Registration for Religious Education is going on now!

Download forms here in .pdf format or call Director of Religious Education Claudine Bouchard Collins at (413) 736-4145.

There is a $30 fee per student ($60 per family). If cost is a concern, please do not let this stop you from registering your children. Please let us know and we will work with you. Thank you.

Religious Education Registration Pre-K through Grade 11

First Communion / First Penance Registration

Confirmation Registration

RCIA - Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults

Fact sheet

What is it? A journey in which adults become full, active, participating members of the Catholic Church

Adults

• grow in their relationship with God
• become familiar with Catholic teachings and practices
• receive all or individually needed Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist)

The steps of the Journey

Period of Inquiry

How someone comes to consider joining the Catholic Church is unique to each individual.

• Desire to receive sacraments
• Marriage
• Faith experience or period of searching

Rite of Acceptance

This is called the Period of the Catechumenate

• Formal study of the teachings and practices of the Catholic Church
• The Church claims these men and women for Christ by signing them with the cross. Inquirers declare their faith

Rite of Election

Catechumens are

• Called to receive the sacraments by the bishop
• In Lent the elect, as well as the parish, pray in a special way to prepare them more fully for the sacraments.

Initiation and Mystagogia

On Holy Saturday, the Easter Vigil, the primary celebration of the Lord's resurrection, the elect celebrate their baptism, confirmation, and/or first eucharist.

The journey of faith lasts a lifetime. The weeks after Easter are a time for new Catholics to seek out their place in the parish community.

If you have questions please feel free to call Karen Matz or Fr. John at 733-5823. We look forward to hearing from you.

Adapted from the R.C.I.A., Liturgical Publishings