Nick Wagner is the cofounder and codirector of Team Initiation.
A recurring question among catechumenate team members is, what do the catechumens need to know before they can be initiatated. And some are often doubtful the liturgy, which is the source of all catechesis, can in fact teach them what they need to know. Cardinal William Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of […]
The Four Essential Doctrines the Liturgy Teaches
The most pastoral thing we can do for the catechumens is to “kindly dismiss” them, before the prayer of the faithful begins…. I have a friend, a good friend, who also happens to be a priest. He is dead sent against dismissing the catechumens from the liturgy before the general intercessions. Whenever he presides at
Is Your Dismissal Pastoral Enough?
Let’s suppose you want to honor the baptized by celebrating their reception into the Catholic Church at the first Sunday Eucharist after they are ready. How do you deal with the pastoral issue that they will feel like they are missing something in comparison with the Elect who will be baptized at the Great Easter
When should baptized candidates be received into the full communion of the Catholic Church? Paul Turner in When Other Christians become Catholic, says, “Whenever they are ready” (p. 161). The National Statues for the Catechumenate say, not “at the Easter Vigil lest there be any confusion of such baptized Christians with the candidates for baptism
Why Baptized Candidates Should Not be Received at the Easter Vigil
Are you getting ready to initiate the Elect in your parish at the Easter Vigil? Make sure they (and you) know what they are signing up for. In his book, The People’s Work, Frank Senn says: The purpose of proclaiming the word and celebrating baptism and the Lord’s Supper is to form a community of
The Elect are about to join the royal priesthood, and it is time to start getting them used to their royal status. Here are nine ways to help the Elect enter more fully into their preparation for baptism and Eucharist. Chauffeur them. At a recent Election Rite, a candidate was late for the liturgy because
9 Ways to Treat the Elect Like Royalty
Have you ever been in love with someone you weren’t supposed to love? Someone your parents or your friends disapproved of? In the first two paragraphs of today’s Gospel, Jesus does some astounding things. He goes to Samaria. He walks up to a well where a woman is drawing water. He sends off his disciples
Reckless Love: A Scrutiny Homily
Okay, that’s a little strong. But if your lenten catechesis for the elect looks a lot like the catechesis that was going on during the period of the catechumenate, something is amiss. What the RCIA says about lenten formation The rite is pretty clear. If you have your RCIA handy (or maybe even if you
I’m writing this on the First Sunday of Lent. Today is typically a hectic day in many catechumenate ministries. The candidates for election are stressed and may show up late for the parish Mass and the Rite of Sending. The catechumenate director or liturgist has a thousand details to attend to. There are friends and
