The primary minister of initiation in the RCIA is the parish community. The quality of their lives, the concern and interest they show, the manner of worship, the commitment to social action - all of this is the where and how of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. People come to a particular community to become part of that community. It is the community’s responsibility not only to welcome them, but show the interested person what makes the community distinctive, what makes it a Catholic Christian community. Ultimately, the community needs to ask: Why do we initiate? Into what do we initiate?
All of this suggests a level of awareness in the community. Shaped by authentic worship and good pastoral leadership, the community grows in its awareness of its own baptismal commitment: to serve the mission of the reign of God, to be leaven in the world. It is because of this living witness to the ministry of Jesus that the community is eager to welcome new members into its midst, to help in this service to the world community. The community is enlivened by its experience of the presence of the Risen One healing, reconciling, and empowering them to lives of charity, justice and compassion. It is in this spending of itself that the community discovers salvation in its midst.
Therefore, the involvement of the community in the initiation process is both primary and key. It is into this community that one is welcomed. Therefore, the community needs to know and meet the candidates and catechumens. The names of those who seek full initiation in the community should be familiar to all and should be a regular part of the community’s prayer. The community needs to extend welcome, not only at parish gatherings, but also into the homes of members of the parish. The community actively participates in the ritual celebrations of initiation, extending its support in prayer and witnessing.