The RCIA (The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is a process which involves the community in journeying with a non-Catholic who has asked to become a Catholic. It involves a number of stages punctuated by liturgical rites to aid and assist the potential person toward the final rite at the Easter Vigil at which time they will become full members of the Roman Catholic Church. The entire process takes several months, but participants are invited to proceed at a pace which suits them individually. Members of the RCIA parish group have undergone training and met weekly with Evelina who is our first catechumen. Evelina was baptised into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday night on April 7th this year and also received the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.  Evelina has penned her own message here:

“My name is Evelina and I am from Lithuania. I am living in Douglas where I share a house with three friends. My country was mainly Catholic until the Russian invasion when all religion was banned; my parents were baptised and always wanted me to become a Catholic. My mother passed away last year so to fulfil her wish I started the process of becoming a Catholic which culminated in the happiest day of my life when I received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday night. I journeyed for 18 months with the parish RCIA group; I would like to take this opportunity to thank Fr Colin and all the RCIA members for their help and kindness to me during that time. We met once a week and through prayer and bible readings we enriched all of our lives at these meetings. I was also presented to Bishop Buckley in the Cathedral on the first Sunday of Lent in a lovely ceremony called the Enrollment of Names. My father made the journey from Lithunia to be with me at my baptism. I would also like to thank all the people who came up to me after the various ceremonies in the church.”   Evelina

Members of the parish RCIA group continue to meet regularly with Evelina to support and journey with her following her full membership of the Catholic Church. 

A big thank you to Kestas and Jurate Naravai, friends of Evelina, for capturing her baptism in photos and on video.

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