This process welcomes adults who would like to receive Baptism, Eucharist and/or
Confirmation. Candidates are gradually introduced to aspects of
Catholic beliefs and practices.
All people who are open to discerning their personal experience of faith and
to learning more about the Catholic Church are welcome to begin the process.
Many people come to an awareness of their desire to learn about
membership in the Catholic Church in various and different ways.
Often it may be a personal faith experience, overcoming personal difficulty
and tragedy, or a relationship or discussion with a person of faith which
leads one to begin this exciting journey. All that is truly
required is a sincere desire to learn, to grow, and to develop one’s
relationship with God.
As you go through your "catechumenate," your time of instruction, there is
only one quality which is demanded of you That quality is
openness. Try your best to be open to the demands made on
you during your preparation. Be open to one another in this group
of candidates. Be open to your leader, teacher, or facilitator.
But most of all, be open to the working of the Holy Spirit in your
heart. This time of preparation can be some of the most important
hours of your life. During this preparation, you are learning what
it means to be a fully initiated, adult member of the Body of Jesus Christ on
earth—the Church.
| Your Stage | Christian Initiation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Getting Ready | The precatechumenate | A time of beginning and a time of questioning. |
| 2. The Journey | The catechumenate | A fairly long time for learning or reviewing the basics of the Catholic Faith. A time to start thinking and acting like a fully initiated member of the Church. |
| 3. Seeing the Light | Illumination, or election: the candidate receives the sacraments of initiation. | A time to become a fully initiated member. A time of celebration and for being proud and happy to belong to the Body of Christ. |
| 4. Alleluia | The Mystagogia: after–initiation instructions. The word means“sharing the mysteries.” | A time for the new member to make sure that he or she can truly think and act like a member of the body. |
If you are an adult interested in receiving these sacraments please contact Joanne Mongeon via phone at 781-329-9575 or via email at jparnellmongeon@gmail.com