RCIA = Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is a way of responding to people who come to the Catholic Church with their questions- What is the Catholic faith? What do you believe? What do you do? Why do you do it? What is it all about?

It is a series of discussions and sacraments by which interested persons gradually gain information and insight, and finally, may choose to become members of the catholic Church.

Some come to see whether they want to become Catholic. Others (non-Catholics married to a Catholic) came to better understand the faith of their Catholic spouse, or to seek specific answers to certain questions about the Catholic beliefs. Still others, practicing Catholics, come to review and update themselves in their faith, or to complete their initiation into the Catholic faith by receiving the sacrament of Eucharist (Holy Communion) and Confirmation. (if for some reason they were never completed)

I found a nice page that explains it very well:

The RCIA draws its model from the "catechumenate" of the ancient Church. Becoming Christian in the early days of the Church involved a sharp break with the surrounding culture. New Christians entered into the joy of new life and a life-sharing community of faith, but also entered into a way of living which demanded deep commitment and entailed great risks.

In the modern world, our faith also demands deep commitment -- our beliefs and the beliefs of our society are often in tension. The Church revived the catechumenate -- embodied in the RCIA -- because new believers in the modern world need careful preparation and caring support as they enter into the mysteries of Christ and the commitment of Christian living.

In His Love,

Lisa Alekna

08/13/1999