Becoming Catholic (RCIA)

UPDATED 3/27/2020:
ALL ARCHDIOCESE OF WASHINGTON MASSES & PARISH EVENTS ARE CANCELED THROUGH APRIL 26TH.  WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION AND WILL PROVIDE UPDATES AS SOON AS INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE. 

You may also visit the archdiocesan website at:  https://adw.org/coronavirus/.

Please visit the adult faith formation webpage at https://blessedsacramentdc.org/adult-faith-formation  for a short list of online resources and opportunities in the interim.
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Prayers and blessings for our Catechumen and Candidates who celebrated on Sunday, March 8th the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception!  Please pray for these men and women, their families and their sponsors as they continue their spiritual journey of joining the Catholic Church.
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Prayer of Pope Francis to Our Lady, Health of the Sick, to implore her protection during the current epidemic:

O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick.
At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain,
with steadfast faith.
You, Salvation of the Roman People, know what we need.
We are certain that you will provide, so that,
as you did at Cana of Galilee,
joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the Father’s will
and to do what Jesus tells us:
He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us,
through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection.  Amen.
 Bold
We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God.
Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test – and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.

(https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-03/pope-francis-prayer-our-lady-protection-coronavirus.html)
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April 9th:  Holy Thursday, Mass of the Lord's Supper
Service begins at 7:00pm (parish office is closed)
April 10th:  Good Friday of The Lord's Passion
Service resumes at 7:00pm (parish office is closed)
April 11th:  Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil with Sacraments of Initiation  
Service resumes at 8:00pm

UPDATED 3/27/2020:   
THE BELOW RCIA EVENTS ARE NOW CANCELED.  WE WILL BE IN TOUCH IN REGARD TO NEXT STEPS AS SOON AS INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.

On Holy Saturday, April 11th, RCIA participants and their sponsors will gather at these times:

• 9:00am -- Preparatory rites, in Chapel
• 10:00am -- Rehearsal, in Church
• 6:30pm -- Evening prayer, in parish center lower level.  A professional photographer will be available for group and individual photos
• 8:00pm -- Service resumes, in Church
• 10:30pm -- Welcome Reception, in parish center main level

Come join us.  We gather each Sunday morning for 9:00am Mass then move to the parish center downstairs conference room.   To find out more, “Come and see…”! 
For additional information, contact the Office of Adult Faith Formation, Tammy Flippo, Director at (202) 449-3974 or email TFlippo@blessedsacramentdc.org.  

You may also visit the below webpages to learn more about RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults); the Church's series of steps for the formation of those who wish to become Catholic: 
1)  https://blessedsacramentdc.org/what-is-rcia
2) http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals/baptism/index.cfm
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