Diana and I have just returned from a three-month Spanish language immersion process in Panama. In all that time, we saw no evidence that the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults exists there. Yet, the church in Panama seems to be thriving. The first Sunday we were there, we went to what we thought was […]
Like most people, I am terrible at keeping New Year’s resolutions. But several years ago, I found a way to become better. Now, I make 90-day resolutions. At the end of 90 days, I check in with myself to see how I’m doing. Then I either recommit to my resolutions, or I trade them in
13 New Year’s resolutions for RCIA leaders and teams
I have a confession to make. I don’t like RCIA. I do love everything about the catechumenate and the ministry of initiating new folks into the mission the gospel. But I do not like how this awesome process of joining people to Christ is reduced to a set of initials. You might think that’s odd
RCIA or OCIA? Rite vs. Order in the catechumenate
Ever since the Roman Missal was retranslated and we had to learn all new responses in the Mass, people have been asking if there will be a new translation of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. It is likely that there will be, but we do not have one yet. Free download: How long
Is there a new version of the RCIA?
Many RCIA teams and catechists are rightly concerned with teaching the dogmas and precepts of the church to their seekers. However, recent research has shown that it is almost impossible to teach complex ideas or make meaningful decisions without engaging people’s emotions. In other words, seekers will only think about and remember ideas that they
Are your RCIA seekers awed by the faith?
This is the last in a series of posts on the RCIA’s six keys to making lifelong disciples. If you missed the last post in this series, click here to read it. As a reminder, the six keys are: As you read through these six keys and as you read over what we said about
Six Keys to Catechesis for Baptized Candidates
This post is the fourth in a series on how the conversion process in the RCIA makes lifelong disciples. If you have not yet read the previous post on the third and fourth RCIA keys for turning seekers into disciples, please click here. In that post, you will discover how important it is to reflect
Two keys to RCIA conversion that challenge our existing norms
This post is the third in a series on how the conversion process in the RCIA makes lifelong disciples. If you have not yet read the previous post on the first two RCIA keys for turning seekers into disciples, please click here. In that post, we said that formation for discipleship is a gradual process that
Two keys for conversion in the RCIA process
This post is the second in a series on how the conversion process in the RCIA makes lifelong disciples. If you have not yet read the introduction, please click here. In the introduction, we said, “Our biggest challenge in RCIA formation is deepening the conversion of our seekers to such a level that they become
The first two RCIA steps for turning seekers into disciples
Our biggest challenge in RCIA formation is deepening the conversion of our seekers to such a level that they become lifelong disciples of Christ. This task is so mysterious and so overwhelming that we sometimes give in to temptation. The temptation is to tell ourselves that it is up to the Holy Spirit, not us,
RCIA’s six keys to making lifelong disciples
