In the old days, almost all members of the Catholic Church were baptized as infants. That’s how our parishes ended up with baptismal fonts that were sized for babies! If an adult entered the church, their “instruction” was solely under the direction of the priest. Father met one on one, or sometimes with a small group, to go over the catechism. The rare adult baptism, or reception into the Church of one already baptized, would take place at any time of the year.
One of the most significant developments of the liturgical and sacramental renewal of the Church concerned the restoration of the ancient process of joining the Church called the catechumenate. Scholars from all over the world spent many years researching the historical records of how the Church received new adult members. The single most important change was to make it normative that catechumens participate in the ritual and liturgical life of the church throughout their preparation stage, and that they are at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night (which had newly been restored to its proper place after having been celebrated for centuries on Holy Saturday morning). While faith formation through study still is important, catechesis happened in relation to distinct rituals whereby the faith was passed on in liturgical celebrations in the midst of the community.
Another important change was to use a catechetical team to journey with the catechumens. Their sponsors would attend all the faith formation sessions and ritual celebrations with them. Each parish was tasked to have a team of the faithful who would be able to share their own personal stories of faith. The teaching of the doctrine and concepts of the faith were then just one part of a whole process of forming the individual into the image and likeness of Christ. That process is called the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, or R.C.I.A.
Some adults who wish to join the Catholic Church have never been baptized. The Church offers these adults a way of life called Christian initiation, or catechumenate. It begins as an informal and gradual process where one is invited to meet with others as a group to explore the possibility of becoming Catholic. You have the opportunity to ask questions about the Church and to hear about the message of Jesus Christ and how it is lived out in the Catholic Church. A person may continue to participate in these sessions as long as he or she wishes. No commitments are made or expected during this time. This period called pre-catechumenate or inquiry usually begins in the late summer and continues through the fall. The R.C.I.A. group meets once a week at a time when all can participate.
If the person decides to pursue the process of becoming Catholic, he or she enters the catechumenate in December. Unbaptized persons in the catechumenate are called catechumens. The catechumenate provides a structure for the proclamation of the Gospel, catechesis (passing on of the teachings of the Church), public and private prayer, spiritual direction, the observance of the feasts, fasts, Sundays and seasons of the Church calendar, direct contact with members of the parish community, and participation in the work of the Church for justice and peace. During this time, each catechumen is paired with a sponsor who can serve as a spiritual companion and offer support and encouragement. The sponsor is already Catholic. This time is not just for education; it is also a personal and spiritual journey to turn one’s life over to Christ and leave aside any darkness of sin. It is a time of purification and discerning if there is anything that might complicate or delay being baptized or fully received into the Church, such as a divorce and remarriage.
The time of preparation culminates in baptism on Holy Saturday at a nighttime vigil service. Confirmation and First Eucharist takes place at this Mass.
The newly baptized are called neophytes [from the Greek for new light] and they begin to participate in the full sacramental life of the Church. The period of “mystagogy” now begins, which is a continuation of their religious formation first of all by reviewing the wonderful mysteries of the sacraments that they received at Easter. The R.C.I.A team would help the neophytes understand the sacrament in all their glorious mystery. The neophytes would also continue their study of the Church, and begin to discern how they can more fully participate in the apostolic life of the community of believers through service within the parish community and to the wider community of the world. 
Already Baptized?
Adults who were baptized in another denomination or were baptized Catholic and have never been formed in the Catholic have the opportunity to participate in a short course of eight sessions on the Catholic faith. As they prepare for acceptance into the Catholic Church, they are known as candidates rather than catechumens. The Catholic Church takes care to respect the fact that these people truly are baptized. Baptized persons are received into the Catholic Church when they are ready, by making a profession of faith, receiving the sacrament of confirmation and sharing in the Eucharist.
A previously baptized candidate would normally celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation and then enter the Church with a public profession of faith at Mass after they have had sufficient formation in the Catholic faith. This could be at the Easter Vigil, or at another time as soon as the candidate for full communion is deemed ready to make the profession of faith and complete the sacraments of initiations with Confirmation and Eucharist.
Inviting someone to inquire about the journey of faith to becoming Catholic is one of the simplest and most effective ways to evangelize. If you know someone who is interested in becoming Catholic and is ready to begin the journey, please assist them in contacting Msgr. Makarewicz (monsignor.mak@miparish.org;  660-665-2466).