In the Catholic tradition, we call the Eucharist “food for the journey.” But there is another food that feeds us just as powerfully and richly. At the beginning of a catechumen’s journey of faith, we are reminded that the Word of God is a rich fare upon which we all feast. Hearing the Word is how we […]
Food for the journey of catechumens
So you have a catechumenate rite coming up, and you might be wondering how to get your parishioners more engaged, more involved, and just plain excited about that rite! It’s definitely a challenge, but it’s one that you can handle if you pay attention to three things you need. The key is to help your
Three ways to get parishioners engaged in the catechumenate rites
At every baptism, and especially baptism during the Easter Vigil, the Litany of Saints is an important part of the baptismal rite. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults gives us several directives and options for the Litany of Saints and how to incorporate the names of the saints of your parish and region and
Can you include other names in the Litany of Saints?
Initiation ministers often say that the catechumenate process “takes as long as it takes,” therefore, there’s no specific calendar any seeker has to follow on their journey toward baptism. And that’s true because the Holy Spirit sets the schedule for each person. Yet, there is a calendar that is crucial and necessary for each of our seekers to
The liturgical calendar of the initiation process
Paragraph 75 of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults says that we are to help catechumens “grow accustomed to…following inspiration from above in their works.” The most essential way we do this is by celebrating the rites of the catechumenate powerfully and well, right from start of the seeker’s journey of faith. In this
How liturgy teaches us to follow the Spirit
The journey of faith is a transformative experience for both unbaptized seekers and the Christian community. Along the way, seekers learn how to be disciples and missionaries of the gospel. The primary way that they learn this is through the rituals of the church. The rites for the unbaptized are not just add-ons to the
Embracing ritual: Why the rites for the unbaptized are essential
You’ve been given the date for the next celebration of the Rite of Acceptance (what the new translation calls the Rite for Entrance into the Catechumenate). Now what? So much of the preparation for an effective celebration of a catechumenate rite involves preparing people, liturgically and spiritually, from the seeker to the presider and all
A checklist for preparing to celebrate the Rite of Acceptance (Entrance into the Catechumenate)
As leaders of the catechumenate in our parishes, one of our primary responsibilities is to provide suitable liturgical rites for our catechumens, as called for in RCIA 75.3. But what exactly do we mean by “rites” and “worship” in this context? And why are they so important for the formation of catechumens? Let’s explore these
Forming disciples through ritual: paragraph 75.3
The optional Rite of Sending is a very simple ritual for your catechumens who are ready to move into the Period of Purification and Enlightenment. If you pay some attention to two specific moments, you can help make this significant liturgy more meaningful and powerful for both your catechumens and your parishioners. Bulletin Insert: Seeking
How to make the Rite of Sending come alive
A blessing is God’s loving action that invites us into deeper relationship with him. We respond by praising God and seeking to bless others in our daily lives. Any baptized person can speak words of blessing. As catechists, we should model offering simple blessings as part of ordinary Catholic life. When catechumens see us blessing
