This past weekend, Diana and I were in the Diocese of Portland, Maine, for the Maine Mission Summit: Initiation Team Training. We were thrilled to be able to speak to both the clergy of the diocese and to the parish catechumenate teams to help them gain a deeper understanding of the Christian initiation process. During […]
How to proclaim the gospel: Insights from Bishop James Ruggieri
“I don’t want to go to hell,” she said. That stopped me cold. I was talking with an inquirer shortly after Pope Leo XIV was elected. I was trying to learn what brought her to us. Her words made my heart clutch. Fear of going to hell was a worry throughout my childhood. Well-meaning teachers
Why we’re here: Evangelization is the mission that cannot wait
We like to think of Christian initiation as a gentle journey. But the truth is a lot of people show up to our parishes deeply wounded. And many times, their pain is not that obvious. On first glance, they may seem perfectly fine. But sometimes, beneath the surface, they are hurting from addiction, loneliness, anger
What if we really believed this was life or death?
If the first time your parishioners meet a seeker is at the celebration of the Rite for Entrance into the Catechumenate, you’ve missed an important opportunity! But if you spend time in the months and weeks before the rite to give your seekers an “experience of the company and spirit of Christians” (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults 42), that will
Preparing the parish for the Rite for Entrance into the Catechumenate
In a previous article, I wrote about how we might apply the principles of synodality to conflict in the catechumenate process. In this article, I want to go a little more deeply into how we might accompany one another when conflict arises. Deepening our understanding of synodality To be honest, I don’t deal with conflict
Accompanying one another through conflict
I once had an inquirer who showed up “ready” to be baptized. He had taken an online course on Catholicism and was expecting to be initiated as soon as possible. I think he would have been happy to have been baptized that very day. When catechumenate ministers ask me how we know if the seeker
Discerning readiness for mission
In several recent articles, we’ve explored how synodality—a way of walking together—is foundational to the catechumenate. In this article, I want to highlight a key component of both synodality and the catechumenate: listening for God’s Spirit. Listening is the heart of synodality and the catechumenate Pope Francis has consistently emphasized the importance of listening. He
Walking with seekers: Mystagogical accompaniment as synodal listening
So you have a catechumenate rite coming up, and you might be wondering how to get your parishioners more engaged, more involved, and just plain excited about that rite! It’s definitely a challenge, but it’s one that you can handle if you pay attention to three things you need. The key is to help your
Three ways to get parishioners engaged in the catechumenate rites
The election of Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pope, marks a significant moment on the world stage. As he embarks upon his ministry, this is an opportune time for catechumenate teams and leaders to begin to understand Pope Leo’s vision for the church and how it impacts our ministry. A central teaching that he
How Pope Leo XIV’s vision of synodality shapes the catechumenate
You can reflect on questions for every Sunday of the year by clicking here. Ascension Sunday Background: Today, with the alternate second reading, we get both Luke’s long description of the ascension of Jesus in Acts and the short version in his gospel. Both end with prayerful expectation, with a portrayal of a community in prayer waiting
