Sponsor in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

All catechumens in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) are to have a sponsor. The sponsor represents the parish community. The sponsor speaks on behalf of the Church congregation during the different RCIA Rites. The sponsor is someone the catechumen can share their faith with. The relationship between a sponsor and catechumen should develop into a long-term commitment and a lasting friendship. Choosing a sponsor is a very important decision.

The RCIA sponsor should be someone that is a witness to their Catholic faith. This is done by attending the Sunday Mass and daily Mass when possible. The Sponsor emphasizes the importance of daily prayer in their own life and by providing tools to the catechumen to do the same. Sponsors will be joyful for the opportunity to share their faith with others. Sponsors should exude hope. This hope comes from the knowledge that we have been offered eternal life through the resurrection of Jesus.

Sponsors must have love. We must love God, family, neighbors and those difficult to love. Love is shown by the actions and words we have for others. It is the searching for and finding God inside everyone we meet.

Being a sponsor does not mean you must have complete knowledge and understanding of your Catholic faith. The role of a sponsor is that of companionship not teacher. Others will teach. The sponsor walks with the catechumen on their journey into the Catholic faith. Being a sponsor is a commitment but one that will provide many benefits as you grow in your own faith. Call the Church if you feel the role of sponsor is right for you.

Use Lent to Spend Time with God

My wife and I are opposite in many ways. Some differences are larger such as our hobbies while others are just normal day to day things like when we wake up in the morning. I wake up early while my wife sleeps a little later. I will wake up, make coffee and say my morning prayers. My wife wakes up later and does not drink coffee. She will start her day with prayers, while I may be checking on things around the house or catching up on the news. God does bring us together though. As the morning slowly slips into the work of the day, our lives will come together. We will start the activities we planned on previous days. This could be a trip to the store, some special cleaning project around the house or babysitting some our grandchildren while their parents work. It does not always involve work though. Many days will include a movie we both want to watch. It could be listening to an audio book over a few days or weeks. The whole point is that we always come together. Though we have our own habits, wants and needs, we make sure we have time to spend with each other. It is where we learn more about each other and ourselves. It is where we let go of past hurts and ask for forgiveness of our transgressions. This time together is where we grow closer.

We should also have this type of relationship with God. The responsibilities of our family, our occupation and to our self will always be part of our lives. Our relationship with God should be our first responsibility. We should always have a time to sit with God. It is through this relationship that all other relationships are governed. This same relationship we should have with God is brought forth to the elect in the RCIA through the scrutinies. The elect will receive the second scrutiny today, the Fourth Sunday of Lent. Part of the exorcism prayer that is said over the elect asks that the Father free them from false values that surround and blind them. We need a relationship with God to understand his desires for us. Without a relationship with God we will have false values that separate us from God. These false values will blind us to the true journey God wants us to take.

The prayer of exorcism in the three scrutinies ask that the elect be freed from the influence of the devil. It asks for strength of the elect, so they may continue their spiritual journey. The scrutinies help the elect to open their hearts to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. During this purification and enlighten phase of RCIA the elect spend time with God. They have been taught that to have a relationship with God means they must devote time to Him.

All relationships in our lives are important. Think of how you build and maintain those relationships. If a relationship feels strained, weak or non-existent then you devote time to strengthen that relationship. Our relationship with God should be the same. When we feel earthly desires pulling us away from God, we know that our relationship with God is strained. This is the very time we need to scrutinize our life. It is the time to come together with God through our prayer life. It is what is required of the elect and it should be what you require of yourself.

Houston Astros and RCIA (Bulletin Column 20150808)

I am a lifelong fan of the Houston Astros, a professional baseball team. I grew up listening to them on the Radio and now through a cable or satellite box I can watch their games on television. I agonized over them when they were the worst team in baseball and now take joy from them as one of the better professional teams. They are so much better than in years past that people are starting to take notice of the Astros and wondering who this team is. The casual fan searches for more information on the team and about the players that make up the team. Attendance at the Astros baseball games is increasing as more people want to be part of the excitement.

Catholic are already part of an excitement.  We belong to a Church that is alive and active.  The Catholic Church takes an active role in its parish, community and world events.  We have leaders who defend our faith.  We had and still have writers that inspire us and guide us in the teachings of our Church.  We have clergy that help us understand the true meaning behind the words spoken by Jesus and comfort us during times of turmoil.  Most important is the faith we have in our risen Lord, Jesus Christ, who was crucified on a cross so that we may have eternal life.  All of these things bring us together as a community where we gather together in prayer, song and silence to praise God.

Some though are just discovering the excitement of the Catholic faith. They are hearing about the Sacraments that help us and guide us through the important moments in our life.  These inquirers are learning that we do have responsibilities that derive from the teachings of Jesus.  Responsibilities we gladly adhere to out of our love for God.  They are learning that it is the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross that creates an unbreakable covenant between God and his people.  The inquirers are hearing for the first time that through the celebration of the Mass, the bread has become the body Jesus and that the cup holds the blood of the new covenant.

The Rite of Christian Imitation of Adults (RCIA) is for those who have found the excitement of our Catholic faith.  They have heard the words Christ proclaimed and freely seek to understand the teachings of the Catholic Church.  Reach out to them.  You are the first representatives of the Catholic Church.  Welcome these inquirers and guide them toward the RCIA program in your parish.

Evangelize Others by Directing them to RCIA

We are called to evangelize our Catholic faith to others. Most of the time this requires us to live our faith so others will see our faith in action and not words. This does not mean we never have the opportunity to speak of our faith to others. One way to speak our faith is to make sure those interested in the Catholic faith know where to turn when seeking more information.

This will happen! People will approach you about your faith especially if you are living a life that exemplifies your faith and not contradicts it. People are searching for fulfillment The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that the desire for God is written in our hearts because God made us and we are continuously being drawn back to our maker. God is the only place where we will find true fulfillment of our desires for truth, love and happiness (CCC 27).

This fulfillment is found in the Catholic Church. Jesus inaugurates his Church through the teachings he passed on to the Apostles and his sacrifice on the cross. It is in the Church that Christ fulfills the mystery that is God's plan for our salvation (CCC 772).
The Church announces, bears witness, makes present and spreads the mystery of the Holy Trinity (CCC 738, 766).

One can learn more about the fulfillment of their desire to know God through a process called the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). The RCIA process should never pressure anyone to become Catholic but the process should give one the proper tools for discerning God's call to know Him. RCIA is for someone never baptized, someone baptized in another faith tradition or for a person baptized Catholic but who has not received their First Holy Communion and/or the sacrament of Confirmation. Some RCIA programs are year round while others are modeled after the school year. This is the perfect time to inquiry about the RCIA process. If you have an interest or know of someone who may be interested in the Catholic faith, contact your local parish for more information. This will insure the inquirer receives the information as it becomes available and you will be doing your Catholic duty of evangelizing to others.