In a previous post, I said that reevangelization might be easier for us than evangelization because when we are evangelizing, we have to spend more time and energy talking about why we believe in Jesus as opposed to what we believe about Jesus. We have to say more about how Jesus answers our deepest longings […]
If Jesus is the answer, what is the question?
In a previous post, I laid out a challenge for well-established RCIA teams to look at what it is they are spending most of their time and energy on. I suggested that if they are not already doing so, they should shift their efforts to be primarily focused on evangelization and conversion. Good news: a
Evangelization vs. reevangelization in an RCIA process
I have a challenge for you and your team—especially if you have been together for a while and have mastered the basics. (If you are a new or reconstituting team, you can find some help with the basics here.) My challenge is for your and your team to take a next step in your efforts
A challenge for established RCIA teams
We asked you to tell us about the joys and vexations of initiation ministry. About 25 people answered the questionnaire, and here is a summary of what they said. (Share your thoughts in the comments box below.) Joys Most of those who responded included something about seeing adults search deeper in their faith or watching
The joys and vexations of RCIA ministry
Guest post from Katherine Coolidge, Pastoral Associate, St. John Fisher Church, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. Our RCIA team nearly doubled in size this year thanks to a program called Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP). CRHP is an overnight retreat given by parishioners, for parishioners. Reconciliation and Eucharist are celebrated with our parish priests. The witness
In the past month, the Office of Communications of the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) published a document on social media guidelines. The publication of the guidelines coincided with a recent conversation among the team members of TeamRCIA—Diana, Nick, Rita, Miriam, and Rita—during which we discussed our desire to grow our Web site
Once you master the goal-setting and limit-busting process we explored in the previous posts (here, here, and here), you will be ready to do something really big. How big? As big as you can imagine. If you can dream it up, you can set a goal for getting it. Free download: What is adult learning
Teach catechumens to dream big—by example
In the first post in this series, we looked at the various ways in which we limit ourselves. We said there are three kinds of limits: personal, team, and parish. In the next post, we explored the secret for turning our limits in to opportunities. That process is: write down a positive goal. Now we’re
A 5-step, dreams-to-reality process for RCIA teams
We all live within limits. However, there is a simple process for turning limits into opportunities. It is so simple, you may have trouble believing it will work. The process is: Write it down. Free download: Rethinking the core Catholic content as we move to ongoing initiation Write down your goals Write down what you
Lesson from a VW Beetle: Turn your limits into opportunities
All of us live within limits. This is a paradox. It is a paradox because we tell the catechumens that God’s love has no limits. God can overcome any obstacle. We tell the catechumens that no matter what their situation or their history, God will show them a solution. We say that. And at the
