You can reflect questions for every Sunday of the year by clicking here. 2nd Sunday in Advent Background: We are a work in progress. Even including our catechumens, God’s good work has already been begun in us and is moving on to completion. Yet once again we have to do our part; we must face […]
When I was in college in the late 1970s, I read the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy for the first time. I remember highlighting and underlining so many phrases from that document. It was like someone had given me the key to a treasure chest. Some key passages include the teaching that Christ is present
What are celebrations of the word? How to give your RCIA seekers a foretaste of heaven
I discovered how to be a catechist for seekers almost by accident. When I was in my 20s, I learned all about liturgy, and I worked in a parish that had a vibrant catechumenate ministry. My role in that ministry was to plan and facilitate the rites for the seekers. When I was in my
Uncover the hidden gem of RCIA formation—celebrations of the word
It seems like only last month because the memories are so keen when I met Fr. Jim Dunning for the first time. He and Christiane Brusselmans were giving short courses and workshops on the new Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. In his 1978 book New Wine: New Wineskins, he set the tone for this
Preparing for the new translation of the Order (Rite) of Christian Initiation of Adults
Antonia is the catechumenate coordinator in her parish. She recently went to a diocesan workshop that encouraged parishes to accompany seekers all year long — not just October to April. She got very excited about implementing some of what she learned. But the pastor likes the current school model and refuses to change. Theo had
46 ways to accompany seekers even if you’re not in charge of the RCIA process
Q. We have eight seekers in our RCIA process. Only three or four are participating in Sunday Mass. I have stressed the importance of Sunday Eucharist, and I’m baffled about how to deal with this challenge. Do you have any suggestions? A. Thanks for your question. I hear you and know how you feel! When
Q&A: What do we do about RCIA seekers who don’t go to Mass?
You can reflect questions for every Sunday of the year by clicking here. 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Background: Having arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus once again finds himself arguing with the scribes, the teachers, and interpreters of the Torah. Like all the other Hebrew prophets who have preceded him, he calls to account those whose actions
Every day when I was a kid, I put on my white, short-sleeve shirt, clipped on my Catholic-plaid tie, and went to school. The sisters marched us single file into church for Mass, and we knelt in silent prayer until the priest rang the sanctuary bell and began the liturgy. The Mass was in English,
How your catechumenate team can build the future of the church
In previous posts, we’ve looked at the upcoming dreaming together process that Pope Francis has called for. But what exactly is the process? Officially the process is called a synod, which literally means walking together or dreaming together. They church has always had “synods,” even if they weren’t called by that name. The first synodal
What is Pope Francis’s plan for dreaming together about the future?
In a previous post, we talked about the worldwide process Pope Francis has inaugurated to dream about the future of the church. I think all catechumenate teams should take this seriously. The church that we are initiating the seekers into today will not be what the church looks like in the future. The pope and
Why dreaming together about the future is important for RCIA teams
