Our Lady of Ransom, Grange Road
Saturday 6pm,
Sunday 10.30am, 5.30pm
St Gregory, Victoria Drive
Sunday am, 9.15pm
St Agnes, Whitley Road
Saturday 5.00pm, Sunday 11.15pm
A copy of the programme for the Autumn 2009 may be downloaded here, and a provisional programme for the whole year 2009-2010 downloaded here. We welcome you to join us for the Journey in Faith programme also known as RCIA ( Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). This is the process by which adults who are not Catholic are welcomed into the Christian family. It is a process rather than a course. We try to recognise that everyone has a different style and pace of learning and accommodate their needs as much as possible.
Becoming a Catholic is more than just a matter of learning and accepting a number of beliefs. It is a process of gradual conversion and a journey in faith. It involves growing into this particular Catholic community or parish here at Our Lady of Ransom and St Gregory with St Agnes, though as a Catholic you would become a member of the worldwide community of the church, too.
The Journey in Faith (RCIA) is for many different people. It is for those who wish to become Catholics who are not yet baptised (christened). It is also recommended by the Church for baptised Christians from other traditions, who wish to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church. Also taking part are adults who were baptised in the Catholic Church, but did not receive the sacraments of Confirmation and/or Eucharist. This may describe your own situation or that of someone you know who might be thinking of finding out more or you may simply be a Catholic who has received all these sacraments but wishes to consider preparing to renew your commitment to life in the community of the Church. Obviously each person has distinct needs. There are also those from the community who take part in the process as companions or sponsors to others in their journey, together with the catechists and the priests who have responsibility for the process.
Meetings take place once a week at 8pm-9.15pm on Thursday evenings in the Parish Centre, Our Lady of Ransom Church, Grange Road where all gather to hear a talk on some aspect of the faith, to share their questions and to pray together. We meet as a group because becoming a Catholic involves being a member of a parish community.
Generally people are baptised and received into the church at Easter the following year (2010). Although everyone goes at their own pace there is a programme leading towards the following Easter, made up of stages- though we try to accommodate people's individual needs. The following is an outline:
During this Autumn (shown above) those who are interested participate in the evening sessions and are encouraged to take part in the Sunday masses, where possible. Later in the term, there will be a celebration over one weekend at the Sunday masses in each Church where those participating may be welcomed. At this stage people may continue without making a firm commitment.
During this period and continuing after Christmas, those who wish to continue and to become members of the Church in the coming Easter may deepen their commitment. There is no obligation or expectation that every person will be ready at this moment to take this step. All are welcome to continue to attend the evenings
This is the season of Lent beginning Ash Wednesday 17th February 2010, a period of 6 weeks leading up to Easter, during which those who have chosen and are ready to go forward are supported by the whole parish community and all who have accompanied them, in their preparation for Easter, when they will be baptised and/or received into the Church at the vigil of Easter, Saturday evening April 3rd 2010.
This is a period of 50 days after Easter when we meet together on Thursdays
If you would like to find out more why not come along, with a friend or on your own, or if you would like to chat about it to one of the priests please telephone the office on 01323 723222.