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
On the journey of faith, discernment is a shared responsibility. The catechumenate process isn’t just about sponsors and catechists evaluating seekers as though we are the gatekeepers of God’s grace. Discernment is a collaborative effort whereby seekers actively participate in discerning the will of the Holy Spirit for their own next steps. Our job is
Collaborative Discernment in the Catechumenate
In a chilly church basement, surrounded by anxious parishioners, I once explained the importance of spiritual accompaniment in the catechumenate process. I also outlined the church’s criteria for judging the readiness of a seeker to move forward to the next step of the initiation process. A local farmer, his hands rough and calloused, looked at
The art of discernment: Accompanying seekers on their unique faith journeys
In a previous article, we explored why taking things step by step is important in helping people on their faith journey. But how does this work in the real world? How can catechumenate teams put the idea of gradual initiation into practice? I am not going to pretend it’s easy to do. A classroom structure
Nurturing gradual conversion: Tools for catechumenate teams
I celebrated my first Communion when I was in first grade, as did my entire class. And I celebrated confirmation in third grade, as did all the children in my school. That’s because that was the year the bishop came to our parish to administer the sacrament. Our sacraments were scheduled on the school calendar
The slow work of God: Why initiation is a gradual process
A mother and her teen-age daughter came to our information session about adult Christian initiation. Maureen was interested in becoming Catholic, and her daughter Maggie, recently graduated from 8th grade, was also interested. Now, as a family of two, they had taken a step they had talked about for several months and were eager to
I have never met a catechumenate minister or team member who is not busy. Many of us are involved in more than just catechumenate ministry at the parish. Many of us are volunteers and have actual jobs out in the real world. And then there are other obligations like family, social life, and sometimes school.
Enhance your ministry by using meditative prayer practices
On the journey of faith for the catechumens, the role of scripture in discernment holds tremendous significance. As catechumenate team members, it is our responsibility to model the importance of engaging with scripture as a source of guidance and inspiration. By incorporating scripture into our daily lives and discernment practices, we not only deepen our
The role of scripture in discernment
We have been asking catechumenate leaders and team members how they discern God’s will. (Click here if you’d like to share how you discern.) The one theme that is consistent in almost every answer is “prayer.” This makes sense, doesn’t it? Prayer is an essential aspect of the life of a disciple. It is through
Prayer as a pathway to discernment: Seeking God’s will in catechumenate ministry
In a previous article, we looked at why measuring is key to a successful catechumenate. In this article, I want to dig into what we measure and how to measure. To figure out what to measure, we have to clarify what the catechumenate is for. When we use the catechumenate for things it is not
How to measure success in your catechumenate process
