by Tina Harding
Come away by yourselves to an out of the way place and rest awhile. (Mark 6:31).
In the late summer, usually in August, I invite my team to a retreat. The retreat helps us to set our hearts on the goals of initiation and conversion. In writing this article, I hope to encourage you also to organize a team re-treat. Here are some tips I have learned over the years.
by Lorraine Miller
God calls each of us by name. (Is. 43:1)
The most effective way to recruit team members is to personally invite them. This presumes you know the community well enough and the particular gifts of its members. If you do not, then it is helpful to consult with those who do. Consider the qualities that are important for an effective team. RCIA team members should be people who can keep confidences, are flexible, prayerful, enthusiastic, team players, and have a passion for our faith.
Did you know that the National Statutes for the Catechumenate and the Code of Cannon Law that apply to the RCIA are in the book Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults? You can find this information in Appendix III. To order this book…
RCIA How Are We Doing A Self Assessment Tool published by RCL/Benziger is a great resource for RCIA teams. The set of reproducible blackline masters provide an overview of each period and rite followed by relevant evaluation questions that help RCIA leaders and teams to identify strengths and weaknesses in specific areas. The well …
Here is a handy chart for Distinguishing the Baptized from TEAM RCIA that will help you find the right path for a baptized inquirer.
As you gather and meet with your RCIA team, remember to begin with prayer. Here is A Prayer Service for the RCIA Team created by the diocese of Lansing that I found in my resources. The opening prayer and petitions in this prayer service beautifully articulate the mission of the RCIA.
At this year’s Easter Vigil at St. Thomas Aquinas, 22 adults and children, age seven and older, were baptized, and thus far this year, 46 infants or young children under the age of seven have been baptized. This illustrates that both adult baptism and infant baptism co-exist as separate Rites of Initiation in the Catholic Church. But that hasn’t always been the case.
Sometimes we need to go back to basics. This article talks about three fundamental things to consider when working with the RCIA. Three Tips for Working with the RCIA
by Kathy Kuczka
Throughout the Easter season, our newly initiated adults have been engaged in the fourth period of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults called mystagogy, a Greek word meaning “to savor the mysteries.” Our newly initiated Catholics, called neophytes, or newly planted, have been reflecting on their journey of faith, especially on what they experienced during the rituals celebrated during Holy Week. Here are some of their reflections:
For your reference, here is a list of “Valid Baptisms from Other Faiths”