You might have read that across the country, the number of people seeking to become Catholic through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) this year has significantly increased. We spoke with RCIA Formation Team Leaders, Brendon Lane (Kyabram), and
Sr Augustina Suhartini fcj (Shepparton), about why this quiet movement is happening and what they have learned from the growing number of adults taking the journey, especially the forty people who will receive or complete the Sacraments in their parishes during the Easter Saturday Vigil.
So what sparks an initial interest in Catholicism? It can be as simple as recognising Christ’s relevance today, or noticing the way a Catholic friend or colleague lives their faith. But it is the faith community, the depth and richness of Catholic traditions and, most of all, the Sacraments that sustain the journey.
Sr Hartini explains, “Imagine someone who has grown up without faith and feels deep down something is missing. Maybe they are seeking meaning, maybe a sense of belonging. Then, they find themselves near a person who joyfully lives out their Catholic faith, with a strong sense of meaning and purpose. So, they find themselves attracted to this person and want to know more about their faith.”
“You could say that it has a lot to do with the craziness of the world at the moment,” says Brendon. “Yes, people are looking for a trusted structure, a trusted order, but it’s much, much more than that. I see a new sense of spirit in the people coming through RCIA, especially the younger people; there is a calling that hasn’t been there for a long time.”
“For the people coming through RCIA now, it’s clear that the Holy Spirit is drawing them. That old duty, fear or shame that used to pull people to Catholicism is not here today. People are seeking to become Catholic, not because of any external pressure, but because they want an authentic relationship with God, and they see the Eucharist as a massive part of this.”
Sr Hartini also thinks the Eucharist is a key draw, especially for those from other Christian denominations who already have a relationship with Jesus. “I think, maybe, people are looking for a more human relationship with God, a closer relationship with God. In Catholicism, we have the host, it is something real, something we can touch, something we can feel – we can unite with God in our body,” she says. “In that sense, for Catholics, God is very real, and God is with us; in some way, it’s easier for us to become closer to God.”
At the recent RCIA Retreat held in Kyabram on 15 March, parish ministry team leaders noted the strong Scripture knowledge of candidates coming from other denominations. “They are seeking depth of understanding,” says Brendon. “They want to become a Catholic, sure, but beyond that, they want to make sense of the Scriptures and understand how they can experience faith in a deeper, more personal way and find meaning and purpose through the Scriptures. They have a real thirst to understand.”
For Catechumens—those who have not been baptised or have no faith background—there is a growing awareness of the relevance of Jesus Christ today. Sr Hartini believes the Catholic emphasis on relationship, rather than obligation, resonates strongly. “Our Catholic faith is not trapped in a small or narrow view; we fulfil our law best when we have an authentic relationship with God, not because we feel obligation,” she says. “For me, as an example, if the Church is annoying the true mission of Christ, then I will get out of the Church. Our sense of Church must not be different from our personal relationship with Christ, or his mission.” She adds that many people are drawn to the Church because they want to live their faith in a community. A relationship with Christ is important and Christ wants us to build strong relationships with each other.
Both Brendon and Sr Hartini have accompanied adults on the RCIA journey for many years, and both speak of how much they have learned in the process.
Brendon’s first experience came while supporting his wife on her RCIA journey. What began as attending a few sessions grew into something more. “I was always involved with ministry and music ministry in my parish, but experiencing the RCIA, even in a supporting role, I was overwhelmed by the way my own faith and identity as a Catholic developed over the journey,” he says. “You think you have an understanding of your faith, but when you start talking with other people and contextualise, you realise how much richness and growth it brings in you.”
“I’ve moved from a minor participation journeying, accompanying a Catechumen, to being a member of the parish formation team. It’s deepened my own faith, brought me confidence and taught me to be more open to authentic listening.”
Brendon says the RCIA journey at its core does not change, but each year brings new growth. “Every year, we are met with different questions, different situations to apply the learning, and different people with different life experiences.”
Sr Hartini, who has been in Australia just over one year, says her involvement with RCIA has helped her grow in faith and to better understand her new community in Shepparton. “ So many people who are seeking to become Catholic already have a deep understanding of the bible and of God, and I learn so much from them,” she says. “Outside of that, I am continuously learning about human connection, transition and culture, and this happens most when I am in a group.”
Each year, parish RCIA formation teams review how they accompany Candidates and Catechumens, working towards more structured, yet flexible, programs. “I’ve learned that things don’t need to stay the same just because this is what we’ve been told and this is the way it should be,” says Brendon. “In Kyabram, we follow a week-by-week structure, but we also make space to meet people where they are, allowing time for personal discussion and the sharing of stories.”
This year, forty adults from seven parishes will complete the Sacraments at the Easter Vigil Masses in their communities. Please pray for them, and for all who have supported them on their journey into full communion with the Catholic Church: the RCIA formation teams, sponsors, families and friends, and those whose witness first sparked their desire to begin the journey.
Image above: Parish RCIA Ministry Team Leaders meet at the RCIA Retreat at St Augustine's , Kyabram on Sunday 15 March. Joining them is Geoff Gowdie, Assistant Director Mission and Pastoral Life at the Diocese of Sandhurst.
Image above right: Sr Hartini at the RCIA Retreat with one of the Catechumens, now known as the 'Elect' since the Rite of Election.