Christian Initiation (RCIA)
NEW COHORT BEGINS SEPTEMBER 2010. It takes a community to welcome a new Catholic Christian as much as it takes a village to raise a child. Liturgists and catechists, musicians and lectors, ministers of pastoral care and of hospitality – and all the members of a faith community – are essential to the process of Christian initiation. The Certificate Program in Christian Initiation provides a thorough introduction to the complexity and richness of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA), its history and its theology. Participants in this program will have opportunities to develop and assess practical skills needed to assist those seeking baptism as well as the baptized seeking full communion with the Catholic Church. Emphasis will also be placed upon how the Initiation of some is linked to the spiritual development of the entire faith community.
This program is designed for anyone involved in initiation ministry, newcomers and veterans, initiation team members and sponsors. All other parish ministers seeking a deeper understanding of the central role of Christian initiation in their own ministries and in the life of the community are also welcome. This in-depth look at the RCIA is intended to complement the Advanced Certification Program of the Office for Worship of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Course topics include the history and theology of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), respecting varieties of religious traditions, preparing the baptized for Full Communion, the role of families and sponsors, the initiation of children, the Steps and Stages of Initiation, the Period of Inquiry (Precatechumenate), the Rite of Acceptance (Entry into the Catechumenate), the Period of the Catechumenate, discernment for Election, the Rite of Election, the Period of Enlightenment (the Lenten Retreat), the celebration of the Easter Vigil and the Sacraments of Initiation, the Period of Mystagogy and the ministry of the Assembly.
General Information
Courses will meet one Saturday per month from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Loyola Marymount University’s serene Westchester campus. The program runs two semesters. Participants who complete the Christian Initiation (RCIA) certificate program will earn a total of 5.0 LMU Extensions semester hours and a certificate of completion from Loyola Marymount University. Tuition is $295 per semester, including book fees. Schedules and tuition are subject to change. Please check the website for updates.
Registration
Submit an enrollment form for the program via direct mail, or contact LMU Extension at 310.338.1971 to handle your enrollment over the phone. You can also register for courses individually online.
INSTRUCTOR
Gail Gresser, M.A. is Director of Campus Ministry at Mount St. Mary's College in Los Angeles. She has extensive experience in the area of Christian Initiation and liturgy. For many years she was a member of the Initiation Committee of the Office for Worship in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. She is currently also the Coordinator of the Ministry Leadership program for the Center for Religion and Spirituality at LMU Extension. She holds a Masters in Psychological Anthropology from UCLA and a Masters in Theology from Loyola Marymount University.