Nick Wagner is the cofounder and codirector of Team Initiation.
The word “discernment” gets thrown around rather loosely sometimes, and the process of discernment gets fuzzy as a result. In relation to the RCIA, we can sometimes confuse “discernment” with “testing.” A discernment interview with a catechumen becomes something like a final exam to see if he or she will “pass” and be able to […]
How to locate the heart of RCIA discernment
A key task for initiation ministers is that we discern. But discernment is not just a task for those of us who lead people to faith. It is something every Christian is called to do. At the core, what we are called to do as Christians is to discern God’s will—not just for the catechumens,
Why discernment matters in the RCIA…and everywhere else
When I was in third grade, Sr. Matilda drew an empty milk bottle on the blackboard. She said that when we were good or when we celebrated one of the sacraments, God filled our souls with grace. Then she turned the chalk sideways and filled in the milk bottle. She went on to say that
Abundant grace—a simple lesson for RCIA teams
As evangelists and catechists, our number one job as catechumenate ministers is to bring people into intimacy and communion with Jesus Christ. That is impossible to do if we do not fully comprehend and teach that Jesus is part of a Holy Trinity. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that the truth of the
The Trinity is not a math problem
When Pope Benedict XVI announced the Year of Faith, which began on October 11, 2012, he said, “We want this Year to arouse in every believer the aspiration to profess the faith in fullness and with renewed conviction, with confidence and hope” (Porta fidei, 9). Three ways to renew our faith As catechumenate ministers, how
Knowing content is not sufficient for RCIA…according to the pope
There are two main reasons your pastor isn’t more involved in children’s RCIA. #1 – He is busy. Not that he is any busier than you are, but he is busy pastoring the parish. And, yes, RCIA is one of his many responsibilities as pastor. Paragraph 13 of the ritual text, clearly outlines the priest’s
Why your pastor isn’t involved in children’s RCIA and five things you can do about it
Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York said in an interview recently that there are three key things that attract new folks to the Catholic Church: the sacrament of penance, the role of the pope, and our devotion to Mary. I’d love to hear your thoughts on Cardinal Dolan’s statement. When I read that, I thought
The results of the TeamRCIA survey on how and when you schedule your RCIA process are in. More than 300 people responded to the survey, and we are very grateful for your participation. Your RCIA team is ahead of the curve I want to say at the top that I do not believe these results
Does your RCIA process go year-round? Survey results
When we think about moving from a school-year type RCIA program to an ongoing, year-round conversion process, the shift can seem overwhelming. In this post, I want to dispel that notion. Here are two things to keep in mind: We can take an initial step that doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Take a baby step.
Silence—an unlikely step in moving to a year-round RCIA
So far, about 250 of you have filled out the TeamRCIA survey on how you schedule your ongoing RCIA process. We’ll give a detailed report a little later, but for now, I want to let you know that the majority of you are engaging inquirers and catechumens in a conversion process throughout the year, including
The secret to year-round RCIA — even if you don’t have enough help
