While traveling recently, I went to Mass at two different parishes. Both liturgies were celebrated by the book. Both had a few genuinely uplifting moments. And yet, taken as a whole, they both felt flat. I spent some time reflecting on why, if nothing was done wrong, the liturgies were uninspiring. The presiding was competent.
Intentional liturgy: Teaching catechumens to fill in the blanks
When I was in graduate school, one of my liturgy professors said that the sacrament is not in the book. It is in the community, gathered for worship. What I think he meant by that is that the ritual book is a script or an outline. But it is not the active presence of the
How to plan catechumenate rituals that transform your seekers
In many parishes, we tend to prioritize “information” over “formation.” By that, I mean that most of our energy is directed toward classroom content and delivery. We often treat the liturgies and rites of the catechumenate as secondary events rather than the primary moments where formation actually happens. When we underplay the essential nature of
Understanding the beating heart of initiation ministry
When we prepare to celebrate the major rites of the catechumenate, we often feel a heavy burden to ensure everyone in the pews knows exactly what is happening and why. This good intention often leads to the first major mistake: over-explaining. When we fill the sacred silence with verbal instructions and “institutional shorthand,” we inadvertently
The three most common mistakes catechumenate teams make in the rites
No matter how long you’ve been doing this ministry, all of us have been there—that moment you realize you have to plan your first rite. Where do you start? How do you know what to do? Especially if you’re brand new to catechumenate ministry, this moment can feel overwhelming. But there’s help! And you can
Best practices for preparing your first rite
A few years ago, I came across a group of children playing baseball in an empty lot. They didn’t have uniforms, base pads, or even a real bat. They were swinging at a well-worn ball with a large tree branch. I doubt they were following all the “rules.” But they were definitely learning how to
Why your seekers must actively participate in the liturgy
They may or may not tell you directly. Yet you can feel it when your assembly is merely enduring the rites instead of praying them. Especially during Lent and leading up to Easter, there can be a kind of ritual fatigue. But it doesn’t have to be that way. We can learn something from the
Pray the rites, don’t endure them
Last week, I was meeting with a new inquirer in the Sr. Thea Bowman Room at our parish. Somehow, we started talking about the Christmas season. I quickly realized we were talking about two very different things. I meant the time between December 25 and January 6. She meant the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas
Why the liturgical year is your seekers’ best teacher
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
