One of the key formational cornerstones described in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults is the call to guide catechumens to “learn how to work actively with others to spread the Gospel and build up the Church by the witness of their lives and by professing their faith” (RCIA 75.4). This apostolic dimension is an essential part of forming catechumens for discipleship.

Too often, we can fall into an academic model of instruction, focused solely on transmitting information about Catholic doctrine and practices. But authentic catechumenal formation goes beyond that — it aims to immerse catechumens into the full life of a community of missionary disciples. Pope Francis says:

What we especially need in these times are credible witnesses who make the Gospel visible by their lives as well as by their words, and who reawaken the attraction for Jesus Christ, for the beauty of God. (October 14, 2013).

Our catechumens need to be formed as credible witnesses to the joy of the gospel through their words and actions.

What does this look like in practice? Here are some key principles to rely on:

A period of constant evangelization

The period of evangelization and precatechumenate is not a defined time period, but an ongoing posture. We are all called to continual evangelization through the witness of our lives, going out to the peripheries to encounter others with the mercy and love of Christ. Our catechumens should be evangelizing from the very start, like the Samaritan woman at the well.

A community of outward witness 

Catechumens learn this apostolic way of life by being immersed in a parish community that models it. We must be shining examples, living our faith publicly with love, joy, and vulnerability. When we consistently go out to meet others where they are, people will be prompted to ask “Why are they like this?” — opening the door for evangelization. 

Formation through action

For catechumens, the formation process is ultimately “learning by doing.” They need hands-on opportunities to be actively apprenticed in the church’s outward missionary action. What is your parish currently doing to bring the good news out into the world? That’s what the catechumens should be learning to do, through the example of your parishioners.

By immersing catechumens in an outwardly-focused parish life, providing direct apostolic opportunities, we can ensure they develop a living, active faith.

Some creative ideas:

• Organize parish-wide service days, involving catechumens alongside the whole community
• Encourage sponsors to invite their catechumens to participate in their family apostolic works 
• Connect catechumens with parish social ministries for volunteering
• Challenge catechumens to develop their own outreach ideas to implement

By immersing catechumens in an outwardly-focused parish life, providing direct apostolic opportunities, we can ensure they develop a living, active faith. As they see your parishioners modeling discipleship in action, the catechumens will be formed in how to act as effective missionary disciples. 

Christ’s mission wasn’t just about transferring information, but transforming lives through witness. Our task in the catechumenate is to form catechumens as those kinds of apostolic, missionary disciples — active witnesses who spread the Gospel through lives attracted to the joy of Christ. When we create that kind of catechumenal culture, formation for discipleship naturally flows.