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Why do we call it a journey of faith?  Life can be viewed as a journey, from the event of our births, through all the times, places we’ve been, through all the experiences we’ve had, to the point of our physical body dying…  and our immortal soul returning to He who made us.  Through this journey, people and events have shaped us – helped guide us hopefully toward goodness, and yet sometimes toward trouble, but by doing so the journey helped form us and our beliefs.

In faith, we believe that God the Father loves us, and through His love wants the absolute best for us.  As we traverse the life’s pathways, He speaks to us in ways that maybe we don’t quite sense in an upper level of consciousness (that still, quiet voice) or that we don’t quite understand (as His ways are higher than our ways). 

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The RCIA Journey of Faith

So what is this RCIA journey of faith?

RCIA is the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Some key words –

Rite – It’s a process that has been developed by the Catholic Church that supports the discovery of the Church’s teachings and spirituality. Ideally for the person experiencing RCIA, the process will provide the information needed to enhance their knowledge and will provide the environment needed to help them sense Catholic spirituality.

Christian Initiation – Key to making informed decisions in one’s faith life is information. So the process strives to teach the basis and basics of Christianity as handed down through the centuries by the Catholic Church. This is a shared journey, within the community of the Church. And this is hopefully in a manner that helps those in this RCIA journey to sense of how the Heavenly Father is calling them – perhaps into the Church or perhaps toward another Christian denomination. Ultimately, we hope that RCIA fosters that “personal relationship” with the God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Adults – As adults we’ve experienced many of life’s joys and trials. We’ve seen people who are living their faith and some who Our Lord might call hypocrites. Yet God has given us a desire to know Him. We have the God-given need to know more. We believe He expects us to seek and find His Word made flesh. Through this seeking, this journey, we find Him and are embraced within His Love for us.

Our life experience may have brought us to a point where we sense that there is a calling to learn more about the Catholic Faith. So the RCIA process is geared to those who are adults, who have a frame of reference that appreciates concepts discussed at an adult level, and who have recognized that there is some aspect of the Catholic faith that has drawn them to learn more.

RCIA at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Huntsville, Alabama

The rite as practiced at Good Shepherd (and most Catholic churches in the US) has about nine months group meetings, or classes, held weekly. These classes roughly parallel the school year – starting in the August-September timeframe and concluding in the April-May timeframe.

At Good Shepherd, RCIA is supported by the RCIA Guides program. We believe every person’s journey is different. Our Heavenly Father loves us so much that His love for us is forever and always with us. But the realization of this love and the sacred interaction that will occur seems to be most fruitful when we are open to it. This will be on His schedule and your schedule. So if you sense that He is calling you to explore the Church, and the timing does not correspond well with our classes, we can have an RCIA Guide help you discover the Church.

What should I expect from RCIA at Good Shepherd? Don’t worry, our burden is light! You should expect some teaching, discussion, prayer, and an opportunity to sense Our Lord’s calling in a friendly and welcoming environment that respects your life decisions. We share in this journey of faith! We together are the Body of Christ.

The RCIA process is comprised of four phases –

Inquiry Phase – This is the start of the RCIA process and continues through the November timeframe. We explore the “common ground” that we share in Christianity. This phase includes a review of topics such as the Holy Trinity, Holy Scripture, Church history, and prayer forms.

Catechumenate – The word is derived from the Greek word katechein which implies a holding and restating or echoing of what has been heard. So this phase is oriented toward exploring the uniquely Catholic interpretation of Our Lord’s teachings. This phase includes discussion and reflection on the Catholic Sacraments, the Mass, and the “True Presence” of Christ. The Catechumenate starts in the November timeframe and continues to the February timeframe.

Period of Purification and Enlightenment – This phase has a sense of reflection on our own faith journeys. It parallels the Catholic season of Lent. Discussions focus on our relationship with Christ, and our place in the world and in the world to come. This phase culminates with celebration of the High Holy Days at Easter (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Vigil at Easter, and Easter Sunday).

Mystagogia – Also Greek in origin, the word Mystagogia implies “savoring the mysteries” and is applied in the RCIA sense as continuing the exploration of God’s infinite nature and love for us. We touch on this topic after the Easter Holy Days, in our concluding classes in the April or May timeframe. For those who embrace the concept of mystagogia though, this phase of RCIA lasts the rest of our lives!

What do I do next?

We welcome all who sense a calling to explore Catholic Christianity. We at Good Shepherd strive to be an open and loving, vibrant Catholic Christian family that follows the way of Jesus.

If the RCIA journey of faith seems to resonate with you, please do let us know. Call, email, or visit us –

The church office is located at 13550 Chaney Thompson Road, Huntsville, AL 35803-2326. The church’s office phone number is (256) 882-1844 and the RCIA office is on extension 104. If you prefer, you can email us too!