Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
Schedule for 2010-2011 Church of the Most Holy Trinity

Part 1: An Overview of Catholic Teaching and Spirituality

Text books: Michael Pennock, This Is Our Faith; The Catechism of the Catholic Church; The New American Bible; Various supplements as noted.

September 9: Introduction-Fr. Michael Kavanaugh

• Getting acquainted and sharing stories
• Overview of the RCIA Program
• Praying the Lord’s Prayer and learning the Sign of the Cross
  

September 16: Salvation through Jesus Christ (Pennock Chp. 2, 3)-Deacon Kent Plowman

• Salvation history: Creation, Fall, Old Testament Covenants and types, Messiah, Grace, Judgment
• Jesus—Incarnation, Passion, Crucifixion, Resurrection, Ascension
• Our personal journey with Jesus and his Church
• Praying “Come Holy Spirit”

September 23: The Sacraments I: The Holy Eucharist (Pennock Chp 14)-Fr. K

• Scriptural basis and its meaning in the lives of Christians
• How the Holy Eucharist is celebrated: theology, history and practical issues

September 30: Instructional Mass- Fr. K

October 7: The Catholic Bible: (Handouts)-Dcn P

• History of the canon and reasons for choices
• Sacred Tradition as guide to interpretation
• Practical issues about choosing a translation and reading it

October 14: Final things—Death, Heaven/Hell/Purgatory, Judgment (Penck C-11)- Dcn P

• Death—Bodily vs. spiritual
• Judgment—Particular and Final
• Christian beliefs on afterlife—Resurrection of the body

October 21: The Communion of Saints and Mary’s Role (Pennock Chp 10)- Fr. K

• Praying for the faithful departed
• Praying to the saints
• Mary as principal saint

October 28: Apostolic succession and Church structure (Pennock Chp 8)- Fr. K

• One, holy, apostolic
• Church’s governing structure
• Magisterium

Nov 4: The Sacraments II: Baptism & Confirmation-Initiation (Pennock Chp 13)- Fr. K

• Initiation in early Church
• Baptism—its roots, practices, and theology
• Confirmation (Chrismation)—roots, practices, and theology

Nov 11: The Sacraments III: Healing and Service (Pennock Chp 15 & 16)- Fr. K

• Reconciliation—Healing of the soul
• Anointing of the Sick—Healing of the body
• Matrimony—Service through the “domestic church”
• Holy Orders—Service through the body of the Church

Nov 18: Interviews, rehearsal for Rite of Welcoming, Sponsor training-Fr. K & Dcn P

Nov. 25: Thanksgiving—No class

Nov. 28: Rite of Welcoming—10:30 Mass

Part 2: Catholic Teachings

December 2: History and Precepts of the Church (Pennock Chp 19)- Fr. K

December 9: Faith—Our approach to God (Pennock Chp 2 & 4-5)- Dcn P

• I/We Believe—God’s plan for us
• Liturgical Cycles—Worship as our response to God’s plan
• “The Truth Exposed” (Video)

December 16: The Trinity—Three Persons in One Substance (Pennock Chp 6)- Fr. K

• Who is God
• Revelation of His Nature
• Relationships within the Holy Trinity
• Prayer of “Glory be…”

December 23: No class

December 30: Pot luck social—Plowman home

January 6: The Mystery of the Church (Pennock Chp 8 & 9)- Dcn P

• Christ as Head of the Church
• Divisions in church—history and current relationships with other Christians
• Mary as Mother of the Church (Theotokos)

January 13: Foundations of Catholic Moral Teaching (Pennock Chp 17)- Fr. K

• The purpose of being human
• Human freedom and responsibility
• Virtues and sin
  

January 20: Catholic teaching on Social Justice- Fr. K

• Person and Society—Authority and Subsidiarity
• What is the common good
• Love and justice—basic human rights

January 27: Christian Holiness (Pennock Chp 19)- Dcn P

• Moral law and natural law
• Justification and grace
• How do we gain merit before God

February 3: Scriptural basis of Holiness (Pennock Chp 17 and supplements)- Diana Plowman

• Ten Commandments (Negative law)
• Beatitudes (Positive law)
• Conscience

February 10: The First Three Commandments—Love of God (Pennock Chp 20)- Fr. K

Feb 17: The Last Seven Commandments—Love of Neighbor Pt 1 (Pennock Chp 21)- Dcn P

Feb 24: The Last Seven Commandments—Love of Neighbor Pt. 2 (Pennock Chp 21)- Dcn P

March 3: God’s Love and Grace and Our Response—Dcn P

March 10: Preparing for Lent— Fr. K

• Church in union with Catechumens and Candidates
• Pilgrimage in Wilderness—Prayer, Fasting, and Alms giving
• A time of Repentance and Purification

March 13: Rite of Sending/Election—First Sunday of Lent—Cathedral Savannah

Part 3: Purification and Enlightenment

March 17: Prayer (Pennock Chp 22)-Diana P

• Old Testament Models
• Jesus’ Model
• Expressions of Prayer

March 24: Examination of Conscience, Preparation for Penance and First Scrutiny-Dcn P

• Discussion about Exam of Conscience
• Demonstration Reconciliation

March 26: (Saturday All day retreat)- Fr. K

• 9:00 am Opening Prayers & Introduction of Topic—
• 9:30 am Personal reflection time
• 10:00 am Sharings on prayer
• 10:45 am Talk and reflection time
• 12:00 Lunch
• 1:00 pm Talk and reflection time
• 2:00 pm Examination of Conscience and Penance (available)
• 3:00 pm Closing prayer

March 31: Illumination and Living the Paschal Mystery— Dcn P

April 7: Christian Service and Second Scrutiny-Fr. Mike Lubinsky

• Theology of service
• Parish Organizations

April 14: Mary, Mother of God (Theotokos), Chief Intercessor & Third Scrutiny-Fr. Mike L.

• Angels and Saints as intercessors
• Fellow Christians as intercessors

April 21: Study of Easter Vigil readings and Preview of Easter Liturgy

April 23: Saturday Rehearsal at 9:30 am for Easter Vigil Service at 8 pm

May 5: Celebration Dinner and Illumination

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