Nick Wagner is the cofounder and codirector of Team Initiation.
The 50-day period after Easter is time identified in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults as the Period of Mystagogy (see OCIA 244-249). However, all catechesis should be “mystagogical.” The Period of Mystagogy is time when the neophytes acquire “a genuinely fuller and more fruitful understanding of the ‘mysteries’” (OCIA 245). However, understanding the […]
Why is mystagogical catechesis vital for conversion?
The Rite of Sending can be a significant step in the journey of catechumens preparing for the Rite of Election. This is an optional rite that appears only in the United States edition of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (starting at paragraph 106). Some parishes in other English-speaking and Spanish-speaking countries have used
The transformative power of the Rite of Sending
The Rite of Election is a pivotal moment in the journey of a catechumen, marking a transition from a period of inquiry and formation to a more intense spiritual preparation for the sacraments of initiation. It’s not simply an introduction to the bishop or a public declaration of intent; rather, it’s the church, through the
The weight of “yes”: Three questions godparents must answer
I’ve been smiling at the recent buzz about the “new rules” the bishops have issued for the catechumenate. The retranslation of the initiation rites, now called the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, has inspired many people to dive deep into the rite — perhaps for the first time. And that’s great! People are discovering
How to read a rite: Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
In the previous posts in this series, we have been exploring how to make the catechumenate — and specifically the rites of the catechumenate — more effective. In this post, I want to focus on a specific element of effective ritual that Fr. Clarence Rivers called “catharsis.” Catharsis is an emotional release or purification that
The power of catharsis in the catechumenate
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
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
