Nick Wagner is the cofounder and codirector of Team Initiation.
Rita Ferrone, a team member here at TeamRCIA, has taken on the responsibility of editing the Yale ISM Review, published by Yale Institute of Sacred Music. (Yale is where Rita did her graduate studies). In the inagural issue, she included a reflection on the mosaic floor of the Honan Chapel in Cork, Ireland. The mosaic […]
A pre-Vatican II preparation for the catechumens
The first TeamRCIA institute of 2015 was a great success. Ninety of us gathered in Richmond, Virginia to explore the basics of the RCIA process. There were many memorable moments, but one of the best was the mystagogical reflection on our adapted Presentation of the Creed. We celebrated the rite at the end of the
The Diocese of Richmond starts off our 2015 RCIA institutes
In this series of posts, I have been exploring why it is important to involve the whole parish in the initiation process and some ways we might make that happen. We explore the same questions on our TeamRCIA Making Disciples Institutes, and we conclude by asking the participants: What would happen if we actually engaged
Four roadblocks to involving the parish in RCIA
“Your ideas sound great for big city parishes, but I come from a small rural parish. Our parish doesn’t have any activities.” Jane was responding to a point I made last year at one of TeamRCIA’s Making Disciples institutes. I was pointing out what the U.S. Bishops said about catechesis: In addition, learning by Christian
Is your parish too small for RCIA?
In a previous post, I asked why it was important to involve the whole parish in the RCIA. If we are clear on the why, the what becomes more clear. What are we asking the parish to do, exactly, when we ask them to be more involved in the initiation process? The purpose of the
What should RCIA teams ask of parishioners?
Almost every catechumenate team I talk with wants the parish to be more involved with the RCIA process. When I ask them why, however, their answers get a little fuzzy. What is the number one purpose of the RCIA? Sometimes their answers focus on the practical. They need more sponsors, more catechists, more help on
Why is it important to involve the whole parish in the RCIA?
We all know that initiation into Christ is a gradual process. But while we know that in our heads, we don’t always know it in our hearts. I think some of the reason for that is modern storytelling. If you think of stories from 19th century literature such as Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights, the
In RCIA, stories unfold gradually
One of my New Year’s resolutions is to lose five pounds. I am not that hopeful. I’ve been trying to lose five pounds for about ten years now. I have an ideal weight in mind. I know I’d feel better and look better if I was at that weight. What is stopping me? Well, I
Do you have competing values in your RCIA process?
Follow this daily visual guide for an Advent examination of conscience.
Advent examination of conscience for catechumenate groups
As an RCIA team member, you probably realize that you are a model for the catechumens. What you may not realize is that you are also a model for the rest of the catechists in the parish. The General Directory for Catechesis says that the baptismal catechumenate is the model for all catechesis (see #59).
Is your RCIA team a good model for the rest of the parish catechists?
