I have exciting news to share. Pope Leo XIV has just issued a powerful, timely new resource to help us in our ministry. It is a letter (technically an “apostolic exhortation”) titled: Dilexi te (“I have loved you”). In the same spirit of Dilexi te, I wrote two letters, one to seekers and the other to
How to use Pope Leo’s first apostolic exhortation in your catechumenate
It won’t come as a surprise to you that the number of Catholic parishes in the United States is declining. Some parishes have simply been closed, but many of them have been merged into a single, new parish. Merging parishes can be challenging, but it also offers an opportunity for growth and deeper unity. When
Uniting the catechumenate in merged parishes
The first time I became a catechumenate team leader was super stressful. It was more than 30 years ago, and I had just moved to San Jose, California. I went to an “information meeting” at my new parish to find out more about their catechumenate ministry. I walked into the middle of an argument the
Rediscovering joy: Stress management for catechumenate teams
We’ve been on quite a journey these past few months, and we want to share with you a bit of the background of our transition from TeamRCIA to Team Initiation. This transformation wasn’t just about a name change; it was a complete reimagining of our ministry and how we serve you in your ministry to
Reimagining our ministry: The journey from TeamRCIA to Team Initiation
We have some good news to share! Some of you may have already heard that the new translation of the initiation rites has been officially approved and is scheduled for publication later this year. Publishers may start selling copies of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults on All Saints Day, November 1, 2024. So
Get ready for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
Ever since the English-speaking world become aware that the initiation rites would be retranslated, folks have been asking us, “Are you going to change your name?” When we launched TeamRCIA back in 2007, we might have chosen a different name if we had known that the title of the rite would change from “Rite of
TeamRCIA is proclaiming Christ through a new name
Is this your first year in catechumenate ministry? Or are you a long-time veteran that is beginning to feel a little burned out? Serving as a leader within your parish’s catechumenate process can feel like an incredibly daunting responsibility. Accompanying seekers on their journey of faith can be taxing. While this is a spiritually fulfilling
Rethinking “success” in catechumenate ministry
I know exactly how you feel. I’ve been there too—discouraged, overwhelmed, burnt out. You pour your heart into this ministry, work countless extra hours trying to get everything done, and still feel like you’re drowning. The responsibilities seem endless, new challenges arise daily, and despite your best efforts, things still slip through the cracks. You
Feeling overwhelmed as a catechumenate leader? Empower the assembly as your team
In a previous article, we explored the importance of contemplative prayer for personal spiritual growth and how to introduce it to seekers and catechumens. In this article, we will explore how to involve the entire parish in the practice of contemplative prayer as a means of seeking and discerning God’s will for the catechumens and
Discerning God’s will through contemplative prayer within the parish community
As catechumenate ministers, our role is not only to guide others on their faith journey but also to nurture our own spiritual growth. In the midst of this busy ministry, finding moments of stillness, silence, and deep connection with God through contemplative prayer can be a transformative practice. In this article, I’m going to describe
Nurturing contemplative prayer: A guide for catechumenate ministers
