Period of Inquiry. This is a time of introduction to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and a time of reflection on one's own life in the light of the values of the reign of God. In this time, people admit that they need God, that their lives are in need of God’s grace. It is an unstructured time of no fixed duration for questions and an opportunity for the beginnings of Christian faith to form. In Saint Mary Magdalene, our period of inquiry is structured around reflection upon the psalms. We begin by trying to understand the beginnings of man’s search for God. The psalms are a highly developed and poetic set of appeals and songs and poems. Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens. In this liturgical rite, those who wish to become catechumens publicly express their desire to follow the way of Jesus. The church accepts their intention and welcomes them into the household of faith as catechumens. We have already done this rite on Wednesday evening 19th October. Three of these people are awaiting baptism and ten others are asking for admission as full members into the Church. Period of the Catechumenate. Along with the whole community, catechumens celebrate the Liturgy of the Word at Mass each Sunday. They will hear the homily. At that point, the catechumens and their catechists will be dismissed from the congregation. They will go with their teachers to continue to study and ponder the scriptures and the teachings of the church. The program at Saint Mary Magdalene will feature the study of the Acts of the Apostles. In that study, catechumens will learn about apostolic succession, martyrdom, mission, the Holy Spirit, the authority of the bishop, the role of the bishop, the priest and the deacon. During this time, catechumens receive anointings, participate in prayers of exorcism and blessing, and take part in the mission of the church to the world. Through prayer, learning and coming to know other Catholic Christians, catechumens discover the love and power of God in their lives and in the church. During Advent this year, the group will study the accounts of how Jesus came to be born, and the various stories that surround his arrival. This Advent, the catechumens and the candidates will be expected to do works of mercy here at Saint Mary Magdalene. It is our intention that they will help to feed the migrant workers at Zarrape each morning. Rite of Election or Enrollment of Names. On Sunday March 4th 2006 the First Sunday of Lent, at the cathedral, the bishop formally calls the catechumens and candidates to the sacraments of initiation. By his apostolic call they become the elect ones, the ones elected by the bishop for consideration to become full members of the Church. Period of Purification and Enlightenment. This period of intense spiritual reflection and prayer is concentrated within Lent normally. During this period, the elect and the parish community together focus on conversion, scrutinize their lives in light of the gospel and celebrate the presentations of the Creed and Lord's Prayer. In the ancient rites of the early Christians, these prayers were hidden from the catechumens until a few days before Baptism. Catechumens need to make provision with employers and family to spend Good Friday as a day of intense prayer at the Church. Sacraments of Initiation. On Holy Saturday night, at the Vigil of the Resurrection, the elect become full members of the Body of Christ. There will be three baptisms, at least and ten other people will come into full communion with the Church. They will receive the sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation, and through those, they will come into full communion with the Catholic Church in Tyler and in the world through the celebration of the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and Eucharist, usually at the Easter Vigil. From this time until the end of the period of mystagogy, they are known as neophytes, "new sprouts." Period of Mystagogy. During the fifty-day season of Easter, the newly baptized – (the neophytes) ponder the experience and meaning of the sacraments and participate with the faithful in the Eucharistic life of the Church. This period is one year long. The newly enlightened are asked to continue with formation so that they will come to appreciate just how incredible the mercy of God is. The formation, called Mystagogy, goes deep into the mind of the Church, with stress on Church history, theology and training in the various ministries of the Church.