Nick Wagner is the cofounder and codirector of Team Initiation.
On a recent trip for a TeamRCIA institute, Diana and I took time to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. As I stood contemplating a 19th century Impressionist work, two young women dashed in front of me, snapped a picture of the paining, and hurried away as quickly as they’d arrived. […]
Teach RCIA seekers to imagine salvation
Recently, a candidate for reception into the full communion of the Catholic Church wrote an article for America magazine titled: “How can I think about becoming Catholic after the latest sex abuse reports?” I share the writer’s overwhelming grief, and I am completely dismayed and disheartened about the abuse scandals. I suspect many of you
Why be Catholic in the midst of scandal?
An RCIA leader recently wrote this response to one of our blog posts: “Many of our inquirers are on a ‘fast track’ and we are lucky to get them to attend a session let alone extra parish functions. We know what should be done but the realities of the fast paced life of many of
The truth about busy-ness for RCIA seekers
I have a confession to make. I don’t like RCIA. I do love everything about the catechumenate and the ministry of initiating new folks into the mission the gospel. But I do not like how this awesome process of joining people to Christ is reduced to a set of initials. You might think that’s odd
RCIA or OCIA? Rite vs. Order in the catechumenate
Ever since the Roman Missal was retranslated and we had to learn all new responses in the Mass, people have been asking if there will be a new translation of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. It is likely that there will be, but we do not have one yet. Free download: How long
Is there a new version of the RCIA?
It took me a long time to think of myself as a catechist. When I was growing up, a catechist was essentially a religious education teacher. I never wanted to be a teacher. I’ve substituted for classroom teachers twice in my life, and I failed both times. I’ve never had formal catechist training. And I
Look for RCIA catechists who are good at these three things
If you go to any parish website in North America, you will get the very strong impression that children’s faith is formed in a classroom. Parish websites list expectations describing what children are to have learned by the time they reach each grade level. If you were to actually visit one of these parishes, you
Why children in the RCIA need a community, not a classroom
I once overheard a pastoral minister say that she was working with a family who wanted to have their child baptized. The child was six-and-a-half years old. “We got her in just under the wire,” the pastoral worker said — meaning the child was under seven years old and therefore baptized as an infant. She
Pastoral principles for children in the RCIA
While I don’t have children, I take seriously the way that Jesus related with children in the gospels. Jesus, who also didn’t have children, was a model to his followers about how to lead children to a life of discipleship. Jesus welcomed children Most of us know the story found in Mark 10 in which
RCIA with children—five examples from Jesus
Last September, Marcy seemed so relieved. When her pastor convinced her to take over the leadership of the parish’s RCIA program, she was worried that she didn’t know enough to do the job. “All the topics are already chosen,” Fr. Jonas had reassured. “All you have to do is find speakers to cover them.” He
Is the fear of being wrong controlling your RCIA?
