Book excerpt: As a shepherd to the community, the priest has a vital role in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Just as he is to feed the sheep of his parish, the priest is to attend to the spiritual needs of inquirers, catechumens, and the elect. This resource guides priests through each of the periods and steps of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, showing how the priest is part of the process. The author point out ways in which priests journey with those going through the Christian initiation process. This resource will help priests understand the vision of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults as it explains each of the periods and steps of the process. The table that charts out what occurs during each period, the rites belonging to the period, and the length of the periods provides an easy reference.  Also includes a glossary and resources.