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06 Fall Issue.Qxp Volume 24, No. 2, Summer 2006 Catholic tradition. members actually has a doctor- ate in theology while another Sometimes it is said that all of is a former candidate who was this looks good on paper, but it received into the Church some Word won’t fly in a parish. Is it pos- years ago. We do like to bal- sible for one parish to address ance the team between male on all of the needs of their candi- and female, and we are in the dates and catechumens? To process of getting a few more Worship answer this question, Word on men on the team. Worship traveled to St. John Newsletter of the Worship Office, Archdiocese of Newark, NJ the Baptist Church in How long has the RCIA been Hillsdale, New Jersey, to ask in use at St. John’s? ver since its promulga- their RCIA team a few ques- It was first implemented in the tion in the mid eighties, tions, just to see how one late eighties, but it really Ethe Church has made parish is responding to the began in earnest around 1993. In This Issue: good use of the Rite of needs of their people through Christian Initiation of Adults the Rite of Christian Initiation How many people have come • Interview with an RCIA as the official means of bring- of Adults. Team ing people into the faith. through this process since then? Understanding this complex Who is on your RCIA team? • Explaining and Inviting: process has grown extensively Since the early nineties, our We have eleven people on our Advertising the RCIA over the past twenty years. parish has fully initiated into team. Two team members are Even those who are in leader- the Church seventeen catechu- dedicated to working with • Doing It Rite: Baptisms, ship positions continue to mens and received into the children – people between Confirmation and Non- grow in their knowledge of the Church approximately sixty- seven and fourteen. The other Catholic Churches RCIA, moving closer to the three candidates. ideals of how to bring people nine ordinarily work with the adults. Eight are women and into the body of Christ accord- How do you reach out to three are men. One team ing to the rites of the Church. possible candidates and cate- member serves on the parish chumens? There is no easy way to staff and has a Masters degree accomplish all that is required in Religious Education and a Well, the bulletin has informa- of the RCIA. It challenges certificate in spirituality – tion posted in it at all times for local church leadership to do another team member was people who are interested in things like separate catechu- ordained a deacon last spring. joining the church or complet- mens from candidates; make ing their initiation, and many certain that the period of the What are the qualifications do contact us directly. We do catechumenate is of sufficient for team members? occasionally run an ad in the local paper, too, but the rites length; engage the candidates In general, we look for people themselves have a way of and catechumens in the appro- who will be warm and wel- bringing people in. priate rites. Every person who coming – the first “face” of the comes through the RCIA Church that newcomers will How is that? comes from a different faith experience. They have to have background, each with their a good grasp of their own faith During liturgies like the rite of own needs. Conversion is not and be willing to share, and welcoming or the scrutinies, a conveyer belt process, but they must be open to their own the priest will usually say when used properly, the RCIA ongoing education and forma- something about the RCIA can fit the needs of anyone tion in both the RCIA process process during the homily. while forming them into faith- and the teachings of the When parishioners witness ful believers in the Roman Church. One of our team these rites, they know where to INTERVIEW WITH AN RCIA TEAM 9 direct people who have Why do you think it is Candidates are not dismissed It is never less than a year expressed an interest in joining important to separate candi- on Sunday from Mass because long. As a rule, those entering the Church or completing their dates from catechumens? they are already baptized the process will not be initiat- sacraments of initiation. members of the assembly. We ed until at least the following We need to meet people where have catechetical sessions with Easter. That is, two Easters they are and bring them along What are some examples of them based on the catechume- from the time they enter the the way. If we put everyone the kinds of people who have nate process: breaking open catechumenate. We don’t fol- together, it seems to say they come to you in terms of age the word, sharing faith, church low the academic calendar, but should all be in the same and background? teaching. They meet during a lot of people tend to enter place, but that is rarely true. the week or on Sunday after- the process in the fall, so it is The age has ranged from seven Some people have very little noon, but even if the catechu- usually at least twenty or more to eighty! We have had cate- catechetical background and mens are meeting at the same months that they are catechu- chumens who were raised in need a lot of focus. Others time, we still keep them sepa- mens. other religions, some with no know more. Even the lan- rate for these sessions. religious background at all and guage we use to explain things We also have people in the some non-baptized to one person can be much dif- Does your RCIA process fol- inquiry stage for a long period Pentecostals. Many were mar- ferent than with another. low the school calendar, of time before they are ready ried to parishioners. We have beginning in September with to commit to the catechume- also welcomed into the We did have a man who came graduation at the Easter nate, some even for a few Catholic Church many of other to us who knew a lot of Vigil? years. We make it clear that Christian denominations, and Catholic theology. He had once they commit to the cate- of course, we have confirmed very specific questions, and No. We follow the liturgical chumenate, they have to take it many adult Catholics who mostly he met one on one with year. If we feel they are ready, very seriously. were not confirmed as chil- a team member. We did have anyone can enter the catechue- dren. him at some meetings with the mante any time of the year, but What would you think about other catechumens, but if we they must go through at least a “mandatory” two year cat- How do you minister to these had them together all the time, one full liturgical year before echumenate? differences? some of the others may have they are initiated. felt intimidated. It would probably be quite In general, we separate chil- Are there any particular good, especially for those who dren from adults and we also How often do you meet with resources you use when cate- come in “cold,” with no faith separate our candidates from catechumens and candi- chizing? background. It would stress our catechumens. We then dates? the importance of faith forma- divide ourselves up according The Gospels. The lectionary. tion and would give them to scheduling. One of the first Every Sunday the catechumens The cross. Even the church more time to prepare for such things we ask potential candi- are dismissed from the Mass building itself and the signs an important time in their dates and catechumens after they attend and one or more and symbols of the liturgy. We lives. we know they are ready to team members go with them to also use Foundations in Faith, commit to the process is what break open the word. This but we are not afraid to go off It would be good, though, to their best times are to meet meeting is solely focused on the topic. We do make exten- have some flexibility. Some with us. Then we know how the Scripture readings of the sive use of the Catechism of catechumens, even though we will need to break up the day. Then we have one other the Catholic Church and the they are not baptized, have team according to scheduling meeting with the catechumens periodical Catholic Update. been coming to Mass for years and the needs of each person. during the week or on a with a spouse and can even be Sunday afternoon to talk about How long does the average involved with parish min- other topics of the church. person spend in the catechu- istries. We would never advo- 10 menate? cate anything less than one full mens in the religious education actually occur. liturgical year plus the time program to the rites. This The Rite of Election and the leading up to the next Easter gives the other children the One of us meets with the priest Call to Continuing Conversion Vigil for any catechumen, but opportunity to learn about the ahead of time. You can’t tell a are a big piece of the process requiring two full years (plus RCIA, and afterwards it raises priest moments before Mass and they are not to be missed. the time leading up to the good questions from the chil- begins that there is going to be Even though it can mean a lit- Vigil) may not be necessary dren about the sacraments of a scrutiny at Mass! We also tle extra work for the team, we for everyone.
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