Who do you need on your team for catechumenate ministry? That’s what we’re going to discuss in week two of the speaker series, “Building Blocks of the Catechumenate.” While the Order (Rite) of Christian Initiation of Adults itself never uses the word “team,” anyone who has ever worked in this ministry knows it’s impossible to do it alone.

The parish as primary team member

Sometimes we can get caught up in trying to recruit individual team members, and we overlook the primary team member: the parish community. The Order (Rite) of Christian Initiation of Adults states, “The People of God…should always realize and show that the Initiation of adults is its own concern and a matter for all the baptized…. [They] must therefore help others throughout the course of their Initiation” (OCIA 9).

Seekers learn to live the Christian life by observing the parish community, following their examples, and imitating their behavior. Catechumenate teams should integrate seekers into the fabric of parish life to give them a hands-on apprenticeship in Christian living.

Creating a culture of accompaniment

Rather than functioning as teachers within a classroom, catechumenate team members should practice becoming accompanists. Pope Francis, in his apostolic exhortation, “Joy of the Gospel,” emphasizes the importance of accompaniment in modern ministry. He writes:  Our challenge is to “make present the fragrance of Christ’s closeness and personal gaze” (Joy of the Gospel, 169). And to do that, we need to learn the art of accompaniment.

Accompaniment is a spirituality grounded in the example of Jesus, and it calls for “prudence, understanding, patience, and docility to the Spirit” (Joy of the Gospel, 171). It requires catechumenate teams to move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach and recognize the unique needs of each of the seekers.

Effective accompaniment involves deep listening and recognizing that each seeker is a sacred mystery on a distinct spiritual journey. Catechumenate teams should facilitate the unfolding of God’s work in each seeker’s life rather than impose a preset agenda.

This shift in mindset from teacher to accompanist can be difficult for those accustomed to a classroom-based approach to the catechumenate. At first, accompaniment can seem hard and messy. But people’s lives tend to be messy. And we live in a messy church.

Who else is on your team?

A healthy and helpful catechumenate team can help navigate the complexities of an accompaniment process. A team includes not only the assembly, but also:

Priest or deacon

The priest or deacon plays a crucial leadership role in fostering a culture of accompaniment and guiding the team’s efforts.

Team leader

This should be an enthusiastic, confident, and flexible person who is committed to excellence and passionate about the pastoral care of inquirers, catechumens, and candidates.

Ambassador of welcome

Look for someone who is joyful, attentive, and prayerful who can flexibly guide inquirers on their individual journeys.

Catechist

A catechist should be a person of deep Catholic faith who is scripturally literate and open to continuous learning.

Sponsor coordinator

This person should be patient, intuitive, persistent, and a good listener to support the sponsors and godparents.

Dismissal minister

The dismissal minister should be a faithful, talkative, and generous person who can facilitate discussion and allow space for catechumens to share.

We going to talk a lot more about this on Wednesday, November 6, 2024. Joining us for our conversation will be John McGlynn, author of Your Roadmap to a Conversion-Centered Catechumenate.

Each member of your team contributes to the process of accompanying seekers, ideally within a parish culture that embraces the spirituality of accompaniment.