A

• Advent - The four week liturgical preparation prior to Christmas. Advent means “Coming”.
• Altar - The center and focal point of a church, where the sacrifice of Christ on the cross is made present under sacramental signs in the Mass.
• Apostle - The twelve original men chosen by Jesus to be his immediate aides.

C

• Candidate - One who is baptized either as a Catholic or as a member of another Christian community but has not received the sacrament of confirmation and Eucharist.
• Catechumens - Unbaptized persons that have celebrated the Rite of Welcome, and are preparing for full initiation at the Easter Vigil through Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.
• Catecumenate - Second period in the RCIA process, which involves serious preparation in word, worship, community life, and apostolic works.
• Chrism - A mixture of olive oil and balsam, and consecrated by the bishop, which signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is used in the sacraments of Confirmation and Ordination.
• Confirmation - One of the three Sacraments of Initiation into the Church, together with Baptism and Eucharist. Confirmation completes the grace of Baptism by a special outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which seal or “confirm” the baptized in union with Christ and equip them for active participation in the worship and apostolic life of the Church.
• Cycles A, B, & C - The three year cycle of liturgical readings. Gospel readings for cycle A are from Matthew; cycle B are from Mark; cycle C are from Luke. All three cycles incorporate John.

D

• Disciple - A pupil or adherent. One who spreads the Good News of Jesus.
• Doctrine - The formal teachings of the church (see the Catechism of the Catholic Church).

E

• Elect - Catechumens who enter the final phase of preparation for the Sacraments of Initiation during the Easter Vigil.
• Eucharist - The true body and blood of Christ the Lord and received under the species of bread and wine. From the Greek word eucharistia meaning thanksgiving.
• Exocism  - Prayers for deliverance from the powers of evil and falsehood and for the reception of the gifts of the Lord, especially the Holy Spirit. Exorcism prayers are part of the scrutinies.

G

• Godparent - A person chosen by the catechumen, with approval of the parish priest, who are part of the Catholic community and will accompany the catechumen through the rites and periods of the catechumenate.
• Grace - The free and undeserved gift God gives us to respond to our vocation to become his adopted children.

H

• Homily - Preaching by an ordained minister to explain the Scriptures proclaimed in the liturgy.

I

• Inquirer - Those who participate in the inquiry process and seek to learn about the Catholic faith before making a decision about joining the church.
• Inquiry - The first part of a four part RCIA process. A time to become acquainted with the Catholic Church and to hear the good news of Jesus Christ our savior. It is a time to look within one’s life and see connections to our need for the good news. Length of time is determined by each inquirer and can be as short as a few months or as long as several years, if necessary. During this period, some may chose this is not the right time for them to become a Catholic.

L

• Lectionary - Book containing the scriptures which are read during the Liturgy of the Word at Mass. They are arranged in a three year rotation lettered cycle A, B, and C.
• Lent - A six week period extending from Ash Wednesday to sundown on Holy Thursday. It is a retreat time in preparation for the Easter Triduum.
• Liturgy  - An established formula of worship. Two examples are the Sacraments and the Mass.

M

• Magisterium - The living, teaching office of the Church, whose task it is to give us authentic interpretation of God’s word whether in it’s written form or from Tradition.
• Mystagogy - The fourth phase of the RCIA process which coincides with the 50 days from Easter to Pentecost. This is a time when the newly initiated along with the congregation celebrate and unfold the meaning of initiation.

N

• Neophyte - One who is newly baptized and initiated at the Easter Vigil. From a Greek word meaning “new plant”.

R

• RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) - A process consisting of four phases of awakening and, marked by celebrating three major RITES involving the entire church community.
• Rites - Three liturgical celebrations separating the four parts of the RCIA process.
• Rite of Acceptance/Welcome - As each inquirer desires to continue the conversion journey they are invited to experience the first major RITE. Inquirers enter the second period of the journey, the Catechumenate, by being marked with the sign of the cross, on the ears, eyes, lips, heart, shoulders, hands and feet.
• Rite of Election - The Catechumenate period ends with this RITE, and begins the third phase known as Purification and Enlightenment. Catechumens are now the Elect.

S

• Sacraments of Initiation - The third and consummating RITE of the RCIA process celebrated at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. On that night, when light drives out darkness, joyful sounds fill the silence, and we proclaim and renew our resurrection hope, the Elect culminate their long journey in the waters of Baptism. Then, with the candidates, are sealed with the oil of Confirmation and share the bread and wine of the Eucharist as full members of the Roman Catholic community.
• Scrutinies - Celebrations on the third, fourth and fifth Sundays of the Lenten season with Catechumens who are preparing for baptism.
• Sponsors - Chosen from the Church community to act as spiritual companions, providing personal support, and sharing the experience of Christian life for both catechumens and candidates.

T

• Triduum - Three days of Easter. Beginning with sundown on Holy Thursday and ending Easter Sunday evening.
• Trinity - One God in three persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

V

• Vocation - The calling or destiny we have in this life and hereafter.

Y

• YAHWEH - The personal name of the God of Israel, revealed to Moses, means “I am who I am”.