| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M |

| N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |

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| A | return to top |

acclamation: a short sung statement

assembly: all who gather for a liturgy

| B | return to top |

Book of the Elect: a book that serves as both a record of those elected each year and a symbol of God’s chosen people

| C | return to top |

candidate: a baptized Christian who is preparing to become a Catholic; in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, the term “candidate” is also used to refer to the subjects of a rite, which includes catechumens and inquirers

cantor: one who leads the assembly in song

catechesis: Greek, meaning “sounding down” or “re-echoing down to another”; a way of communicating faith

catechumen: Greek, meaning “one in whom word echoes”; one who celebrated the Rite of Acceptance; an unbaptized person who is preparing for full initiation at the Easter Vigil

catechumenate: the period of time and the structure within which the catechumens prepare for initiation; “catechuemnate” is also used as a synonym for the entire Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

convert: another term for a catechumen; “convert” should never be used to refer to a baptized person who is preparing to become a Catholic;

| D | return to top |

dismissal: a sending; catechumens are sent after homily to reflect on God’s Word; the baptized are sent at Mass to “go, love and serve the Lord;” not meant to separate but to enable one’s mission

| E | return to top |

Elect: name given to catechumens chosen by God and affirmed by the Church as ready to celebrate baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist at the next Easter Vigil; catechumens who have gone through the Rite of Election or Enrollment Rite on the first Sunday of Lent; the Elect are those who are involved in immediate preparation for initiation at the upcoming Easter Vigil

election: the formal liturgical act of choosing those who have been called by God to celebrate the initiation sacraments; the election is proclaimed by the Bishop of a diocese

enrollment of names: another name for the Rite of Election; the formal liturgical act of gathering and recording the names of those ready to be initiated at the next Easter Vigil

evangelization: first stage of RCIA, of unfixed duration, also called inquiry or precatechumenate; proclaiming faith in Christ; mission of the baptized

| G | return to top |

Gathering Rite: the beginning of a liturgy that helps the assembly unite and focus on the liturgy

godparent: a person chosen by a catechumen to be a lifelong companion and mentor in the Christian faith; someone who makes a life-long commitment to be a spiritual mentor to a catechumen who decides to be baptized; can be the same person as the sponsor

| I | return to top |

inquirer: name given to the unbaptized who are drawn to the Christian way of life; a person seeking basic information about Catholicism or Christianity; this person may or may not eventually join the church; also called a “precatechumen”

| L | return to top |

liturgy: a set structure of prayers, readings, songs, and symbolic actions that is celebrated by a group of people together

Liturgy of the Eucharist: the prayers and songs around the altar, and the sharing of consecrated bread and wine during the Mass

Liturgy of the Word: the proclamation of Scripture and songs from the Bible followed by a reflection and prayers

| M | return to top |

Mass: one of the liturgies of the Church that consists of the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist

mystagogy: a process for reflecting on an encounter with God in order to discover the meaning for one’s life behind the encounter; means “study of the mysteries;” this reflection process can be used after any liturgical celebration; also the name of the period following baptism

| N | return to top |

neophyte: a newly baptized person; means “new plant”

| P | return to top |

psalm: a song from the book of Psalms found in the Bible

| R | return to top |

RCIA: stands for “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults;” process for becoming Christian

RCIC and RCIY: fictional beasts; there is only one rite—the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults; adaptations of this one rite are made for children, youth, and previously baptized people; the only appropriate acronym is “RCIA;” in the parish, more user-friendly terms are encouraged

Rite of Acceptance: first public rite for those becoming Catholic; marks transition from inquiry period to catechumenate period

Rite of Election: a liturgical rite that takes place at the beginning of Lent which formally names those who will be baptized at the next Easter Vigil

| S | return to top |

signing of the senses: ritual act of tracing the sign of the cross on the catechumen’s forehead and other parts of the body during the Rite of Acceptance

sponsor: a companion that walks with a catechumen or candidate through the catechumenate process; ideally assigned to a catechumen by the parish, in discussion with the catechumen or candidate

| T | return to top |

Triduum: the “three-days” of Easter; day 1: Holy Thursday evening to Good Friday evening; day 2: Good Friday evening to Holy Saturday evening; day 3: Easter Vigil to Easter Evening Prayer; the normative time when unbaptized persons are baptized into the Church at the Easter Vigil; in addition to Sundays, the most important feast of the year

| W | return to top |

worship aid: a booklet given to the assembly that includes the music, prayers, and other information to help them participate in the liturgy