It was early May that year when my office phone rang. The woman calling was so excited to tell me about how the Easter Vigil celebration had triggered something in her—a realization that she was missing something in her own life. But It was the sight of the joyous “people all dressed in those white robes” (the neophytes) during Sunday Masses in the weeks following the Vigil that motivated her to inquire further.
The “lady in white” she had talked with told her to call the parish and ask for me by name, assuring her that she was in for something great. We talked for quite some time, and so began her initiation journey. In May. I didn’t ask her to wait until September. I said, “Come on in. Welcome. We meet on Wednesday evenings usually and sometimes on a weekend. Thanks for calling. How soon can I meet with you?” And so it continues.
Meeting the needs of those who gather
The blessings and challenge of planning and implementing a year-round initiation ministry has brought inquirers, candidates and catechumens together with neophytes and interested parish members into our weekly Wednesday evenings for video-based gatherings and great discussions. Having video-based gatherings for a month or so in summer made it easier for the catechist-facilitators to plan and host the sessions, and for those who missed a session or two to pick up the DVD and materials and at least “catch up” on that session. But they had missed the group dynamics, discussion, prayer and sharing of the others—and were glad to get back into the group.
For several years we rotated resources for the summer sessions using programs for Bible enrichment like Scripture from Scratch, Catholicism and related series, series on the sacraments, sometimes shorter series on the Walk Through the Mass or a liturgy-based series.
These were mingled with one or two other events, often chosen with input from the neophytes: summer picnics, labyrinth prayer evenings at a near-by retreat center, volunteering at a shelter and an optional time of playing with or reading to the children at Veronica’s Home for women recovering from homelessness and abuse, a few game-nights and once a paint-night event. A short series of sessions of Laudato Si triggered some activities for our group. A cluster of sessions on Catholic Social Teaching precipitated some serious discussion and social justice and community action projects.
Parishes typically do not “close down” in the summer—we just shift our styles of activities and sometimes our schedules. There are so many benefits to year-round ministry with flexibility and imagination. Graced times of togetherness and growth.
Graced time, together
Playing, praying, learning, mixing and mingling are all essential parts of building the community of faith. Summertime is varied, fun, rich and all too short. But the experiences, discussions, and relationships nurtured during those weeks deepened as time went on, and at times the number of parish members who joined us grew over summer too. Sometimes they became sponsors or even godparents for the inquirers they met or were already connected to the catechumens and candidates in the group.
During the summer, as during other months, there are baptisms, weddings, and funerals a small group asks to attend so we can listen to the prayers of the Church and learn more about how our liturgy and prayer express and deepen our faith, and how we as a parish community can be with and for one another, even if we really don’t know others too well. They are still our church family.
This is more than a full-time ministry. It is faith in action, gathering a larger group of folks who are hungry for faith growth, community and some good times together. Parishes typically do not “close down” in the summer—we just shift our styles of activities and sometimes our schedules. There are so many benefits to year-round ministry with flexibility and imagination. Graced times of togetherness and growth.
