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Contact: Pat and Charlie Birmingham
681-3973
e-mail Pat and Charlie The Pastoral Associate, the Priests, Deacons, Lay Leaders and Director of Religious Education provide instruction on the Catholic faith to individuals seeking to learn more about the Catholic faith and to those who are looking for full communion with the Church. It is a program of inquiry and instruction leading to initiation into the Catholic Church with celebration of the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. Baptized Catholics who have not had the opportunity to celebrate Confirmation and/or First Communion are also welcome.
Twelve Receive Sacraments of Initiation at Easter Vigil Mass, 2009 The highlight of the RCIA ministry’s year is the Easter Vigil Mass when candidates and elect receive the sacraments of initiation and enter into full communion with the Church. At this year’s vigil Mass, with Father Oenbrink presiding, two elect received the sacrament of Baptism. Father also administered the sacrament of Confirmation to the two newly baptized, to nine candidates who had been baptized in other Christian ceremonies, and to one candidate who had been baptized as a Catholic but who had not been confirmed. We offer our prayers of thanksgiving for the largest number of catechumens and candidates in several years to have participated in the months of inquiry, catechesis and spiritual growth, and for the faithful Catholics who sponsored them. 
RCIA Ministry Celebrates Rite of Election RCIA groups from around the Lowcountry Deanery gathered at St. Francis on March 1st for the Rite of Election, a rite used in the very early days of the Church and reinstated gradually during the 1970s and 1980s. Father Oenbrink presided. Eight catechumens, including four from St. Francis, participated in the liturgical rite in which the Church formally ratifies the catechumens’ readiness for the sacraments of initiation, and the catechumens, now referred to as the "elect", express their will to receive the sacraments. The elect signed their names in the Book of the Elect, which has been returned to diocesan office. Father also presided over the "Call to Continuing Conversion", the rite of welcoming baptized adults who are preparing for the sacraments of confirmation and Eucharist. Eighteen candidates from St. Francis joined eleven candidates from other deanery parishes in this rite. The Stewardship and Respect Life Ministries hosted a reception for the attendees. They decorated the family center, warmly welcomed all who attended, and treated the gathering to a variety of delicious finger food. It was a blessed day.
RCIA Witness Statements RCIA 2008 - 2009 SCHEDULE CANDIDATES CONFIRMED AT EASTER VIGIL MASS 2008
RCIA Meeting on St. Patrick's Day 2009
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