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
I recently saw someone ask on social media what resource they should use for catechizing their seekers. Within minutes, there were many replies listing catechisms, textbooks, handouts, and video series. But no one mentioned the single most powerful formation tool we have — celebrating the liturgical year. Celebrating the liturgical year with your seekers is,
Use the power of the liturgical year to form your seekers
A significant part of our job as catechumenate ministers is to accompany catechumens on their journey towards full initiation into the church. Their initiation will include joining us for the first time at the Table of the Lord. While catechumens are not yet able to approach the eucharistic table, their participation in the Liturgy of
Nurturing catechumens’ prayer life through active participation in the liturgy
There are two moments in the Easter Vigil that aren’t as grand as other elements in this once-a-year liturgy. But these two subtle moments are essential in how your neophytes—and all the baptized—will understand what their baptism means. In this video, Diana looks at these two moments and why you don’t want your neophytes to
Two extraordinary Easter Vigil moments your neophytes don’t want to miss
Today we’ll examine three places we can adapt from where the norm is given, three places where we can and should make adaptations, three places where you must adapt the text, and three places where you cannot adapt or divert from the norm provided. How does this sound like what happens in your parish? Share
What you can and cannot adapt in the Rite of Acceptance
We’ve all seen images of sailboats racing through the water, tipped way over to one side, looking like they are about to capsize. I don’t know how the sailors keep their boats afloat like that. To me, it looks like magic. But I do know how to tip liturgies into the wind. Just as a
Three principles for adapting the rites of the catechumenate
