RCIA Schedule - Inquiry / Pre-Catechumenate

Pre-Catechumenate Stage (Inquiry)

September

2nd - Intro to RCIA: What is the Catholic Church:

·         What is the RCIA process?

·         Entering into “The Story”?

·         What are the claims of the Catholic Church? What is the evidence?

·         What is the Church’s relationship with Christian world?

·         What does the Church propose as Truth for all people?

·         Common misunderstandings regarding Catholics and Catholic teaching?

9th - Jesus Christ- God's Love Story

·         Who is Jesus Christ and the nature of the Trinity?

·         Why is he central to “The Story” ?

·         Human freedom, sin, and the need for a savior?

·         How does the sacraments relate to the saving work of Christ?

·         What claims does Christ make on you?

·         How do we come to know the love of God through Christ?

16th - Revelation: Scripture & Tradition I

·         How do we come to know about God and God’s plan for us?

·         Divine Revelation in two books: the nature of scripture?

·         What is Revelation and why God must reveal himself to us?

·         Why the Bible is honored as the revealed Word of God?

·         What is the history of the Bible and it’s relation with the Church?

·         How do I look things up in the Bible?

·         How to read and pray with scripture and meet Christ?

23rd - Revelation: Scripture & Tradition II + Q & A

·         What is Sacred Tradition and why does it help guide the Church?

·         Why reading the Bible apart from Sacred Tradition can lead to errors?

·         How is Sacred Tradition part of God’s Revelation and how is it preserved?

·         What are common misunderstandings?

·         How do Scripture & Tradition join together to give us a clear idea of the teachings of the Church?

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30th- Incarnation: The Visible Church

·         What does it mean for Jesus to be “incarnated”?

·         Why is the Church, understood as his body, not just invisible and spiritual, but visible and concrete in time?

·         How are the Apostles the foundations of the Church?

·         How is the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity, alive in the Church?

·         What is the structure of the Catholic Church? What are its Biblical origins?

·         What are sacraments and what happens in the Mass?

October

7th - Communion of Saints and the Church

·         How are all baptized Christians united to Christ and the Church, his ‘mystical body’?

·         What is a saint and what is our relationship with those who are not dead, but alive with Christ in heaven?

·         What are common misunderstandings about Catholic teaching on saints?

·         Is everyone called to be a saint?

·         Why do Catholics pray to saints? Is it idolatry? If not, is it even essential? Why not pray just to God? Isn’t there only one mediator between God and man, the man Jesus Christ?’ (1 Tim. 2:5)

14th - Blessed Virgin Mary and the Church

·         Why is Mary so important to Catholics?

·         What is known about her from Scripture and Tradition?

·         Do Catholics worship Mary?

·         What is her role in salvation history? What is her connection to the Church?

·         What do the various titles and doctrines on Mary mean?

·         How can Mary help me to know and love Jesus even more?

21st - Salvation: Saved from Sin and saved for…

·         What does it mean to be saved? What must I do?

·         Why did God have to enter history to ultimately die for mankind?

·         What is original sin? Where is it in Scripture and how does it effect us?

·         What is the relationship God desires with us in light of our freedom?

·         Christ dies to save us from the consequence of sin (death), but what does he save us for? What kind of life does he promise to give us?

·         How does he communicate this new life to us? Where is it in the Bible and how is the Catholic Church a part of this?

28nd - Salvation: Christ's work through Church

·         What is the difference between the words salvation, justification, and sanctification?

·         What is grace and how does the Church dispense it?

·         What is the role of the Holy Spirit in making me a new person in Christ?

·         What are misunderstandings about Catholic teaching regarding the necessity of the Church for salvation?

·         What is the role of faith and good works?

·         What is the role of faith and the sacraments?

November

4th - Salvation: Death, Judgment, Heaven, Hell

·         What is the nature of reality- what are the Church’s teachings on the “end times”?

·         How does Christ overcome death?

·         What will I be judged on at the end of time?

·         What is heaven like and won’t I eventually get bored?

·         How can a good God ‘toss’ people into hell for not believing in him?

·         How can I be happy if people I love are not with me in heaven?

·         What is purgatory? What are misconceptions about Catholic teaching on the Four Last Things (death, judgment, heaven, and hell)?

·         Why is ‘hope’ a vital virtue when talking about this subject?

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11th - Q & A - Catholicism 101

·         Questions on any topic regarding the faith?

·         Catholic Apologetics- how to know and defend the truth with faith and reason?

·         How to discern where you are in relationship to Christ and the Church?

·         Preparation for the Rite of Acceptance for those who desire to take ‘the next step’ (there is no obligations to continue forward, even after one completes any of the Rites in the RCIA process) ?