RCIA
Course participants: Google Drive has been updated with the latest reading materials from Tuesday 2nd December (Scripture).
The course
We’ll be meeting in The Crypt for all meetings. To access The Crypt, enter the church door to the far right where you’ll find yourself in a small hall. There’s a red door on the left which is the entrance to The Crypt. The address is St John the Evangelist Church, 39 Duncan Terrace, London, N1 8AL. For directions, click here. We’re looking forward to meeting you again or for the first time.
| Dates | Topics | |
| 1 | Tue,07-Oct-25 | Meet and Greet – Introduction to the Catechumenate |
| 2 | Tue,14-Oct-25 | Who is God? |
| 3 | Tue,21-Oct-25 | Creation ex nihilo |
| 4 | Tue,28-Oct-25 | Half Term |
| 5 | Tue,04-Nov-25 | What is man? (Adam and Eve and the Fall), presented by the awesome Fr Jakub Joszko |
| 6 | Tue,11-Nov-25 | Understanding the Mass |
| 7 | Tue,18-Nov-25 | Jesus in Salvation History |
| 8 | Tue,25-Nov-25 | Scripture and Tradition |
| 9 | Tue,02-Dec-25 | Intro to Advent and Eschatology |
| 10 | Sun,07-Dec-25 | Rite of Acceptance (during 12 noon Mass) |
| 11 | Tue,09-Dec-25 | Prayer & Devotions |
| 12 | Tue,16-Dec-25 | The Church |
| 13 | Tue,23-Dec-25 | Christmas Break |
| 14 | Tue,30-Dec-25 | Christmas Break |
| 15 | Tue,06-Jan-26 | Christmas Break |
| 16 | Tue,13-Jan-26 | Mary |
| 17 | Tue,20-Jan-26 | Freedom and Evil |
| 18 | Tue,27-Jan-26 | The Holy Spirit and Virtue |
| 19 | Tue,03-Feb-26 | Marriage |
| 20 | Tue,10-Feb-26 | Confession (and 10 Commandments) |
| 21 | Tue,17-Feb-26 | Half Term |
| 22 | Wed,18-Feb-26 | Ash Wednesday |
| 23 | Sat,21-Feb-26 | Rite of Election (Cathedral at 2.30pm) |
| 24 | Tue,24-Feb-26 | Living Lent and Easter |
| 25 | Tue,03-Mar-26 | Baptism & Confirmation |
| 26 | Sat,07-Mar-26 | Retreat day with Stations and Adoration |
| 27 | Tue,10-Mar-26 | Eucharist |
| 28 | Tue,17-Mar-26 | 1st and 2nd Scrutinies |
| 29 | Tue,24-Mar-26 | 3rd Scrutiny |
| 30 | Sun,29-Mar-26 | Holy Week Begins |
| 31 | Tue,31-Mar-26 | Rehearsal of Easter Liturgy |
| 32 | Sat, 04-Apr-2026 | Easter Vigil – Anointing of Catechumens |
| 33 | Tue,07-Apr-26 | Easter Break |
| 34 | Tue,14-Apr-26 | Easter Break |
| 35 | Tue,21-Apr-26 | Reflecting on the Easter experience |
| 36 | Tue,28-Apr-26 | The journey of discipleship |
| 37 | Tue,05-May-26 | The Kingdom of God |
| 38 | Tue,12-May-26 | Virtues and Gifts of the Spirit |
| 39 | Tue,19-May-26 | Deepening Prayer and relationship with the Spirit |
| 40 | Sun,24-May-26 | Pentecost |
| 41 | Tue,26-May-26 | Half Term |
| 42 | Tue,02-Jun-26 | Community, living the life of the Spirit |
| Catechumenate – Key Dates | |
| Tue,07-Oct-25 | Introduction, beginning Catechumenate |
| Tue,28-Oct-25 | Half Term (no session) |
| Sun,07-Dec-25 | Rite of Acceptance (during 12 noon Mass) |
| Tue,23-Dec-25 | Christmas Break |
| Tue,13-Jan-26 | Reconvene after Christmas Break |
| Tue,17-Feb-26 | Half Term (no session) |
| Ash Wednesday ,18-Feb-26 Sat,21-Feb-26 | Ash Wednesday (Ashes in Church) Rite of Election (Westminster Cathedral at 2.30pm) |
| Sun,08-Mar-26 | 1st Scrutiny |
| Sun,15-Mar-26 | 2nd Scrutiny |
| Sun,22-Mar-26 | 3rd Scrutiny |
| Sun,29-Mar-26 | Palm Sunday – Holy Week Begins |
| Sat,04-Apr-26 | Easter Vigil |
| Sun, 5-Apr-2026 | Easter Sunday |
| Tue,07-Apr-26 | Easter Break till 21st April |
| Tue,21-Apr-26 | Mystagogia – Last Part of Catechumenate |
| Sun,24-May-26 | Pentecost |
| Tue,26-May-26 | Half Term |
| Tue,02-Jun-26 | Last Session, end of Catechumenate |
Cathechism of the Catholic Church available as a book or online. This is the church’s essential teaching document.
Magnificat – a monthly pocket sized booklet for Daily Mass readings, daily prayers and information about saints. Available by subscription from The Catholic Herald.
Evangelium Participant’s Book is our course text book, printed by CTS.
Helpful Websites:
https://castingfire.wordpress.com Homilies by Fr Rajiv and Fr Philip Thomas
Podcasts/Youtube channels:
Fr Mike Schmitz, Catecheism in a Year and Bible in a Year
Robert Barron, Sunday Homilies
Pints with Aquinas
Abiding Together
The Catholic Talk Show
The Lila Rose podcast
All Things Catholic with Dr Edward Sri
The Cordial Catholic
Daily Lectio Divina
Hallow App
God, Creation, Salvation:
The Mass, Salvation and the Sacraments
Scott Hahn, A Father who keeps his promises
Stephen Bullivant, The Trinity:How Not to be a Heretic
(authors marked with a * are good for general reading and have more books which would be useful)
Catechism and General Interest
Thomas Joseph White, The Light of Faith
Peter Kreeft, Catholic Christianity: A Complete Catechism
Frank Sheed*, Theology for Beginners
Scott Hahn*, The Creed: Professing the Faith through the Ages,
Fr Andrew Pinsent, Credo: The Catholic Faith Explained (CTS Booklet)
Fr Andrew Pinsent, Apologia: Catholic answers to today’s questions, (Evangelium)
Catholicism for Dummies
Robert Barron*, Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith,
Tessa Paul, Charles Philipps, Catholicism: Faith, History, Saints, Popes
Liturgy and Symbols
Fr Lawrence Lew, Entering Heaven on Earth: The Signs, Symbols, and Saints of Catholic Churches,
Steven Schloeder, Catholic Architecture (CTS Booklet)
Scott Hahn, Signs of Life: 40 Catholic Customs and their Biblical Roots
Spirituality
Brant Pitre* Introduction to the Spiritual Life,
Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation
Apologetics /Conversion stories
Catholic for a Reason vols 1-4: The Mystery of the Family of God
Surprised by Truth vol 1, Patrick Madrid (Powerful stories of converts)
Biblical Resources
The Great Adventure, Jeff Cavins (course)
To Know Christ Jesus, Frank Sheed*
The Life of Christ, Fulton Sheen*
What do Catholics believe?
Catholics believe that God the Creator revealed Himself fully to us in Jesus Christ, and that He calls us into a radical and personal communion with Him and with each other in the Church. This communion is the means by which we come to know Him, by which we understand His creation and our dignity as human beings, and ultimately find salvation and eternal happiness.
The Catholic family comprises more than 1.2 billion people around the world, who find meaning, solace and God’s grace through their Catholic faith, and you can be one of them!
The Church established the “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults” (RCIA) as the means by which adults become members of the Catholic Church within the local parish community.
Who is the RCIA for?
- Those who are drawn to Christianity but do not come from a Christian or religious background.
- Other baptised Christians seeking to become full members of the Catholic Church.
- Catholics who were baptised but did not receive catechetical formation or instruction, and who typically did not celebrate the sacraments of Confirmation or Eucharist.
The RCIA group includes people from a wide range of different backgrounds and with different experiences in life, but who share a desire to find God through Catholic faith, so you will not be alone.
If you are a practising, adult Catholic but for whatever reason you are not Confirmed, please contact us at the parish islington@rcdow.org.uk.
What will I get from the RCIA?
Our relationship with God is as unique as we are as individuals, and so our journeys in faith are personal and different. Yet we all need the support of each other, the local parish community and the whole Church for that faith to grow and flourish.
The RCIA provides the context for that journey in faith. The group meets regularly to grow in an understanding of Catholic Faith and in personal relationship with Christ and his Church. Starting on the RCIA journey, you make a commitment only to come to the meetings and listen.
You are free to ask as many questions and make whatever contributions to discussion you wish. You are also free to withdraw at any time. The decision to finally become a Catholic is a personal one made after much prayer and preparation, and with the support and guidance of the Church.
Next Steps…
The priests from our parish are always available to meet with you privately to discuss faith and your relationship with Christ. Please contact us at islington@rcdow.org.uk