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| About
the Sacrament: |
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The rite of Christian initiation described below is designed for adults who, after hearing the mystery of Christ proclaimed, consciously and freely seek the living God and enter the way of faith and conversion as the Holy Spirit opens their hearts. By God's help they will be strengthened spiritually during their preparation and at the proper time will receive the sacraments fruitfully.
This rite includes not only the celebration of the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and the eucharist, but also all the rites of the catechumenate. A catechumenate, endorsed by the ancient practice of the Church and adapted to contemporary missionary work throughout the world, was so widely requested that the Second Vatican Council decreed its restoration, revision, and adaptation to local traditions.
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| Steps
For Preparation: |
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On this journey, besides periods for making inquiry and for maturing there are stages or "steps": the progress of the catechumen is, as it were, a passage through a gateway or the climbing of another "step."
a. First stage [catechumenate]: at the point of initial conversion, they wish to become Christians and are accepted as catechumens by the Church.
b. Second stage [final preparation]: when their faith has grown and the catechumenate is almost completed, they are admitted to a more intense preparation for the sacraments.
c. Third stage [sacraments of initiation]: after the spiritual preparation is completed, they receive the sacraments of Christian initiation.
These three stages, "steps," or "gateways" are to be considered as the major, more intense moments of initiation and are marked by three liturgical rites: the first by the rite of entrance into the order of catechumens, the second by the election or enrollment of names, and the third by the celebration of Christian initiation.
The stages lead to the periods for making inquiry and maturing; alternatively, the periods may also be considered to prepare for the stages.
a. The first period consists of inquiry on the part of the candidates and of evangelization and the precatechumenate on the part of the Church. It ends with entrance into the order of catechumens.
b. The second period, which begins with this entrance into the order of catechumens, includes catechesis and the rites connected with catechesis. It comes to an end on the day of election.
c. The third period, shorter in length, ordinarily coincides with the Lenten preparation for the Easter celebration and the sacraments. It is a time of purification and enlightenment.
d. The final period goes through the whole Easter season and is devoted to the postbaptismal catechesis or mystagogy. It is a time for deepening the Christian experience, for gaining spiritual fruit, and for entering more closely into the life and unity of the community of the faithful.
Thus there are four continuous periods: the precatechumenate, marked by the hearing of the first preaching of the Gospel; the catechumenate, set aside for a complete catechesis; the period of purification and enlightenment (Lenten preparation) for a more intense spiritual preparation; and the period of postbaptismal catechesis or mystagogy, marked by the new experience of sacraments and community.
The whole initiation must bear a strong paschal character, since the initiation of Christians is the first sacramental sharing in the death and rising of Christ and since, in addition, the period of purification and enlightenment ordinarily coincides with Lent [2] and the postbaptismal catechesis or mystagogy with the Easter season. In this way Lent achieves its full force as a more intense preparation of the elect and the Easter Vigil is considered the proper time for the sacraments of initiation.
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| Sacramental
Schedule: |
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Preparation sessions held each month from September through March/April with First Eucharist in Spring.
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| Contact
Information: |
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Contact Deacon Greg Hoefler at (330) 929-8361, ext. 28 to make arrangements or email  .
Word Document Form OR PDF Form
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| Links
for more Information: |
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http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1995/9509fea3.asp
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