St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church Indianapolis, IN

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults - RCIA is our program of inquiry and sacramental preparation for Catholics and non Catholics alike who are interested in learning more about the Catholic Faith.

This program is for

· Persons searching for God in their lives

· Those considering joining the Catholic Church

· Those looking for a spiritual home

· You – if you have questions about the Catholic Faith

· Anyone who has stopped regular attendance at Church and now wishes to revive the religious practices

· You – if you wish to update your knowledge of your faith or stimulate your spiritual growth

Weekly classes are held each Thursday, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. starting August 27 and continuing through Easter

Invite your family, your neighbors and your co-workers. Remember 80% of all who participate, come as the result of personal invitation. Offer to come with them

If you know of someone who might be interested, but you do not wish to invite them, call the parish office. We will send an invitation.

It is a journey of faith you won’t want to miss. For more information call the Faith Formation Office at 299-9924. or e-mail Teresa Keith at tkeith@stgabrielindy.org.

Below are some testimonials of previous participants in this program.

Just nine short months ago, my life was grand. I had everything I needed; a great marriage, two marvelous and healthy children, a good job, and a decent income. However, something was missing. I knew because I had experienced it before in my life. Something was simply not there.

Now just nine months later, the something returned. I feel fulfilled, at peace. I feel a sense of calmness.

Of course the something was God. On the way to obtaining all of life's greatness, the marriage, the children, the job, God was lost in the shuffle. So many times in our hurried pace of today's life and in trying to have it all, we overlook the most important aspect of it. We forget the true meaning of life; it gets pushed aside.

I am thankful that I have taken the time that I needed to reconnect with God. I am glad that once again I am home.

I have found peace through this spiritual journey. I was not focusing on that aspect when I began my journey. I was looking for answers of which I have found many. Of those that I have not yet found, I have discovered a gentle peace in their place. I no longer feel pressured to find the answers. I now know that as I continue my journey of faith, whether I find the answers or not, this feeling of peace will satisfy me and bridge the gap between frantic searching and thoughtful reflection.

This experience has helped me to get in touch with a part of my past that I did not realize had become so distant. It has also helped me gain new insight into the adult person that I have become.

Through this journey, I have come to realize that there are more people searching for many of the same answers. This is somewhat of a comfort to know that I am not alone or that everyone else has all of the answers.

I have very much enjoyed this journey. I am excited and look forward to the continuation of this experience of faith.

Learning about Catholicism has made me realize that there is much more to practicing religion than attending church on Sunday. One's faith must become a part of their life everyday.

I very much enjoyed these past nine months and would like to express my appreciation to all of those involved in the RCIA program.

In our February 6th and 13th scripture lessons, we talked about pain and suffering. During our studies, we discussed how the Jewish people thought that any suffering or pain was a sign that God was angry with them. We also discussed that through suffering and pain we become closer to God and the healing power of prayer. There was a time in my life when I experienced all of these… this is my story.

During my college years, I strayed from the church and did some things that I am not terribly proud of. I went through a period of time where I truly hated myself. I detested who I had become and had a difficult time looking at myself in the mirror every morning. I was in a great deal of mental pain and anguish; and in my warped mind, I thought that God was angry with me and because of that, He was punishing me for my transgressions. I WAS WRONG.

My roommate was a "perceptive" Christian woman and she sensed that I was in a great deal of pain. She approached me very tentatively one day (she didn't realize at the time that her "intervention/confrontation" would change my life). Through my conversations with her, I found my way back to God through prayer and meditation. I began praying, asking God to forgive me for my sins, as well as, asking for guidance to become a better and more spiritual person. Each and every day I meditated and spoke to God, continually feeling closer to Him and feeling better about myself. Then one day it happened… (I don't know if it was two days, two weeks or two months after I started my daily prayers) I knew that God had forgiven me. A feeling washed over me…a feeling of warmth, comfort, and forgiveness… a feeling that a huge burden had been lifted from my shoulders. It was the most amazing and wonderful experience of my life. Even now, it is still difficult to put into words, because no matter how I say it, I can never do justice to that brief moment in time. From that point forward, I knew that God was there for me and, that no matter how badly I goof things up, He will always be there ready to forgive and to welcome back. And for that, I am eternally thankful.