brochure - St. Gabriel Catholic Church

Easter. You are welcome to invite a Catholic friend or relative to be your
sponsor. If you do not know anyone who could serve as your sponsor, we will
be happy to provide one for you. Parents and spouses/significant others
cannot be sponsors. We invite your spouse/significant other attend all RCIA
sessions with you to be a part of your journey.
All Sponsors must meet the following criteria:
a. They must be at least 16 years of age.
b. They must be a fully initiated Catholic-- having received the
Sacraments of Baptism, First Eucharist and Confirmation.
c. They must be a current and actively practicing Catholic
registered in a Catholic parish.
d. They must be someone other than the parents of the person
to be Baptized/Confirmed.
e. At St. Gabriel we request that a sponsor not be the Spouse
or “Significant Other” of the person to be Baptized/Confirmed.
RCIA
All Sponsors will be asked to complete a Godparent/Sponsor
Certificate affirming their qualification and agreement to serve in their role.
IS RCIA FOR ME?
Are you are an unbaptized adult who would like to know more
about the Catholic faith?
Are you are a baptized Catholic who wishes to receive the
Sacraments of First Eucharist and/or Confirmation?
Are you baptized in another Christian faith tradition but would
like to become Catholic?
Take your first step and call Tammy Flippo in the Parish Office at 239-5481
to begin your journey of faith.
St. Gabriel the Archangel
5505 Bardstown Rd.
Louisville, KY 40291
502-239-5481

JUST WHAT IS RCIA - AND WHO IS IT FOR?
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, which is better known as
RCIA, is a process designed for three different groups of people: (1) adults
who are not baptized and would like to join the Catholic Church, (2) adults
who were baptized as children into the Catholic faith, but who have not
completed their initiation in the Church because they have not celebrated
their First Eucharist and/or Sacrament of Confirmation, and (3) adults who
have been validly baptized in another Christian denomination and who now
want to be received in the Catholic Church.
The Catholic Church welcomes people of all faiths and backgrounds
into the RCIA process. Here at St. Gabriel, our RCIA groups meet Sundays at
10:00 AM - Noon from early September until mid-May.
If you do not already do so, we strongly encourage you to begin to
attend Mass weekly. Those unable to join in receiving Eucharist are
encouraged to go through the Communion line with their arms crossed to
receive a blessing. The RCIA participants attend the 8:30 a.m. Mass on
Sunday’s while RCIA is in session.
If you have non-Catholic children ages 7 and above who also wish to
become Catholic, they will be enrolled in the Children’s Catechumenate
Process. Children 6 and under may be baptized (if needed) or make a
“Profession of Faith” through their parents. Please contact Tammy Flippo in
the parish office for more information.
WHAT IF I AM ALREADY BAPTIZED? WHAT IF I’M NOT BAPTIZED?
In this process the Church makes a distinction between those who
have already been baptized (Candidate) and those who are seeking Baptism
(Catechumen). The Catholic Church accepts the validity of all Trinitarian
baptisms. Therefore, if you are already baptized, you will not be baptized
again. An adult who has already been baptized in a Christian faith tradition
will make a profession of faith, participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation,
receive their First Eucharist and celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation
through the RCIA process.
If you have never been baptized, however, or if you were baptized in a
Church or denomination that does not use what’s called the "Trinitarian
formula" for baptisms, you will be baptized at the Easter Vigil, receive First
Eucharist and celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation.
If you have already been baptized, documentation for this will need to
be obtained and provided to St. Gabriel.
WHAT HAPPENS ALONG THE WAY?
There are several “steps” to the journey. The first part of the process
is called the Precatechumenate or Inquiry period. This is a time for your
questions and an opportunity for the growth of your faith.
You will take your first step towards becoming members of the
Catholic Church at the Rite of Acceptance and Welcoming Ritual. From there
you will enter into the Catechumenate phase. This is a time period for
pastoral formation and guidance aimed at training you in the Catholic/
Christian life.
Along this journey you will have the support of the entire St. Gabriel
community through several different Rites, Anointings, Blessings and
Presentations that you will participate in depending on whether you are
baptized or unbaptizd. All of this will lead you to the Easter Vigil where you
will become a full participating member of the community through the Rites of
Initiation.
As you progress you will discern each step of the way your continued
participation onto the next step.
DO I NEED “GODPARENTS?”
As an adult, those who celebrate the Sacraments of Baptism and/or
Confirmation need a “sponsor.” A sponsor is a Catholic adult who agrees to
support you as you walk this journey of faith and prepare for your Sacraments.
This person will attend RCIA sessions with you and participate in several
rituals. Ideally, you and your sponsor will continue that relationship even after