RCIA Survey Form – Christian Initiation Office

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. The Office of Christian Initiation wishes to better understand how the RCIA process is conducted within parishes AND how the Office can better support this process within parishes. Your help will be valued, treated anonymously, and the results will be very useful for the Church authorities who can make decisions that can effect changes.
This survey will take approximately 15 minutes. Please make sure to finish the survey once you've started as it will not save any changes until the form is submitted.

Section A: SETTING THE SCENE

1. Name of Parish

Suburb(Required)

Please write the suburb in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. if you're from the cathedral, put CATHEDRAL.

2. Do you currently have a RCIA process in your parish?

Yes

No

If not, when was the last active process in your parish?

3. What is your role in the RCIA process? (Please select all that apply)

Parish Priest

Assistant Priest

Deacon

RCIA Coordinator

RCIA Catechist

RCIA Sponsor

Other

4. Does your parish share the RCIA process with a neighbouring parish?

Yes

No

If yes, which parish/parishes?

5. Does your parish cater for the initiation of young adults?

Yes

No

If yes, what age groups are catered for?

6. Are you aware that the Office of Christian Initiation have produced materials specially for use with young adults?

Yes

No

Section B: HOW IS THE RCIA PROCESS CONDUCTED IN PARISHES?

7. What is the usual timeline for the RCIA process in your parish?

July/August through to Easter.

July/August through to Pentecost.

We have year-round intake of enquirers.

Other

8. What is offered to enquirers who come forth after your process has begun for the year?

We ask them to wait until the next process has started.

We invite them to come to Mass.

We connect them with parishioners who mentor them until the next RCIA process begins.

We have developed a year-round catechumenate process so it doesn't matter when an enquirer contacts us as they can begin the journey at any time during the year.

9. Who facilitates the RCIA process in your parish?

RCIA team and Parish Priest/Assistant

RCIA team only

Parish Priest only

One on one sessions facilitated by a catechist or Priest

Other

10. How often are sessions for catechumens and candidates held in your parish?

Weekly

Fortnightly

Monthly

Other

Section C: CELEBRATING THE RITES AND RITUALS

11. Which of the RCIA Rites and rituals are celebrated in your parish? (Please select all that apply)

The Rite of Acceptance

The Rite of Sending

The Rite of Election

The Scrutinies

The Presentation of the Creed

The Presentation of the Lord's Prayer

The Missioning of Mystagogia (Pentecost)

All the above

12. Does your parish dismiss the Catechumens?

We do not dismiss our catechumens.

Catechumens are dismissed from the Sunday Mass during Lent after the Liturgy of the Word.

Candidates are dismissed from the Sunday Mass after the Liturgy of the Word.

Catechumens are dismissed only during Lent.

Other

13. When are the Catechumens and Candidates usually fully initiated into the Church?

Catechumens and Candidates are only ever fully initiated at the Easter Vigil ceremonies.

Catechumens and Candidates are only ever fully initiated at Pentecost.

Catechumens are baptised at Easter and together with Candidates receive confirmation and First Eucharist at Pentecost.

Catechumens and Candidates are fully initiated whenever it is determined they are ready.

Other

Section D: PASTORAL CARE OF CATECHUMENS AND CANDIDATES

14. How do you support your Catechumens and Candidates throughout the RCIA process?

Appointing a sponsor from the parish to accompany them on their journey.

Ensuring the Parish Priest is in contact with them at all stages of the process.

Other

15. When a Catechumen or Candidate is showing signs that they are not ready to be initiated, how is this addressed?

RCIA Coordinator, parish priest and/or assistant priest has a discussion with the person suggesting that they take some further time to prepare.

If not attending Mass regularly, RCIA Coordinator, parish priest and/or assistant priest will invite them to consider if they need more time to work through commitment.

16. How does your parish support the neophytes during their first year?

We are intentional about re-connecting with our neophytes during the first year following their initiation by inviting them to join parish activities.

Sponsors remain their contact person during their first year and make a conscious effort to connect their neophyte to parish events.

All adults preparing for full initiation would be actively invited to other parish activities.

The newly initiated are encouraged to keep using “Exploring the Word (Summit)” to prepare for Mass each week.

The group is invited to meet up two or three times a year for support.

Other

Section E: RCIA TEAM MEMBERS

17. How does your parish recruit new catechists and sponsors?

Priest identifies parishioners he believes have the necessary skills and taps them on the shoulder.

A notice is placed in the newsletter for parishioners asking for an expression of interest.

A member of the RCIA team speak at Sunday Mass about the role of the Catechist and Sponsor and invites interested parishioners to a gathering to find out more information.

The RCIA team speak at Sunday Mass about the role of the Catechist and sponsor and asking for expression of interest.

Other

18. How many catechists in your present RCIA team have:

Completed the Initial Formation Course offered by the Archdiocese and have been commissioned

Not attended the Initial Formation Course offered by the Archdiocese

Attended faith development discussions in the parish

Attended courses offered by the Centre for Faith Formation

Had no formation in faith or in the RCIA Process

Attended RCIA Conferences

How many did not attend the Initial Formation?

How many completed the Initial Formation?

How many attended faith development?

How many have had no formation?

How many have attended RCIA Conferences?

How many attended Centre for Faith Formation courses?

19. How do you rate the formation Course for RCIA Catechists? (Please select all that apply)

I have not done the course so I cannot comment.

The course is very useful.

The course is not helpful.

Initial Formation Course of 10 weeks is too long.

I would prefer training to be in neighbouring hubs.

20. Do you have any specific recommendations for improving this course?

21. Who pays for the training of RCIA Catechists course?

Self-funded

Parish

Section F: SUPPORT FROM THE OFFICE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION

22. In what ways can the Office of Christian Initiation further support you in your role within the parish?

23. What can the Office of Christian Initiation do to better serve your needs?

24. Have you visited the Office of Christian Initiation website?

Yes

No

25. If so, was it easy to navigate?

Yes

No

26. What were you looking for on the website?

Did you find it?

Yes

No

27. Which feature/s of the website do you like best?

28. Is there anything missing on the website that you would like included?

29. Do you receive the information and support from the Office of Christian Initiation when you need it?

Yes

No

30. How would you prefer to receive information from the Office of Christian Initiation?

Email

Text Message

Website

Other

31. Did you find the quarterly newsletter helpful?

Yes

No

32. Please share some ideas on how the Office of Christian Initiation can improve communications with RCIA Teams in parishes?