Nick Wagner is the cofounder and codirector of Team Initiation.
When I was in graduate school, one of my liturgy professors said that the sacrament is not in the book. It is in the community, gathered for worship. What I think he meant by that is that the ritual book is a script or an outline. But it is not the active presence of the
How to plan catechumenate rituals that transform your seekers
In many parishes, we tend to prioritize “information” over “formation.” By that, I mean that most of our energy is directed toward classroom content and delivery. We often treat the liturgies and rites of the catechumenate as secondary events rather than the primary moments where formation actually happens. When we underplay the essential nature of
Understanding the beating heart of initiation ministry
If you’ve followed us for any time at all at Team Initiation, you know that we are very focused on the church’s vision of how to implement the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. When we first started talking about this vision (almost 20 years ago!) we didn’t apply the word “synodal” to our analysis
From classrooms to companions: A synodal vision for the catechumenate
A few years ago, I came across a group of children playing baseball in an empty lot. They didn’t have uniforms, base pads, or even a real bat. They were swinging at a well-worn ball with a large tree branch. I doubt they were following all the “rules.” But they were definitely learning how to
Why your seekers must actively participate in the liturgy
Early in my ministry, I thought Matthew 28:19 — “Go and make disciples of all nations” — meant “go and make converts.” Make believers out of non-believers. And I assumed the best way to do that was to put them in a classroom, give them a textbook, walk them through the doctrines, answer their questions,
Lent is a busy time for initiation teams. We are busy preparing the elect for the Easter sacraments, tracking down baptismal certificates, and coordinating the many moving parts of the Lenten catechumenate rites. But in the midst of all this activity, it is easy to overlook the baptized candidates. You may disagree. You may be
Honoring the dignity of the baptized candidates in Lent
When is the best time to receive Christians validly baptized into the full communion of the Catholic Church? We might often think that the Easter Vigil is the perfect time for the Rite of Reception since that’s the premier time we make new Catholics through the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist. But our
When should we receive Christians into the Catholic Church?
Over several articles, we have seen how profound the lenten scrutinies can be for your elect and your parish. We have explored how these rites are exercises in vision, letting the light of Christ reveal both what needs healing and what is already good. We have reframed the exorcism as a loving acclamation of victory
Empowering godparents for the scrutinies
We have looked closely at the importance, meaning, and celebration of the scurtinies over several articles. The scrutinies, more than any other part of the Period of Purification and Enlightenment, prepare the elect for initiation. But what, exactly, does that mean? What will be the lasting impact of the scrutinies after the elect have been
What happens to the elect because of the scrutinies?
In a previous article, we said that the scrutinies are not moments of “interrogation” but rather rituals of “encounter” and of light. And in another article, we looked at how the exorcisms are acclamations of God’s victory and love. In this article, we are going to look at why we do the scrutiny rites three
The scrutinies are a three-part story of conversion
