In previous articles, we have discussed “effective ritual.” First, Diana explored how effective liturgy enables seekers to follow “inspiration from above.” I then took a brief look at some of the foundations of effective ritual as taught by Fr. Clarence Rivers, who is often called the Father of Black Catholic Liturgy. While his principles arose
How to make the rites effective
In a previous post, Diana explored how effectively celebrating rituals in the catechumenate process can help catechumens follow “inspiration from above.” In this article, I want to build on that foundation by examining how the insights of Fr. Clarence Rivers, often called the father of Black Catholic worship, can help parish teams create a more
Make the catechumenate more effective using principles from Black Catholic worship
Paragraph 75 of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults says that we are to help catechumens “grow accustomed to…following inspiration from above in their works.” The most essential way we do this is by celebrating the rites of the catechumenate powerfully and well, right from start of the seeker’s journey of faith. In this
How liturgy teaches us to follow the Spirit
When we think about rites for baptized candidates who want to either complete their initiation or be received into the full communion of the Catholic Church, we tend to think of the optional rites in Part II of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. These rites somewhat echo the rites for unbaptized catechumens. While
Understanding the rites for baptized candidates
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
Who do you need on your team for catechumenate ministry? That’s what we’re going to discuss in week two of the speaker series, “Building Blocks of the Catechumenate.” While the Order (Rite) of Christian Initiation of Adults itself never uses the word “team,” anyone who has ever worked in this ministry knows it’s impossible to
It takes a parish: Assembling your catechumenate dream team
Did you know the United States has national guidelines for the catechumenate? In the current translation, they are in an appendix at the back of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. In the new translation, they will be right up front and much easier to find. The current statutes have been in effect since
Deeper look into the new National Statutes for catechumenate teams
As we get ready for the new translation of the initiation rites, I want to look at one major change we will need to implement However, this change isn’t new. It is already embedded in the current translation of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. We may start using the new translation of the
The biggest change in the initiation rites
After more than two years of talking about it, we are on the cusp of receiving the new translation of the initiation rites. You can order it now, and it will ship on November 1, 2024. To get us ready, Team Initiation is hosting an amazing four-week speaker series called “Building Blocks of the Catechumenate.”
Building blocks of the catechumenate: Preparing for the new translation
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
