Nick Wagner is the cofounder and codirector of Team Initiation.
Q: There is some discussion in our group around a new idea one of the team members has. Some are of the opinion that the candidates, those already baptized, should wear a white sort of cape which they would put on before the Vigil and wear throughout the whole of the Sacraments of Initiation, as […]
Q&A: Appropriate Attire for the Easter Vigil
(This article was also pubished here in Spanish. Este artículo también fue publicado aquí en español.) Congratulations! You and your RCIA team have worked so hard to prepare your catechumens and candidates to get them ready for this life-changing moment. Consider this a virtual hug and pat on the back for all your dedication, effort,
What to look for at the Easter Vigil
Dear (Arch)Bishop, We know that these days have been hard for all of us in the Church and that you have many urgent tasks before you. We also know that you care deeply about the ongoing mission of Christ that all the baptized share, and we have seen many of you and your brother bishops
With everything else going on during the Triduum, the preparation rites on Holy Saturday can get a little lost. If you are feeling overwhelmed, the first thing to know is that only one thing is required. The elect are to be advised that on Holy Saturday they should refrain from their usual activities, spend their
A brief primer on the Holy Saturday RCIA Preparation Rites
1. Don’t hand the elect a written text In the celebration of the presentations, what is being handed on is the teaching of the church (Creed) and the method of approaching the Father in prayer (Lord’s Prayer). St. Augustine called these the treasures of the church. They are handed over heart to heart. The elect
Avoid these blunders when celebrating the presentations
There is no explicit “scrutiny” in the scrutinies In the early church, the bishop would publicly inquire of the godparents if their elect had been living a Christian life. That doesn’t happen in the current rite. Instead, the elect are “scrutinized” by hearing the proclamation of God’s word. There is an exorcism, but it’s not
A few things you probably didn’t know about the scrutinies
Q: If the pastor will not use the Year A readings, am I correct in understanding that you don’t do the Scrutinies? A: All three Scrutinies are required for initiation, and they cannot be dispensed with (see your RCIA text, paragraph 20). If the pastor chooses to use the incorrect readings, the Scrutinies must still
Q&A: If you don’t use Year A readings, can you omit the Scrutinies?
Every year, just before Lent, we tend to get a lot of questions about conditional baptism. I think of conditional baptisms like being struck by lightning or winning the lottery. These things happen, but not to me. Not to anyone I know. And not to anyone my friends and acquaintances know. Like lightning and the
Conditional baptism is like being struck by lightning: What RCIA teams need to know
Discernment by the bishop In the ancient church, the catechumens who wanted to be baptized that year would give their names to their pastor sometime before Lent. If the pastor thought they were ready, he would submit their names to the bishop. At the beginning of Lent, all those seeking baptism would go before the
A few things you probably didn’t know about the Rite of Election
Has this ever happened to you? You went to a workshop or read a book or saw something online, and a lightbulb clicked on. Suddenly, everything was so clear about how to structure the catechumenate process. Or maybe just one part of the process. The point is, before you didn’t know and now you did.
What happens when you rock the catechumenate boat?
