Nick Wagner is the cofounder and codirector of Team Initiation.
My first experience of teaching adults was a lector training I did in the first parish I worked in. I was soooo nervous. I typed out my presentation (on a manual typewriter, pre-PowerPoint days), which came out to be 13 double-spaced pages. Then I stood in front of those suffering souls and read all 13 […]
The secret to becoming a great RCIA teacher
Diana Macalintal and I spent two days in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan recently, where the temperature dipped to minus-20 degrees Farenheit! But while the temperature was frigid outside, the hospitality and enthusiasm were warm inside. We were there to meet with faith formation leaders from across the diocese to discuss ways to inspire active, committed, lifelong faith
Here is an exercise to try with your team that will make you a better RCIA catechist. If your team is small, grab a few other parishioners to help. Or even better, get some folks who have gone through your initiation process in past years. Try to have at least six people involved in this
Become a better RCIA catechist with this simple exercise
The work we do as initiation ministers is important, but do you ever wonder if you are making a difference? If you stopped showing up, would anyone notice? None of us are doing this ministry for fame or money. We just want to make a difference. Making a difference, however, doesn’t have to mean changing
Pope Francis’ secret for changing the world
One of my first job titles was “Liturgy Director.” I was never comfortable with that title because I didn’t think it matched what I really did in my job. I did a lot of scheduling, a lot of training, a lot of meetings, and a lot of planning. But all of that stuff was a
What is your RCIA job, really?
Western culture loves the idea of hard work. It is a given that if you want to succeed in medicine, law, business, or politics, you have to work hard. But we usually carry things too far—to the point that we become unhealthy. For example, children of workaholics are 72 percent more likely to suffer depression
Are you working too hard at RCIA ministry?
TeamRCIA is considering starting a Catechist School specifically focused on catechists who work in initiation ministry. Please help shape the form and direction of this exciting program. Add your thoughts to the survey below. Or e-mail your great ideas to Nick Wagner Loading…
TeamRCIA Catechist School Survey
The RCIA team at St. Elderberry was in a funk. Their team had been shrinking over the last few years as members retired or moved. And it was always a challenge to find sponsors. That is, when they needed sponsors. This year, they had no inquirers and therefore no one in their RCIA process. Jane,
Don’t let excuses stall your RCIA process
If only my pastor understood me better. If only we had more team members. If only we had more inquirers. If only the parishioners were more involved. If only the neophytes wouldn’t leave after being baptized. If only…. I want to declare an end to the “if only’s.” “If only” is a millstone. “If only”
Declare an end to “if only” in your RCIA process
This is a guest post provided by Joseph Mangone, a pastoral liturgist from Irving, Texas. I recently had time to read Pope Francis’ “Joy of the Gospel.” It is deeply profound, yet Pope Francis’ style of writing is not papal but that of a disciple, teacher, and shepherd who want his flock to discover the
The church evangelizes with beautiful liturgy
