Sometimes ministry can feel more like a chore than a charism. We can easily find ourselves trapped in the “chokehold” of the school-model paradigm, where faith formation is treated as a series of classes with a fixed syllabus and a predetermined graduation date. We feel boxed-in, exhausted, and stressed. We wonder when we started managing a school program rather than accompanying new disciples on a mission.
The Original Vision
It doesn’t have to be that way. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults asks us to adopt a new paradigm — one that restores the original, unified vision of the church established by the first disciples at Pentecost.
We can renew our joy and enthusiasm for this ministry by setting aside our school paradigm and envisioning the church and our ministry a “field hospital” that heals wounds and quickens the hearts of seekers.
The vision of church handed down to us by the first disciples and embedded in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults is based on six fundamental principles (see OCIA 4-5). The first paradigm shift requires us to recognize that initiation is a gradual, step-by-step process led by the Holy Spirit, not a calendar. We must also move the process out of the private classroom and into the midst of the community, recognizing that the entire parish is the place where new disciples are formed.
We must move the process out of the private classroom and into the midst of the community, recognizing that the entire parish is the place where new disciples are formed.
Continuous Renewal
This journey centers on remembering and sharing on our own dying and rising stories. As we do this, the faithful provide a living example by renewing their own conversion, which helps seekers obey the Holy Spirit more generously. We must also remember that the rite is fundamentally suited to adults, requiring conscious and free choices for Christ. Finally, we must honor that every journey varies according to God’s grace and the specific circumstances of each person.
When we take these principles seriously, the Holy Spirit shows up in a powerful way. Seekers do not just finish a program and disappear. They stay and remain engaged because they have had a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ. The rest of the parish is continuously renewed by the passion and energy of the neophytes. And the neighborhood hears the good news of God’s mercy and love as our witness spills out of the church and into the world.
If you’re tired of running classes instead of forming disciples, join us on January 21, 2026, for our exclusive webinar, “Six Paradigm Shifts You Need for Making Disciples.” We will dive deep into how to implement these six fundamental principles in your unique parish setting, moving you from an exhausted administrator to a joyful disciple-maker. Register today to break the “chokehold” of the school model and begin initiating seekers into the Body of Christ!
While the “school paradigm” is predictable, the vision of the church is dynamic and transformative. By letting the Spirit be your guide instead of the calendar, you ensure that every seeker who walks through your doors encounters the living Christ. Start today by looking at the person in front of you—not as a student to be taught, but as a disciple to be made through the accompaniment of your community into the arms of our merciful and loving God.
