• are at least sixteen years of age [an exception may be made by
  the parish priest for just cause];

• lead a life of faith in harmony with the function they are under-
  taking and have the intention of undertaking this function;

• are not the parents of the catechumen;                                                                   
   
• are not bound by a legitimately declared or inflicted canonical
  penalty.

The ordinary minister of Baptism is a bishop, priest, or deacon. Whenever a priest baptizes an adult or a child of catechetical age, he may also confer the sacrament of Confirmation and Eucharist.

For the reception into full communion of one born and baptized outside full communion with the Catholic Church, only a profession of faith is required. Baptism is not repeated, although a conditional Baptism may be offered if the validity of the previous one is in doubt. By law, the priest who receives a Christian into full communion has the faculty to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation. Since the Church recognizes the validity of Confirmation in the Orthodox Church, they are not to be re-confirmed. Candidates should celebrate the Sacrament of Penance as part of their reception into full communion.

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