When is the last time you went to a workshop or read an article and got a great idea about how to improve your RCIA process? Did you come away thinking, “Wow, we really have to try that!” And then didn’t? When I first got into the publishing business, a prospective author called me to […]
Why your great ideas for RCIA never get off the ground
Western culture loves the idea of hard work. It is a given that if you want to succeed in medicine, law, business, or politics, you have to work hard. But we usually carry things too far—to the point that we become unhealthy. For example, children of workaholics are 72 percent more likely to suffer depression
Are you working too hard at RCIA ministry?
The RCIA team at St. Elderberry was in a funk. Their team had been shrinking over the last few years as members retired or moved. And it was always a challenge to find sponsors. That is, when they needed sponsors. This year, they had no inquirers and therefore no one in their RCIA process. Jane,
Don’t let excuses stall your RCIA process
(This is a guest post by Linda Khirallah Porter, MTS.) As Director of the Office of Faith Formation for the Diocese of Tyler for 20 years, I have seen a transformation in RCIA. Our diocese is 26 years old, and we are presently under the guidance of our fourth bishop. Bishop Herzig, our first bishop,
How one diocese transformed RCIA—and became transformed
You might not think you’re a theologian. But if you’ve ever tried to answer the questions, “Who is God?” or “Why does God matter?” then you’ve done theology. These big “meaning of life” kinds of questions often lie beneath the questions seekers and catechumens ask us, and our job as RCIA ministers is to answer
Why your RCIA process needs a theologian…and why that’s you
There are two main reasons your pastor isn’t more involved in children’s RCIA. #1 – He is busy. Not that he is any busier than you are, but he is busy pastoring the parish. And, yes, RCIA is one of his many responsibilities as pastor. Paragraph 13 of the ritual text, clearly outlines the priest’s
Why your pastor isn’t involved in children’s RCIA and five things you can do about it
Your parish is about to change. Here’s why. This Sunday, look around at the people in the pews. Then estimate what percentage of those people will be retired in ten years. Now look for the 20- and 30-somethings. Are there enough of them present to fill the shoes of those who will be retiring? Trends
Get an RCIA vision for your parish (angelic visitation optional)
In 1983, I interviewed for my first job as a parish liturgist. The silver-haired pastor sat behind an imposing desk in his wood-paneled office. I sat on the other side of the desk in one of those chairs that you sink into and that makes it impossible for you to sit up straight. At one
Make the shift from “RCIA team” to “coalition for change”
In 1968, the best team in the upstart American Football league was led by a brash young quarterback who had thrown most of his passes that year for interceptions. Even so, they were slated to go up against the far superior National Football League champions—the Baltimore Colts—in Super Bowl III. Most people expected a crushing
5 ways RCIA leaders can overcome “the way we’ve always done it”
The number one roadblock for most organizations—including RCIA teams—is complacency. Allowing complacency to grow can be deadly. RCIA teams are supposed to be all about conversion. And complacency kills conversion. Most teams start out with a high level of enthusiasm for the conversion mission. And then one of two things often happens. The complacency level
Can your RCIA team recognize these 6 deadly barriers to conversion?
