Saint Peter has one of the best lines in all of Scripture: “These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!” (Acts 2:15). This is, of course, Peter’s explanation to the people of Jerusalem about why the disciples seemed totally inebriated on Pentecost day. You remember the story, right? All […]
Is your RCIA process a little drunk?
Diana and I just returned from the Diocese of Erie where we had an amazing institute with 100 RCIA leaders from a half-dozen dioceses. Our host, Sr. Nancy Fischer who has been serving the diocese for 29 years(!), told us she was planning for 80 participants and praying for 100. Sr. Nancy is a passionate
Eastern and Midwest RCIA leaders learn how to involve the whole parish
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is filled with understated little phrases that, if you scratch them a bit, you discover they are packed with meaning. For example, look at the very first sentence: The rite of Christian initiation presented here is designed for adults who, after hearing the mystery of Christ proclaimed, consciously
Do you know what the RCIA is waiting for?
Ninety enthusiastic RCIA leaders gathered recently in Edmonton, Alberta, to explore the deep structure of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and how we can use that to make disciples. We began on Friday evening and discussed the underlying principles of the RCIA. These six principles can be used to guide any formation process,
RCIA is flourishing in Western Canada
1. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Why is this book important? The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is the authoritative teaching of the church on the purpose and process of initiation. It is the Vatican II vision of the initiation process that answers the mandate of Jesus Christ to go and baptize. What
Top five RCIA resource materials for your team
In RCIA ministry, there are 1,000 things to do. There are things you want to do, things you should do, things you could do, and things you have to do. Start with what you have to do. Start at the heart. For example, if you are planning a dinner party, you might focus on cleaning
Catechists for initiation know well that they need to introduce newcomers to the fullness of the Christian calendar. Yet, depending on their own formation, they may not really “live into” the liturgical year very deeply themselves. If this is the case, the presentation of the liturgical year, despite good intentions, may be fairly weak. It’s
Keeping the Easter Season: Help your catechumenate team “live into” the liturgical year
After “our team is too small,” the next-biggest complaint I hear from RCIA teams is “we don’t have enough.” Enough budget, enough space, enough training, enough resources. I learned a lesson about this a long time ago. My first parish job involved helping with a long-term church renovation project. The renovation took several years because
