The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a process whereby adults are guided into the church, through prayer and instruction, eventually culminating in receiving the sacraments.
The quality of instruction can be hit and miss depending on the area, but in general it is a good idea to give people an indication of the faith, especially with relation to attendance at Sunday Mass and spiritual life.
The program has hit headlines this week for the most bizarre of reasons, the marriage of Britney Spears.
Spears stated that she had wanted to marry in the church, but was unable to become Catholic in time by as she could not attend Mass each Sunday due to Covid restrictions closing the church that she wished to be married in. Spears said that after two years had passed, she wanted to get married in St. Monica Catholic Church but was unable to as she had to take a test, by which we assume she means the RCIA.
Spears, who was raised Protestant, stated last year that she had become Catholic in a post that many interpreted as jest, but judging by this post it appears to have been genuine.
Spears wrote ‘Isn’t the church supposed to be open to all?’
Perhaps St. Monica’s should reach out to Spears and arrange for her RCIA classes and offer to arrange a Catholic wedding there for her when they are complete.