As we get ready for the new translation of the initiation rites, I want to look at one major change we will need to implement However, this change isn’t new. It is already embedded in the current translation of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. We may start using the new translation of the […]
The biggest change in the initiation rites
From the beginning of his papacy, Pope Francis has emphasized the difference between being a catechist and working as one. “To ‘be’ catechists! Not to ‘work’ as catechists: this will not do. I work as a catechist because I like to teach… But unless you ‘are’ a catechist, it is no good! You will not
Going forth: The audacity of being a catechist
When I started out in catechumenate ministry, I worried I wouldn’t cover all the necessary teachings for seekers to become good Catholics. I had a literal checklist of doctrines to ensure I didn’t miss anything. What I had to learn is what Pope Benedict XVI later said about faith: “Being Christian is not the result
The art of spiritual accompaniment: Going beyond doctrinal checklists
One of the most powerful aspects of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults is its emphasis on immersing those seeking Christ into a living, active parish community. The rite teaches that faith is not merely a set of intellectual beliefs, but a way of life that is learned through participation and example. The Mystical
The call to community: paragraph 75.2
As parish catechumenate leaders, the church expects us to provide an appropriate catechesis for the catechumens. The directives in OCIA 75.1 describe what an appropriate catechesis looks like. Let’s take a look at what it says. 1. Divided into steps and fully presented OCIA 75.1 emphasizes the need for a catechesis that is “divided into
Forming hearts through God’s Word: paragraph 75.1
Many of us on parish catechumenate teams have been stuck in a school mindset for far too long. We’ve gotten comfortable with the school model — where there are teachers and students, a defined curriculum, and a clear beginning and end to the process. But Pope Francis is calling us to embrace a new paradigm,
Moving from teachers to accompanists in the catechumenate process
As I’m writing this, we are about two weeks away from the Triduum. And — spoiler alert — Jesus is risen! It seems like everything has spoiler alerts attached to it these days. The ubiquity of social media has caused many of us to avoid all our screens after the big game that we recorded
Let the mysteries speak for themselves: A pedagogy of silence
Let’s talk about the Holy Trinity for a minute. The church teaches that this is the central mystery of our faith (see Catechism of the Catholic Church 234). But most of us claim to not understand it very well, consigning it to the “too hard to explain” file of dogmas. Free download: Discernment – Listening
Holy Trinity: The central mystery of our faith
I recently saw someone ask on social media what resource they should use for catechizing their seekers. Within minutes, there were many replies listing catechisms, textbooks, handouts, and video series. But no one mentioned the single most powerful formation tool we have — celebrating the liturgical year. Celebrating the liturgical year with your seekers is,
Use the power of the liturgical year to form your seekers
It was early May that year when my office phone rang. The woman calling was so excited to tell me about how the Easter Vigil celebration had triggered something in her—a realization that she was missing something in her own life. But It was the sight of the joyous “people all dressed in those white
