Catechumenate

The Catechumenate is the process for all those who wish to become members of the Church. Likewise, the person who is called a Catechumen while the community of such people and the actual time period until Baptism is called the Catechumenate. It originates from a Greek word which means 'learner.' This process is an undergoing of instruction and teachings of the Faith and preparation for the Sacraments of Initiation.

The original purpose of the process was to give a sort of first step in order to convert into Christianity. There has to be a time period in which people who willfully enter the Church must undergo instruction to properly know about the Faith. The Catechumen must understand what it is that entering the Church entails. Normally this process happened by initiating members at Easter Vigil, the night before Christ rose from the dead. This process then became restored by Vatican II in the process of RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults).

Baptism by immersion

To understand this, we need to understand the Rite of Baptism. The entire Rite contains the actual pouring of water, a re-commitment of baptismal promises, a white candle, and white garments. The water not only symbolizes cleansing but taking part in the Paschal Mystery. This can be seen by Baptism through immersion since the person immerses himself/herself under the Holy Water and "rises again" to new life.

While the Eastern Rite gives out all three Sacraments of Initiation in a row, the Latin rite is somewhat different. Normally, a child of the Latin rite would be baptized as a baby. Once that child reaches the age of reason (meaning seven years old), they typically receive Eucharist. When they become older (middle school through high school [leaning towards high school]), the person finalizes his/her initiation by receiving Confirmation.

What about those who become baptized later?

This is where RCIA comes in. Since the Baptism is necessary for salvation, people must enter this process. RCIA is for all older minors and adults who have not received their initiation Sacraments. However, unlike those going through the standard route, anybody who takes RCIA follows the same school of thought by receiving all three Sacraments consecutively. The Catechumen will go through the process, listening to the Word of God, forms of prayer, etc. When they are ready to receive the Sacraments of Initiation, they will be baptized on the Easter Vigil Mass through a special ceremony on that day.

So it is never too late to be saved be saved. Anyone who wants to enter the Church under the right attitude can join the Church.