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
One of the key formational cornerstones described in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults is the call to guide catechumens to “learn how to work actively with others to spread the Gospel and build up the Church by the witness of their lives and by professing their faith” (RCIA 75.4). This apostolic dimension is
Forming catechumens for an apostolic life: paragraph 75.4
As leaders of the catechumenate in our parishes, one of our primary responsibilities is to provide suitable liturgical rites for our catechumens, as called for in RCIA 75.3. But what exactly do we mean by “rites” and “worship” in this context? And why are they so important for the formation of catechumens? Let’s explore these
Forming disciples through ritual: paragraph 75.3
One of the most powerful aspects of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults is its emphasis on immersing those seeking Christ into a living, active parish community. The rite teaches that faith is not merely a set of intellectual beliefs, but a way of life that is learned through participation and example. The Mystical
The call to community: paragraph 75.2
As parish catechumenate leaders, the church expects us to provide an appropriate catechesis for the catechumens. The directives in OCIA 75.1 describe what an appropriate catechesis looks like. Let’s take a look at what it says. 1. Divided into steps and fully presented OCIA 75.1 emphasizes the need for a catechesis that is “divided into
Forming hearts through God’s Word: paragraph 75.1
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
Q: If we only have one catechumen, would we still dismiss them? That puts a lot of attention on that one catechumen and on the team. We have to be sure they arrive on time and check in so we know that they are there. We have to alert the musician and presider that we
Q&A: When you have only one catechumen, do you dismiss them?
We often hear people say they feel uncomfortable dismissing catechumens from the Mass because it seems inhospitable. So they choose not to do it. But skipping the dismissal of catechumens is like omitting the end of the Mass for the baptized! It’s the way catechumens are co-missioned with the faithful from the Mass to do
Don’t dismiss the dismissal of catechumens
You may be starting out in catechumenate ministry or you may have been doing this a long time, and maybe you think you don’t have enough. Maybe you don’t have: enough resources enough volunteers enough seekers enough confidence Here at TeamRCIA, the number one thing that we try to do for people like you is
How do you know if you have enough?
