CONGRATULATIONS !
      ST. THOMAS MORE PARISH
          INITIATING COMMUNITY

Since the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults was inaugurated here at St. Tom’s in 1996.  72 adults and 5 children of catechetical age (7yrs. or older) have been baptized, confirmed and celebrated Eucharist. 97 adults have been received into the Catholic Church. For each of the adults who have journeyed through the process over the past 10 years, 172 members of this community, both permanent residents and college students, have come forward to walk the faith journey as sponsors. 42 have been part of the R.C.I.A. ministry as team or have facilitated Breaking Open the Word at our liturgies.

How can you participate in 
       a fuller way in R.C.I.A. ?

You can participate as an Inquirer

If you would like to become a Catholic and have never been baptized.

If you would like to join the Catholic Church and were baptized in another Christian faith.

If you were baptized in the Catholic Church but never celebrated the sacraments of First Eucharist and Confirmation.

The focus of R.C.I.A. is conversion and spiritual growth, along with learning about the Catholic Church.
Please come and join us from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday evenings in the lower level of St. Tom’s.

For more information please contact Marian Nelson 381-8917 or marian.nelson@sttomskazoo.org
Or look for one of the following RCIA Ministry Team members  at Mass:
RoseMary Gazella

Claire McSwiney
Tony Nelson
Gary Niedert
Larry and Barb Paulik
David Reilly
Judy Ryan

You can participate as a Sponsor

A sponsor represents the parish and walks with an individual through the initiation process.

A sponsor does not need to know everything there is to know about the Catholic faith.

A sponsor’s “knowledge” is his or her lived experience as a practicing Catholic Christian.

What can you be guaranteed if you make the commitment to be a sponsor?
You can be sure that you will learn more about the church, but most of all, your own faith will be strengthened.