The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, or RCIA, is a process whereby an individual becomes a full member of the Catholic Church.  Those making this journey come from a variety of backgrounds: some have been baptized, some haven't; some come from other Christian churches, and some may be Catholics who have decided to complete their initiation into the Church.  Whatever their background, all are experiencing the call of God and share a common spiritual journey.

The RCIA journey consists of  four stages:

Pre-Catechumenate (first stage)	the individual explores, through spiritual discernment, faith sharing, and learning God's call and what it means to answer that call as a Christian.
The Catechumenate (second stage)	is aimed at assisting those seeking initiation into the church by helping them to grow in their faith and understanding of what it means to be a Catholic Christian.
Purification and Enlightenment (third stage)	is one in which the catechumens, now called the Elect, enter into a period of intense preparation which coincides with the Catholic season of prayer and penance known as Lent. The culmination of this stage is initiation into the community through the celebration of the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil.
Mystagogia (final stage)	focuses on continued growth in the sacramental mystery of Christian living.

RCIA is a program whereby individuals are prepared for initiation into the Catholic faith.