Marketing guru Seth Godin goes a bit over the top in a rant about the ineffectiveness of nonprofits to cause change in the world. But one question he asks struck me as particularly apt for parish leaders: When was the last time you had an interaction with a non-profit (there’s that word again) that
Is your parish blowing anyone away?
Nick’s “daymare,” shared in the TeamRCIA newsletter, is more truth than fiction, I fear. Our parishes are filled with kind and faithful people of good will, and many of them are ready and even anxious to respond to volunteer opportunities. Relying on the Spirit to guide them, they pour themselves wholeheartedly into “whatever you need
Nine tips for recruiting RCIA ministers
My understanding is that in the children’s catechumenate, peer companions over the age of reason could be confirmed along with the catechumens. Is this true? Yes, it is a possibility. According to the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, “Baptized children of the catechetical group may be completing their Christian initiation in the sacraments of
When should child companions be confirmed?
Summer is over. Well, not officially, but Labor Day has passed and school is in full swing for the new academic year. Many “RCIA programs” have begun “again.” Perhaps this is true for your parish. You’ve been working hard to get ready by having team meetings and going over your plans for the next few
Six steps toward a richer RCIA process
(Note from Nick: I asked Rita Burns Senseman to answer a question we recently received. She is a leading expert in children’s initiation. Thanks Rita!) Should young people in the RCIA attend regular religious education classes in addition to the catechesis and programs they take part in with the RCIA? It depends. In most instances,
Do child catechumens need both RCIA and religious ed classes?
I know. There are supposed to be seven deadly sins. I did think of seven, but one of them isn’t deadly. So this will be the six deadly and one not-so-deadly sins committed during the Rite of Acceptance. These are not based on the standard seven that you’ll find in the Catechism. Rather, these come
The six deadly sins committed during the Rite of Acceptance
Donna Steffen, SC, a team member with the North American Forum on the Catechumenate, writes about the first time she was confronted with the idea that she would have to discern the readiness of candidates for initiation: “I was horrified. How can I judge another person?” In the July 2009 issue of Catechumenate (“Discernment in
Discernment in the RCIA process
Pope Benedict XVI’s newest encyclical, Caritas in Verite, has all the elements of a guide for living the Christian life that would be beneficial to catechuemens. All the elements, except one. It is not an easy read. Simply giving the document to those who are new to the faith could be overwhelming. Fortunately, Sam Lucero
What the catechumens need to know about Caritas in Verite
Music is integral to liturgy. Singing is basic to the way we pray, the way we show love, the way we worship. So—the Rite of Acceptance always includes singing, right? For some parishes, this aspect of celebration is well in hand. If you haven’t got it all down yet, however, there’s no reason to despair.
Singing the Rite of Acceptance
If you are planning a Rite of Acceptance for the fall, consider scheduling it on September 16, 2012. That’s the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B), and the readings are especially appropriate. The first reading is Isaiah 50:5-9, which begins: “The Lord GOD opens my ear that I may hear.” The early church referred to
When to schedule the Rite of Acceptance
