Last week as a Parish Community we participated in the Welcoming Rite of the RCIA.   RCIA is the process adult converts go through to come into full communion with the Catholic Church. Those who have not yet been baptized are called catechumens and those who have been baptized in another church are called candidates.  The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a restoration of the ancient practice of initiation in the Church.   The candidates enter into an extended period of formation and conversion through prayer and reflection on the Gospels.  This year at St. Anastasia's Parish, we are blessed to be on an RCIA journey of faith with three individuals! 

Since RCIA is not a program but a sacramental process it is divided into several phases. Progression from one phase to the next is celebrated during Mass amid the parish community because it is also a communal journey.  Last Sunday, at our 12:00 Mass, we welcomed Pauline Healy and Carol Ng into the period of Catechumenate (allowing them to now be called Catechumens). We also welcomed Christo- pher Wong as a Candidate for the completion of his initiation into the faith.  May God bless them greatly on their journey. 
 
As we journey with our candidates we, as a Church community, should celebrate our own continuing conversion along with offering our prayers and blessings for our Catechumens and Candidate.