Each fall, depending upon the needs of adults, Our Lady of the Mountains Parish offers a program of education and faith formation. If a sufficient number of people are interested in learning more or are interested in joining the Catholic faith, the parish offers a once-a-week program on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM. In the absence of enough people to hold a formal program, we try to offer various adult faith classes on topics ranging from the Eucharist, Reconciliation to the other Sacraments and Church history.

The formal program of entry into the Catholic Church for adults is called RCIA. These letters stand for The Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults. This is a easy-to-follow program that has been approved by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. It features a variety of teaching and learning formats. The agenda allows people of no faith or people from other faiths the opportunity to study and learn more about the Church and its practices. For those who decide to do so, entry into the Church happens at the following Easter Vigil. Quite often, people who are already Catholics take the RCIA program to review the fundamentals of our faith practice and journey.

RCIA is a 4 stage process for adults seeking a greater understanding of Jesus Christ and reception into His Catholic Church. This is for both the Baptized and Unbaptized who desire to know God more deeply and love Him more dearly.

1. Evangelization / Inquiry: Proclamation of the Good News of God's plan of salvation for each soul, fully revealed in Christ and found in the Catholic Church in relation to our desire for God.
2. Catechumenate: Unfolding the Deposit of Faith to strengthen ones understanding of the Faith, focusing on The Creed, Sacraments, Moral Teachings, & Prayer.
3. Purification & Enlightenment: Purifying and preparing the heart to allow Grace to be fully received. A metanoia, or clear turning to God.
4. Mystagogy: Living the Mystery received in the Easter Sacraments in the family of God's Church and the reality of Sanctifying Grace.

Please contact our Director of RCIA, Susan Lowe susan@olmestes.org if you are interested in learning more.