Your Roadmap to a Conversion-Centered Catechumenate
A Report from the Trenches
Why this book matters
In this “report from the trenches” John McGlynn shows how his parish team was able to transform their process from a traditional academic model to true training in Christian life, focused on the goals of the individual seeker.
Through the author’s real-world experience readers will discover how to develop their own roadmap to transform and renew their parish initiation processes.
What others are saying about Your Roadmap to a Conversion-Centered Catechumenate
“First Place: Pastoral Ministry – Catechetical. This book strives to help the entire parish community embrace a catechumenal process that is transforming and life-giving. As we journey with those seeking baptism and profession of faith in the Church, all believers participate in a process that leads to conversion of heart and deeper faith — and results in greater unity and leads to joy in sharing the Gospel with others.”
— Catholic Media Book Awards, 2023
“This insightful roadmap to a conversion-centered catechumenate weaves vision, shares wisdom, and offers guidance to adult initiation teams, parish communities of faith and more. John McGlynn proposes that this year-round process can be easily adapted to parish situations and needs. He further reminds us that being a Catholic is a lifelong vocation of embracing an ongoing mystagogical approach to discovering God in ‘all of life and in all things.’”
— Sr. Edith Prendergast, RSC, Former Director of Religious Education,
Archdiocese Los Angeles
“This beautifully written book is accessible and relatable in a way that could only come from someone who has truly been in the ‘trenches’ of parish ministry his entire adult life. With the grace of a diplomat John McGlynn offers a conversion-centered alternative to the problematic classroom/school year approach to RCIA. While acknowledging the need for some structure, he stresses that each person’s conversion journey is unique and must not be forced to conform to a preset curriculum or arbitrary timeline. The author’s subtle description of the difference between training a volunteer and forming a catechist demonstrates his appreciation of nuance, and the significance of the words we use when discussing the Catechumenate.”
— Nancy Scibetta, MDiv, Director of Catechetical Ministry,
Blessed Sacrament Parish, San Diego, CA
“John is right, change is hard. However, he is also right in that this process laid out so wonderfully in this text will make it easier for a parish to change into a model that truly does create disciples of Christ. Creating a year-round model may take time and intentionality, and it will most likely also bring the parish to new levels of engagement.”
— Paulette Smith, Associate Director and
Religious Education Congress Event Coordinator
for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Meet John
John McGlynn is the director of adult faith formation and RCIA at Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church in Long Beach, California.
Get ready to help your catechumenate team listen to God’s directions on the road of faith
Your Roadmap to a Conversion-Centered Catechumenate will help both the novice and the seasoned catechumenate team member gain more confidence in their ministry and being ready to listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit in where to take their catechumenate ministry.
