Archives for RCIA

Saturday, April 4 was Easter Vigil, the day the church celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It’s also the church baptises the Elects like me. And I’m so thankful DB came….wasn’t sure he wanted to come since it was a 3-hour long mass plus reception.   He was the one who took the following pictures.

Cut story short, I got to church in the evening, changed to the brown robe, pictures taken, went outside with the rest of the Elects and parish to light the light….honestly can’t remember the significance of the light. Each of us were given a candle and we lit the candle on our into the church. My sponsor and I sat at the very front pew….the second time i sat there. First time was during my Rite of Acceptance back in July, 2009. Anyways, then all the 6 readings were read – after each reading followed by a responsorial psalm….it was a long and when the gospel was read (last reading) I was getting nervous and Father gave his homily…more nervousness setting in. Finally, time came to walk to the font….Father leading the way.

Altogether there were 8 of us Elects to be baptised – 2 adults and 6 kids. I was the second adult to go. So here are the lousy pics that came out from the camera. No flash allowed during mass, hence super crappy pics from my P&S.

Father will asked the individual Elect if we want to be baptized, we respond “Yes, I do” or “I do”. Then we walk up to the font (like a big jaccuzzi), up the 3 steps, into the font. We were asked to kneel and then…..Father will start……

The first dunk: “In the name of the Father”….dunk….you can see I was still dry since he was about to start.

Second dunk: And of the Son….dunk….now you see I’m already went…..full body immersion.

Third dunk: And of the Holy Spirit. For this last one, I was totally submerged. DB said he can’t even see my head and body and I felt Father actually pushing me in…..really cleanse my sins!

And finally it’s all done with the dunking….all soaking wet, removed of sins! Hehehehe

My sponsor was right there to wrap me up with towels….the water was very warm but with dripping wet clothes clinging on the skin, it was quite chilly.

Then I had to wait for the rest of the Elects to get baptized and also that night, a family had all its kids baptized at the same time…kids from ages baby to toddler where they are too young to go through the RCIA process like their sisters did. That family had a total of 7 kids – 4 who were the Elect and the 3 were the younger ones ! She said she loves kids.

Next when that was all done with, we each received our baptism candle, prayers and confirmation. Also a white robe was presented to our sponsors for us newly baptized.

Confirmation – anoiting of the oil. I was blocked by Father but that was what he was doing.

This is what I received as you can see it done to the other Elect.

Then when all these were done, we were sent to change to our Easter clothings and put the white robe over it. We were only given about 5 minutes to get changed and walk back out to the atrium with our candles….the two adults leading the way to the altar with the kids behind us holding our individual candle.

Another shot…a better picture of the font.

This shot here is really crappy – all blur but you can see us walking towards the front with the whole parish eyeing us.

And then set the candle on the altar….another blur shot. I had to help the little kids behind me to put their candles on the altar. They were too short to reach the altar.

After all the prepping of the table for Eucharist, we the newly baptized received our first communion. In this picture Father is the shorter almost bald specky guy, the church deacon is bowing to him and the deason on the other side is the grandfather of the 7 kids who were baptized earlier. He is the deacon from the North Dakota Archdiocese, here to help with the night and to baptize his grandkids. It was so sweet.

After our communion, we had to stand at our spots for a while till the rest of the community received theirs. The other adult I was standing next to, Steve, said the communion bread (it’s unleavened bread) tasted good with the wine! It was actually good, and we both joked we could have more of that!

We then was herded back to our designated pews where our sponsors sat and within 10 minutes or less, mass was over. It was long but very beautiful. We all went over to the reception area for a feast….food prepped and brought in by the folks who were baptized last year.  It’s a buffet style layout for the food, DB and I got something light and our cake headed to join others.  Yakked for about 30 mintues with them, and more pictures with the pro camera man, and I finally said it’s time to go.   It was already 12:50 when we left the reception area and I had to pick my gifts and bag with my clothes.  Got home at 1:10 a.m.  Showered and washed my hair – to get rid of the oil on my head!  Didn’t get to sleep till almost 2 a.m.  Obviously I slept in the next day, Sunday coz we don’t have to attend Easter mass.

And these were what I received on Saturday night for gifts. One of the item i received it on Holy Thursday night…the candle holder and crucifix. Gifts from the RCIA team members. My sponsor gave me the Easter basket and the book of Psalms.

The rosary and the Cathecism book came in a bag without the sender’s name. So I assume it’s from all team and then the individual cards and also other individual gifts from them too. Also each of us newly baptized, confirmed received a pot of white lily plant. I forgot to take a picture of that.  The candle with the colorful rims around it is the candle we received after our baptism.  We take it home to set it up on our altar, I think.

Here’s what inside the Easter basket….cavity galore!! Lindt bunny milk chocolate, chocolate malt (inside the “egg”) and jelly beans…..I only liked the chocolate crunch as you can only see the wrapper, Reese’s peanut thingy in the “carrot” looking bag.   The rest….the jelly beans I gave to SD and the candy popper (the one with the duck sittin on the blue stick) to BF’s son, Zach. What’s left of the candies are in the refrigerator. The two “ears” are shoe lining.   Oh there are Werther’s Original Carmel chocalate too.  I’m kinda glad I’m not a candy fan.  Can go totally without it.

Just for my own record:

Past Tuesday evening was the 4th meeting I have with Pam, the RCIA inquirer.  We chatted about holy triduum, how beautiful those three days were and how proud she was of me that I came for those three days.  Yes, I’m proud of myself, too.  I was there on Easter Vigil to observe five of the RCIA members who started their process last year baptized in the font.

I’m getting comfortable with the meetings and learning more each time.  Of course, these meetings are not structured.  They are according to my agenda – whatever questions I have for her.  She is there to answer all the questions I have.  Have decided to start my catechumen classes in July, after I return from my vacation.

And I just made MIL very happy!

I had always wanted to learn more about the Catholic faith.  I think it was an influence from going to a Convent school and attending most of all the Masses the school had held.

I even went to the Catholic church, Our Mother of Perpetual Help, down the road from my parents home.  I will meet my friend at the church, none of us were Catholics, but she was to meet her boyfriend who is a Catholic.  Yep, I’m her accomplice!  Anyways, even after our school days, I still go to the same church just for the heck of it especially on Christmas.  I have not attended an Easter Mass. I even went to other churches of different faith (Methodist, Baptist) I was not comfortable there.  I was still comfortable at a Catholic church.

And since I married a Catholic who does not goes to church anymore, I am still keen to go, but no matter how many times I asked him to, he told me to turn the TV on and watch the Mass on TV.  A lot of churches broadcast their Mass on TV, mainly for those who are not able to attend church, i.e. no transportation, disable as some examples.  No, I won’t do that.

I decided to pay a visit at the Catholic church, Mary Mother of the Church, around where I live.  I like the Mass, simple and short, 1 hour every Sunday. I get there 15 minutes early to get a spot on the last pew all the way behind at the back of the church.  As soon as Mass ends, I will be the first to get out.  I don’t have the courage to speak to any one.  Just not my type i guess to speak to any one out of the lot.

Finally, last week I went for my first meet up after I sent an email to the church to inquire who I should speak to if I want to learn more in depth on Catholicism and the church.  I met with the lady in charge of RCIA (Rites of Christian Initiation of Adults) last Tuesday evening.  I felt so proud of myself for doing this all by myself.  DBs has no objections.  I have questions on the Mass, he will explained them to me.  But I want to know more about it.  Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. are set for all RCIA inquiries.  Any questions on the faith and be asked at this session.

So, yes, I have started the first stage of the RCIA process, and I will be going every Tuesday till I’m ready to start Cathecumen (not sure of the spelling) classes, held every Sunday for an hour.  The RCIA process will take a year or 3 years, depending on the individual if they are ready to be baptized.  There will be a sponsor chosen for me from the church if I’m ready for my classes.  The sponsor will guide me and if I have questions he/she will be there for me.  Baptism will be held every Easter Vigil.

Today is Palm Sunday and was my first Palm Sunday Mass.  A very beautiful Mass.   I will attend this Thursday’s Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday (Easter Vigil) and Easter Sunday’s Mass.  DB said he will come along on Sunday’s Mass, the earliest one that is 7 a.m.  I’m glad he wants to come along.