In a previous article, we discussed what it might mean for us as catechists to step outside our comfort zones. Now, let’s ask a more challenging question: What would happen if our parishes decided to step outside their comfort zones? Pope Francis doesn’t just want you and me to go out, to venture to the
Can our parishes truly become missionary?
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
Most Sundays, I arrive at church about 30 minutes before Mass. I’ve assigned myself the job of meeting new people until Mass starts. As an introvert, this is challenging, but framing it as my “job” helps me do it. One Sunday, while greeting people, I met a woman in her mid-30s. When I asked if
Practical steps for welcoming seekers: A guide for catechumenate teams
In this article, I want to talk about finding and welcoming inquirers. The truth is, you probably have potential inquirers showing up at your parish every weekend. And even though it likely says something in your mission statement about being a welcoming parish, most of those potential inquirers do not come back for a second
Finding and welcoming more inquirers
Are you comfortable with the idea of “evangelization”? Do you think your parishioners are? Like many of you, I grew up in a time when Catholic evangelization wasn’t at the forefront of our parish life. We were content to be followers, leaving the work of whatever we thought evangelization was to the priests and nuns.
Embracing the heart of evangelization
One of the key formational cornerstones described in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults is the call to guide catechumens to “learn how to work actively with others to spread the Gospel and build up the Church by the witness of their lives and by professing their faith” (RCIA 75.4). This apostolic dimension is
Forming catechumens for an apostolic life: paragraph 75.4
Every week at the bottom of the Team Initiation newsletter, there is a question for you to answer. One of our readers, Joana, recently replied to this prompt: “Describe a specific encounter or conversation where you felt called to share your faith. How did you respond?” One of our priests had referred a young man
Why catechumenate ministers must always share their faith
When I was child back in the 1960s, rules were a thing. My grandparents, my mother, my teachers (many of whom were nuns), and my pastor all spent a lot of time telling us the rules for being a good Catholic and monitoring us to be sure we followed the rules. Today, while rules continue
What it means to be a “good Catholic” has changed
Can you name the difference between a drifter and a pilgrim? When the Prodigal Son left his father’s house, he was a drifter. When he decided to return, he was a pilgrim. A drifter has no sense of purpose and no goal. A drifter is often seen as someone who is avoiding and escaping the
The accompanist’s guide: Walking with others on the journey of faith
Adaptation is an important concept in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Paulist priest and liturgist, Ricky Manalo, says liturgical adaptation is like Thanksgiving dinner. Preparations usually do not begin with decisions about appetizers or salads, but with the main course, turkey. The next decisions probably concern stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy, then vegetables
What does the Rite (Order) of Christian Initiation of Adults say about adaptation?
