Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions. (Mt 19:21-22) The gospel story about the […]
Why discernment—from the very beginning—is so important in catechumenate ministry
Have you ever wondered about how to help your parishioners and new catechumens understand better the meaning of the Rite of Acceptance? Then just take a look at your church doors. In this short video, Diana walks you through three moments in the Rite of Acceptance where the church doors play a significant role
The Ins and Outs of the Rite of Acceptance
“How can we grow in our capacity to live in full the liturgical action?” asks Pope Francis in his June 29 apostolic letter on liturgical formation. “How do we continue to let ourselves be amazed at what happens in the celebration under our very eyes?” (31). I think this may be the most important question
The first step in catechumenate formation is to recover our “capacity for symbol”
As we approach the beginning of Lent, it is a good time to think about how we teach the catechumens to pray. The best way, of course, is by example. So here is a list of suggestions for deepening our prayer lives this Lent. Pray at a set time Make an appointment with yourself to
17 best prayer practices for RCIA team members
When I was a kid, we didn’t talk about “rites.” We didn’t really even talk about “liturgy.” The only thing in our world was “the Mass.” I was in high school before I realized the church has a whole constellation of rites. But even then, we didn’t use the term “rites.” We talked about “prayer
What is a rite and why does it matter for catechumenate teams?, Pope Francis
Eighteenth Sunday of Ordinary TimeBackground: In contemporary America this Sunday’s set of readings is profoundly countercultural since only two decades ago we had a head of the Federal Reserve consistently assuring us that “Greed is good!” At this stage in his journey to Jerusalem, Jesus is once again calling our attention to the need to get
Reflection Questions for RCIA Seekers: Year C – The 18th-21st Sundays in Ordinary Time
Tired of being cooped up and quarantined for more than a year, Diana and I went on a road trip across the United States just after we got our COVID vaccines. We saw state capitals where tour guides would explain to us about the different kinds of marble, how the dome was constructed, and what
Are we geeky enough about the catechumenate?
In both the current translation of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and in the proposed new translation, the phrase “a priori” is left in its original Latin state. Nothing, therefore, can be settled a priori. (RCIA 76)So nothing can be laid down a priori. (OCIA 76) I suspect it was not translated because
One Latin phrase that was not translated in the initiation rites
We recently received an e-mail from someone who is working in a rural mission area. Much of her work is focused on sacramental preparation, including the preparation of inquirers and catechumens. When she arrived, she found copies of a text that is often used in the United States for “RCIA classes.” She wrote, “There is
How to form seekers when you have no resources
You can reflect questions for every Sunday of the year by clicking here.Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary TimeBackground:The journey to Jerusalem has begun; and, in Luke’s vision, it will not end until faithful believers have brought the good news of the kingdom/reign of God to the ends of the earth. This Sunday’s gospel selection makes that
Reflection Questions for RCIA Seekers: Year C – The 14th through 17th Sundays in Ordinary Time
