RCIC – Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, Adapted for Children

Our program for students aged 3rd grade and up that are either unbaptized or are delayed in receiving the sacraments of First Communion and/or Confirmation. This is a two-year process with different programs and requirements depending on age and year.

Journey of Faith from Ligouri Press

Family Formation from FamilyFormation.net

Purpose from LifeTeen

What is RCIC? The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults Adapted for Children, or as we refer to it, RCIC is a program developed to help introduce the faith to our students who are entering into formation later than the 2nd grade.

Our Goal: To give the students a context of basic knowledge about their faith and help them deepen their personal relationship with Christ while preparing them to receive the sacraments they have missed. RCIC is a two-year program.

About the Program

The first-year students participate in a Faith Foundations Class which meets on Monday evenings, and families are also integrated into our Family Formation program.  

The second year of prep they participate in our other age-specific programs which we supplement with sacramental preparation in anticipation of students receiving their sacraments at the end of that school year.

RCIC is offered at three different levels depending on the grade your child is in when they start, Elementary, Middle and High School levels.

RCIC Elementary School Level

RCIC Year 1:  Your student is in grades 3-6 and is either baptized and have not received reconciliation and/or Communion or they are unbaptized.  You, along with your student will attend our Family Formation program on the 1st Monday of the month from 6-7:45 pm. Your student will also attend two other Mondays each month from 6-7:45 pm to continue their foundation of their faith.  At the family formation sessions, the parents will hear a talk on the topic of the month as well as the children learning about it at an age appropriate level. Along with this comes home lessons. You will learn how to do these lessons with your children.  Some of these lessons will be completed in the classrooms on the other Mondays and some will be sent home for your to do with your student. This will help you be equipped to fully do these lessons at home with your child when they are in year 2.

RCIC Year 2:  Your student is in grades 4, 5, or 6 and has completed RCIC Year 1.  They are either unbaptized or they are baptized and have not received reconciliation and First Communion.  You along with your student will attend our Family Formation classes on the 1st Sunday of each month from 2-3:45 pm. You will listen to the talk and receive the home lessons to do with your student at home. Before you leave the session, the lessons will be reviewed and any questions will be answers. You will have the next 3 weeks to spend time doing the lessons as a family. Since this is a sacrament year for your child, they will be doing sacrament prep in the classroom along with a supplemental book to bring home and complete with you.  This year will also include a sacramental retreat. More details to follow. These students will receive sacraments in the Spring of this year.

RCIC Middle School Level

RCIC Year 1: Your student is in grades 6, 7, or 8 and is in need of Baptism and/or First Communion, as well as Confirmation. They will attend the Foundations of the Catholic Faith program that meets two Mondays each month from 6-7:45 pm. Parents are also highly encouraged to also attend the once a month parent talk that is part of our Family Formation program on the 1st Monday of each month.

RCIC Year 2: You student is in grades 7, 8, or 9 and has completed Year 1 of RCIC. These students will participate in the Middle School Confirmation prep program that meets every other Wednesday evening. More details on that program can be found here. This year will also include separate opportunities for sacramental preparation for the specific sacraments your student is seeking. This will be discussed at a parent meeting at the beginning of our year. These students will receive sacraments in the Spring of this year.

RCIC High School Level

RCIC Year 1: Your student is in grades 9 and up and is in need of Baptism, First Communion, and/or Confirmation. They will attend the Foundations of the Catholic Faith program that meets two Mondays each month from 6-7:45 pm. Parents are also highly encouraged to also attend the once a month parent talk that is part of our Family Formation program on the 1st Monday of each month.

RCIC Year 2: Your student is in grades 10 and up and has completed Year 1 of RCIC.  Your student will be registered for an online component of sacramental prep and also be required to attend our high school youth group at least twice a month. Our high school youth group meets on Sundays from 6-8 pm in the Parish Center. A third component of our Year 2 program for high schoolers is our new one-on-one mentorship component, where teens will get the chance to ask questions about the faith and discuss how the content they have been learning applies to their specific lives. These students will receive sacraments in the Spring of this year.

Registering/Questions

How to Register: Print out the registration form and fill out both sides. In the last column of your child’s information, you will indicate either “RCIC Year 1” or “RCIC Year 2” as the program. Turn in form and payment to the Faith Formation office.

Got a question? Contact:
Mary Beth DeLuzio RN, FCN
dre@mothersetonparish.org
301-924-3838 ext. 234

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Contact Mary Beth DeLuzio
dre@mothersetonparish.org
301-924-3838 ext. 234