We sometimes think that the beginning of the liturgical year in Advent or the beginning of a school year would be good times to celebrate the Rite of Acceptance since that ritual begins the catechumenate process for a seeker. But the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults has a different vision for how we think […]
When is the right time to celebrate the Rite of Acceptance?
As catechumenate ministers, our role is not only to guide others on their faith journey but also to nurture our own spiritual growth. In the midst of this busy ministry, finding moments of stillness, silence, and deep connection with God through contemplative prayer can be a transformative practice. In this article, I’m going to describe
Nurturing contemplative prayer: A guide for catechumenate ministers
Q. Can you give me a reference, resource, or rubric where it states sponsors or godparents should never be dismissed with the catechumens? A. The basic teaching of the church is that those who are members of the order of the faithful (all the baptized) have an obligation to pray all the prayers that belong
Q&A: Can sponsors be dismissed?
A mother and her teen-age daughter came to our information session about adult Christian initiation. Maureen was interested in becoming Catholic, and her daughter Maggie, recently graduated from 8th grade, was also interested. Now, as a family of two, they had taken a step they had talked about for several months and were eager to
Preparing children for confirmation and Eucharist can sometimes feel like piecing together a jigsaw puzzle. Age-based guidelines don’t always fit perfectly, especially when you’ve got kids who missed out on either some catechesis or one of the sacraments along the way. Let’s see if we can figure out the best approach. Free download: Five ways
Sacramental pathways: Navigating initiation for children
You can find reflection questions for every Sunday of the year by clicking here.The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary TimeBackground: Two weeks ago we saw Jesus having to abandon a stereotype and reward the faith of the Gentile woman, so this week we see Peter having to abandon his stereotype of how the Messiah who was
Reflection questions for RCIA seekers: Year A – the 22nd to 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
We get this question a lot, usually because there’s some misunderstanding about what goes on after the dismissal from the Eucharist. The description in the ritual text itself in paragraph 67A discusses sharing joy and spiritual experiences. But what does that mean? Free webinar: The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults training series
What happens after the dismissal of the catechumens?
Every week at the bottom of the TeamRCIA newsletter, there is a question for you to answer. One of our readers, Joana, recently replied to this prompt: “Describe a specific encounter or conversation where you felt called to share your faith. How did you respond?” One of our priests had referred a young man to
Why catechumenate ministers must always share their faith
I have never met a catechumenate minister or team member who is not busy. Many of us are involved in more than just catechumenate ministry at the parish. Many of us are volunteers and have actual jobs out in the real world. And then there are other obligations like family, social life, and sometimes school.
Enhance your ministry by using meditative prayer practices
A significant part of our job as catechumenate ministers is to accompany catechumens on their journey towards full initiation into the church. Their initiation will include joining us for the first time at the Table of the Lord. While catechumens are not yet able to approach the eucharistic table, their participation in the Liturgy of
Nurturing catechumens’ prayer life through active participation in the liturgy
