Is your RCIA open all year-round? Managing expectations in a changing world

Photo by Austin Distel

2 thoughts on “Is your RCIA open all year-round? Managing expectations in a changing world”

  1. JoAnn. Lister

    Interestingly, Covid 19 has resulted in a year round RCIA program here in Alpine, Texas. Our email and texting have provided great linkages all year, but now they are even more necessary as part of the program. I will send you our last update on Pentecost and a Baptism we just had.

  2. At my parish we have offered a year-round process for the past several years. There are many challenges to “group” catechumens and candidates into those who expect to be initiated at the soonest possible time and those who have discerned that they will wait an additional year. However, all things considered, the year-round intake works better for those in the process than trying to shoehorn things into a time-limited process. This year the COVID-19 situation has upset the usual sequence but, as the article suggests, it is a matter of when and not if. After our parish suspended in-person RCIA sessions a few months ago, one of our catechumens suggested that we continue to meet via online sessions using Zoom videoconferencing. Those weekly sessions worked well to continue contact, catechesis and commuinity-building. I found the Zoom sessions to be very helpful, but eventually one of our catechumens (the same one who suggested using Zoom!) told us she felt she was spending too much time in front of the computer, so the decision was made to suspend the sessions for the entire group. Instead, in recent weeks we have asked catechumens and candidates to match up with one of our team member to further prepare for initiation. Sponsors and godparents are also an important part of the process. God willing, the reception of sacraments will be scheduled in the coming weeks.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Shopping cart0
There are no products in the cart!
Continue shopping
0