One of the challenges of being quarantined is how to draw more seekers to our parish and our initiation process. Strategies for “marketing” ourselves are not different in principle during a pandemic than they are when life is normal. However, some of what we might have done in the past becomes even more critical when […]
The key to RCIA marketing is storytelling
Q: Could you give us examples of how the whole parish acts as the minister to welcome the candidates/catechumens and share the faith with them? What does it look like? How can we help the whole parish understand this mission? A: When we want to welcome a seeker into our parish family, it looks a
Q&A: How do we help the whole parish understand their RCIA mission?
I’ve seen a lot of pictures lately of priests standing in front of homes blessing the members of the household as they gather on the front porch or steps. I think that’s great! But we don’t have to wait for the pastor to come by to celebrate blessings. Blessings come in many, many forms. A
RCIA blessings in the time of coronavirus
Many of us who guide and form spiritual seekers are hoping for a return to normal as soon as the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. But normal probably won’t look like what we are used to. The effects of the pandemic have permanently ruptured “the way we’ve always done it.” For the most part, that is
RCIA will never be the same again
The suspension of Triduum liturgies, especially the Easter Vigil, have left some RCIA teams foundering and wondering what to do with the elect during the period of mystagogy. If we look at the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults in the section on mystagogy, we will discover or rediscover a few key points. First, the
RCIA mystagogy when there have been no baptisms
My beginnings in initiation ministry had two phases. I went to school to learn about liturgy, and my first parish job included planning and coordinating the rites for the catechumenate. I felt pretty confident about that role. Many years later, I moved to California for a non-parish job. I volunteered for to help out on
How to grow your confidence as an RCIA team member
We all know the parable of the talents (Mt 25:-14-30). The master of the house is going on a road trip. On his way out the door, he gives some of his money to three of his servants. It seems to be some kind of financial planning test because they are given different amounts, “each
Our call to RCIA ministry is a call to holiness
Diana and I recently had a one-week vacation in Japan. About a week before we left, Diana picked up a Japanese phrase book and learned a few simple words and dialogues. I convinced myself that I didn’t have time to add one more thing to my to-do list before leaving. We were going to be
Are you fluent in “RCIA seeker language”?
The Holy Spirit does not call people to discipleship only from September to May. The call is constant, and hearts of seekers are moved to respond every hour that Christians are awake and living in the world. We know that is true because we are the presence of Christ. And when Christ is present, people
Why don’t we make disciples in the summer? The core fear that prevents a year-round RCIA process
Myth: A year-round catechumenate process is harder than a school-year program Every parish team I’ve talked with that has transitioned to an ongoing catechumenate process tells me that the amount of work involved is either the same or less than when they were running a school. See: Free download: The one, most important thing we
Six myths about RCIA in the parish
