This presentation was given by Dino Durando and Stacy Phillips from St. Joseph Catholic Church in Modesto, CA at the Diocese of Sacramento’s Catechist Ministry Day on September 26, 2009 in Sacramento, California.

Handouts

This following handouts accompany this 65-minute video presentation. We recommend downloading and printing out all of these handouts before watching the above presentation. (If you prefer to download all of the handouts in one PDF document, we have compiled them as a download at this link)

• Paragraphs from the General Directory for Catechesis (GDC) and the RCIA
• How Long?
• 3-Cycle Structure
• 14-Week Inquiry Doctrine Cycle
• 14-Week Catechumenate, 3-Part Repeating Doctrine Cycle
• Using a Celebration of the Word of God in a Catechetical Setting

Background to the Presentation

The R.C.I.A. is a liturgical, catechetical, and pastoral process that requires signs and stages of conversion to take place before a participant progresses to the next stage (e.g. from Inquiry to Catechumenate). This necessitates a process that allows for an individual who is not ready to progress to remain in one period of the process while others who are ready to progress to move on to the next period of the process. This can only be facilitated by a year-round parish R.C.I.A. process.

Simultaneously, the catechetical documents of the Church clearly call for catechesis to be systematic and organic.

Systematic means that each successive teaching be linked to the teaching given beforehand, demonstrating the hierarchy of truths. A carefully laid-out systematic presentation of the faith does not leave any holes. It is complete. It does not skip over any of the essentials of the faith due to careful planning.

Organic means that each doctrine is linked to other doctrines, showing the integral unity of the Faith. Organic catechesis has more to do with how a lesson is presented, while systematic catechesis has more to do with how a curriculum or “doctrine cycle” is devised.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church is a prime example of a catechesis that is both systematic and organic. It systematically lays out the Deposit of Faith (what God has revealed in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition for the sake of our salvation) piece by piece, while at the same time, consistently demonstrating the unity of the Faith.

An example of systematic: The first section of the Catechism is structured around the 12 articles of the Apostles Creed and progresses from “Who is God?” to “The Four Last Things.”

An example of organic: While presenting the teaching on Mary (CCC 963-975), Mary is presented in relation to Jesus, the Church, the Holy Spirit, the life of faith, the Paschal Mystery, the resurrection of the dead, grace, and the list goes on!

Below are a number of quotations below from John Paul II’s Apostolic Exhortation titled: On Catechesis in Our Time (Catechesi Tradendae) (CT), which is quoted extensively by the General Directory for Catechesis as well as the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

All in all, it can be taken here that catechesis is an education of children, young people and adults in the faith, which includes especially the teaching of Christian doctrine imparted, generally speaking, in an organic and systematic way, with a view to initiating the hearers into the fullness of Christian life. (CT 18)

The specific character of catechesis, as distinct from the initial conversion-bringing proclamation of the Gospel, has the twofold objective of maturing the initial faith and of educating the true disciple of Christ by means of a deeper and more systematic knowledge of the person and the message of our Lord Jesus Christ. (CT 19)

In his closing speech at the Fourth General Assembly of the Synod, Pope Paul VI rejoiced ” to see how everyone drew attention to the absolute need for systematic catechesis, precisely because it is this reflective study of the Christian mystery that fundamentally distinguishes catechesis from all other ways of presenting the word of God” … I am stressing the need for organic and systematic Christian instruction because of the tendency in various quarters to minimize its importance. (CT 21)

Nor is any opposition to be set up between a catechesis taking life as its point of departure and a traditional, doctrinal and systematic catechesis.[52] Authentic catechesis is always an orderly and systematic initiation into the revelation that God has given of himself to humanity in Christ Jesus, a revelation stored in the depths of the Church’s memory and in Sacred Scripture, and constantly communicated from one generation to the next by a living active traditio. (CT 22)

Why?

We may ask the appropriate question: Why do the catechetical documents insist upon a systematic and organic catechesis?

When divine revelation is presented in this fashion, the student is able to better understand the big picture and see how each piece of the picture fits in its proper place.  This allows for greater ease of understanding and comprehension as previously learned truths shed light upon the truth at hand, which, in turn, leads to increased faithfulness (seeking holiness), which is the ultimate goal of Christian discipleship.  It also shows how the disciple cannot dispense from believing one doctrine without marring the integrity of all we believe.

On the contrary, when the Catholic Faith is presented in a merely topical fashion wherein the subjects from week to week in the catechumenate have no system that follows an order, the student is more prone to view Catholic doctrine as a smorgasbord of “beliefs.”

In Conclusion

The balancing act that the R.C.I.A. process must perform is this: It must present a systematic and organic catechesis while allowing for multiple points of entry and exit for participants.  We hope that the above video presentation with the accompanying handouts will give you, the viewer, a firm foundation to build from as you continually seek to improve and grow your own parish catechumenal process.

The viewer may also be interested in these related blog entries:

• 9-Month vs. Year-Round
• Catechesis in the Catechumenate
• Celebrations of the Word of God Held in Connection with Catechetical Instruction

The Catholic Church recognizes the validity of Baptism by other Christian ecclesial communities when the proper matter and form are used and when both the baptizing minister and the person being baptized have the proper intention (CIC 869 § 2). Water is poured or the one or be baptized is immersed in water (the matter) (CIC 854; GI 18, 22), and the minister says, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (the form) (CIC 850; GI 23). The minister’s intention simply “to baptize” and the recipient’s intention (or, if an infant or child, his or her parents’ and godparents’ intention in his or her name), simply “to be baptized” is sufficient to meet this test, even if none of the parties had a full theological understanding of the sacrament of Baptism.

When an inquirer states that he or she has been baptized, the first step in determining if the Baptism is considered valid is to ask in what ecclesial community the Baptism took place. The diocese should be able to provide a list of ecclesial communities whose Baptisms are considered valid and invalid. If the Baptism is considered invalid, then this would need to be explained to the inquirer and he or she would participate in the Christian initiation process as an unbaptized person.

If the Baptism took place in an ecclesial community which the Catholic Church considers to have valid Baptisms, then the next step is to obtain proof that the Baptism took place. The ecclesial community in which the Baptism took place should be contacted to request a Baptismal certificate. This Baptismal certificate should contain as much of the following information as possible:

• full name of the person baptized
• parents’ names (including mother’s maiden name)
• godparents’, sponsors’, or witnesses’ names
• where the Baptism took place (name of parish or specific ecclesial community; city, town, or other local place name; and country)
• the name of the minister of Baptism
• the matter and form

Many records may not be this complete.

If a formal record of the Baptism cannot be obtained from the ecclesial community, or the inquirer does not know where the Baptism happened, there are several options for obtaining proof that the Baptism occurred. The inquirer’s sworn testimony is sufficient if he or she was an adult when baptized (see CIC 876). If the inquirer was baptized as an infant or child, testimony from an “unexceptionable witness” to the Baptism, such as the baptizing minister, parents, godparents or sponsors, or relatives, is sufficient (see CIC 876). A Baptismal record is then created on the basis of the testimony or affidavit.

The RCIA leader should initiate the effort to determine the validity of Baptism as early in the process as possible, almost always prior to the celebration of the Rites of Acceptance and Welcoming. Which Rite the inquirer would celebrate would be determined by whether or not he or she had been validly baptized.

Upon asking questions to determine the religious background of an inquirer, the RCIA leader may encounter someone who is Eastern Christian, or has one or both parents from that tradition – one of the particular churches usually styled as “Greek Orthodox,” “Russian Orthodox,” and the like. These individuals should not be confused with Catholics who belong to one of the uniate Eastern Rites and are thus already fully within the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church recognizes as valid all seven sacraments conferred within the Eastern Christian tradition. If the inquirer was baptized as an infant, child, or adult in this tradition, he or she, in almost all cases, has already received all the sacraments of initiation, which would have been conferred in a single ceremony. In the case of an Eastern Christian (Orthodox) who desires to become Catholic, no liturgical rite is required, but simply a profession of Catholic faith.

The above can be found on pages 187-188 of the RCIA Leader’s Manual published by the Association for Catechumenal Ministry and distributed by Liturgy Training Publications.

Ever wondered how to see if the catechesis in your catechumenal process is up to par?  Take a moment to see if it holds up the 8 Key Elements of Authentic Catechesis, as described below.

Key #1: Centered on Christ – (1 Cor 2:2)

“We must therefore say that in catechesis it is Christ, the Incarnate Word and Son of God, who is taught.  Everything else is taught with reference to him and it is Christ along who teaches.  Anyone else teaches to the extent that he is Christ’s spokesman, enabling Christ to teach with his lips.” (Pope John Paul II, On Catechesis in Our Time, #6)

Key #2: Systematic and Organic – (Acts 20:26-28)

“Authentic catechesis is always an orderly and systematic initiation into the revelation that God has given of himself to humanity in Christ Jesus, a revelation stored in the depths of the Church’s memory and in sacred Scripture, and constantly communicated from one generation to the next by a living active traditio.” (Pope John Paul II, On Catechesis in Our Time, #22)

Key #3: Associated with Life Experience – (1 John 1:1-4)

“No one can arrive at the whole truth on the basis solely of some simple private experience.  That is, to say without an adequate explanation of the message of Christ who is ‘the way and the truth and the life’ (John 14:6).  Nor is any opposition to be set up between a catechesis taking life as its point of departure and a traditional, doctrinal and systematic catechesis.” (Pope John Paul II, On Catechesis in Our Time, #22)

Key #4: Promotes the Sacramental Life – (John 6:56-57)

Catechesis always has reference to the sacraments.  Sacramental life is impoverished and very soon turns to hollow ritualism if it is not based on serious knowledge of the meaning of the sacraments, and catechesis becomes intellectualized if it fails to come alive in the sacramental practice. (Pope John Paul II, On Catechesis in Our Time, #23)

Key #5: Driven by Scripture – (2 Tim 3:16-17)

“The Ministry of the Word – pastoral preaching, catechetics, and all form of Christian instruction… is healtlhily nourished and thrives in holiness through the Word of Scripture.”  (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #132)

“The Church desires that in the Ministry of the Word, sacred Scripture should have a pre-eminent position.” (General Directory for Catechesis, #127)

Key #6: Fosters the Moral Life – (1 Tim 6:18-19)

“Conversion to Jesus Christ implies walking in his footsteps.  Catechesis must, therefore, transmit to the disciples the attitudes of the Master himself… This moral testimony, which is prepared for by catechesis, must always demonstrate the social consequences of the demands of the Gospel.” (General Directory for Catechesis, #85)

Key #7: Connected to the Ecclesial Community – (Phil 2:1-4)

“Catechesis runs the risk of becoming barren if no community of faith and Christian life takes the catechumen in at a certain stage of his catechesis.  That is why the ecclesial community at all levels has a twofold responsibility with regard to catechesis: it has the responsibility of providing for the training of its members, but it also has the responsibility of welcoming them into an environment where they can live as fully as possible what they have learned.” (Pope John Paul II, On Catechesis in Our Time, #24)

Key #8: Directed to the Life of Prayer – (1 Tim 2:1-4)

“When catechesis is permeated by a climate of prayer, the assimilation of the entire Christian life reaches its summit.  This climate is especially necessary when the catechumen and those to be catechized are confronted with the more demanding aspects of the Gospel and when they feel weak or when they discover the mysterious action of God in their lives.” (General Directory for Catechesis, #85)

A. Inquirers sometimes suggest a Catholic spouse, fiancé(e), or “significant other” to serve as godparent or sponsor.  It is not prohibited by the code of Canon Law or the ritual book, but it also is not advisable, even if they meet the canonical requirements.

The close emotional tie makes it difficult for the inquirer to freely choose to become a Catholic.  It also is difficult for the godparent or sponsor to remain objective if problems arise that threaten the conversion, such as doubts about a certain doctrine on the part of the person who is trying to decide whether to become Catholic.  There can be a temptation for the godparent or sponsor to not allow such a crisis to run its proper course, since he or she has so much stake in the person’s “successful” completion of the process.  The participant then is deprived of the disinterested advice and loving, but non-pressuring support that a godparent or sponsor should be providing.

A pastoral solution for inquirers is appointing a parish sponsor and inviting the spouse, fiancé(e), or “significant other” to accompany the inquirer to the catechetical sessions and liturgies.  Should a participant, however, then choose the spouse/fiancé(e)/”significant other” as a godparent before the Rite of Election (which cannot be prohibited), the leader might suggest that the participant choose the parish sponsor as another godparent, canonically permissible so long as both godparents are not of the same sex.

Pope Paul VI has written that, for Catholics, evangelization is not “an individual and isolated act; it is one that is deeply ecclesial” (Evangelization in the Modern World, 60) and that “the community of believers… is the Church, the visible sacrament of salvation” (23).  For this reason, Christian fellowship is called the foundational means of entering in to the mystery of Christ, and the RCIA ritual book stipulates that the “initiation of catechumens… takes place within the community of the faithful” (RCIA 4).  Catholic evangelization is aimed at making someone a member of the Body of Christ and leading him or her to become active, practicing members of a parish, so they can be pastored into deep, spiritual, ongoing, communal growth.

A Community That Reveals the Mystery of Christ

Christian fellowship is not solely a question of “How do I do it?“  First, it is a question of “Who am I?” and “How do I live my life?“  What a person is comes before anything a person does; to be an effective evangelist, a Catholic must himself or herself be transformed in Christ.  Pastoring in the Christian initiation process is not professional counseling or spiritual direction, and does not require a college degree.  It consists of one-on-one encounters with individuals at any stage of the Christian initiation process.  What happens in these moments, whether brief or prolonged, is crucial to conversion, and the RCIA team needs to be aware of these opportunities and be prepared to make the most of them.  Christian fellowship – communio – is produced and exemplified in these ways:

Christian Charity

Within a setting of true Christian charity, the explanation of the faith seems truly reasonable – because the Christian faith is founded on love.  Love is the whole of the commandments of God.  To be presented fully and truly, explanations of the Gospel must be enfolded in an atmosphere of generous love.

Pastoring therefore is always welcoming.  A genuine love of those whom God has sent to RCIA is reflected in delight at their arrival, getting the cup of coffee or tea when they’ve come in the door just as the session is starting, engaging in conversation beyond comments about the weather or the weekend sports scores, getting a spare Bible out of the closet when someone has forgotten to bring one, inviting a new arrival to sit “near me” rather than allowing him or her to hunt for an open chair, giving a warm farewell when the session is over, making sure that no one discovers that a car battery has gone dead after everyone else has left the parking lot.

Setup is completed and cleanup is not to be so hasty that people feel they’re being rushed out.  Many of the best conversations take place after the session is over and there is nothing else that must happen.  An atmosphere of welcome can, within a matter of weeks, result in the inquirers beginning to help with various cleanup tasks, a sign that they want to pitch in the same way as the other “members of the family.”

Charity also creates an environment of respect.  There are many ways this can be communicated, such as beginning and ending sessions on time, being well-prepared for the session, and ensuring that bodily needs and comfort are addressed.  Time before and after sessions, well-timed breaks, and allowing refreshment and discussion can be as important as formal catechesis.

Proclamation

Everything that is said and done in the RCIA environment proclaims the living Word that is Jesus Christ, the Word that God has given to us, the Word of eternal life that is Jesus Christ: “For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Cor 4:5).  An evangelist is not satisfied with living the Gospel, but is impelled to proclaim it.  The Fathers of the Second Vatican Council also wrote that “an apostolate… does not consist only in the witness of one’s way of life; a true apostle looks for opportunities to announce Christ” (Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity, 6).

Those who proclaim the Word of God have gotten to know the Word of God in Sacred Scripture and have learned the fullness of the Word of God as expressed in Sacred Tradition.  Pope Paul VI wrote that a “sign of love will be the effort to transmit… certainties that are solid because they are anchored in the word of God” (Evangelization in the Modern World, 79).

Holiness

The Gospel cannot be proclaimed expect by people who do what they proclaim.  St. Paul admonished the Corinthians to imitate the way he imitated Christ (see 1 Cor 11:1).  Evangelists witness to the Word of God by living it in their own lives, as St. Peter admonished: “as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy‘” (1 Pt 1:15-16).  The Fathers of the Second Vatican Council wrote that “all Christians, wherever they live, are bound to show forth, by the example of their lives and by the witness of the word, that new man put on at Baptism and that power of the Holy Spirit by which they have been strengthened at Confirmation.  Thus other men, observing their good words, can perceive more fully the real meaning of human life and the universal bond of the community of mankind” (Decree on the Mission Activity of the Church, 11).

Inquirers will discover that the Christian charity they encounter originates in an encounter with the living God, and that this charity is not something “put on” for their sakes, as a form of attractive “window dressing,” but is the necessary result of that Divine encounter.

Faith

People are buried under mountains of sin, fear, and depression.  When Jesus walked the earth, he “went about… preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity” (Mt 9:35).  When Jesus sent out his apostles, he authorized them to do these same things, as well as cast out demons (see Lk 9:1-2).  Talking to the sick, the fearful, and the worried, saying, “I hope you’ll get well” is not sufficient.  Pastoring is action: praying with and for them and proclaiming the promises of God.  God will also send spiritual power to fight the devil and his minions.  Manifesting confidence in God by word and action is a means of bearing witness to the truth that no problem or crisis is too big for God to handle.  Faith can move mountains (see Mt 17:20), and the world needs to see the community of the faithful moving mountains.

Confidence and Trust

Pope Paul VI has called the Holy Spirit “the principle agent of evangelization” (Evangelization in the Modern World, 75).  It is the Holy Spirit who impels the faithful to proclaim the Gospel, and it is he who causes the Word of salvation to be accepted and understood.  The evangelist is confident that each individual’s desire to know about Christ and his Church, even those with flimsy motives, will respond to the loving presentation of the truth of the Word of God by the graces given them by the Holy Spirit.  Those responsible for pastoring are themselves clearlyl trustowrthy, so that participants can confide in them knowing that what is said will not be revealed without their permission.

Humility

Humility is one of the secrets of spiritual power. Jesus is “gentle and lowly of heart” (Mt 11:29).  The words that St. Peter wrote to his fellow priests are watchwords in Christian fellowship: “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility towards one another, for ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble’” (1 Pt 5:5).  St. Paul discounted human efforts: “So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but God who gives the growth” (1 Cor 3:7).  The proud are useless to God, and pride is the enemy of Christian fellowship.

Generosity

Pastoring requires opening one’s own life to those who are in any stage of the catechumenal process. The generous evangelist is available to participants, befriends them and invites them into conversations, and opens his or her home and life to them.  Generosity prompts the evangelist to be available to talk at any time – on the phone, over coffee, by email.  Being willing to listen and pray with them are especially powerful means though which God can work.

Prudence

Responding to a specific individual’s needs, whether it is simply listening, praying with the person, offering advice or words of counsel, or rejoicing with the person as God works in his or her life, demands prudence.  Everyone on the RCIA team must pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit when deciding what to do in each situation, keeping in mind the power of the Holy Spirit and remembering that it is God who is ultimately responsible for an individual’s conversion.

Prayer

Lack of time to pray to God and to learn about God is a sign of a life out of order. Before anything important was about to happen, or any important decision, Jesus prayed.  He, who exclaimed about his urgency to accomplish his work (see Lk 12:50), had time to pray.  Christian fellowship draws strength from calling continually on Christ, who, “is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb 7:25).

Joy

Angels announced joy when they proclaimed the birth of the Messiah.  They declared tidings of great joy to be shared wtih the whole people (see Lk 2:8-14).  The faithful are God’s Easter people, God’s people of hope, and God’s people of joy!  St. Paul identifies joy as a fruit of the Holy Spirit (see Gal 5:22) – it’s typical of Christians.  He wrote about the joy that he saw in them (see 2 Cor 8:1-2) and identified the source of joy: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Rom 15:13).  Christian fellowship is attractive, and leads individuals into desiring to “have what they have” by the hope and joy that they see.

Chosen and Sent

Catholics are expected to be different, because they are different.  Each Catholic is an integral part of a Church that God founded to convert the world – to win souls, every soul, for Christ and his kingdom.  The world needs to hear about Christ through each and every Catholic.  St. Paul implored the Romans to “never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord” (Rom 12:11).  Catholics are called upon to be a light in the home, in the parish, in the workplace, on the playing field, in the restaurant, in the hair salon, in the grocery store, and in traffic.  If Jesus had waited for a safe time to bring the Good News, he would not yet have come; there is no “safe time.”  When St. Peter and St. John the Evangelist were arrested and told not to teach or speak again in the name of Jesus, they prayed, “Grant to thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness” (Acts 4:29).  As a result, a second Pentecost shook them and the whole house and “they were filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the Word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31).

If every Catholic lived up to Christ’s expectations, hearts would pump the blood of Divine life into sterile neighborhoods, arks of hope would fill with floundering souls desperate for a home, vigorous vine branches would bear fruit to nourish famished souls, and parishes would be fertile oases in the desert of the culture of death – if every Catholic ardently desired to be Catholic, to be Christ, to all others.  Not only must Catholics lead people to Christ, but those they lead must be nourished as they move through the Christian initiation process, which cannot be implemented without Catholics who are aflame with the love of Christ, and want, as he does, “to cast fire upon the earth” (Lk 12:49).

The above can be found on pages 104-107 of the RCIA Leader’s Manual published by the Association for Catechumenal Ministry and distributed by Liturgy Training Publications.

Perhaps you can use this online resource as an RCIA Team to solicit answers to those questions participants ask that you don’t quite know the answer to.  Or, maybe you want to send the link directly to the RCIA participants themselves, so they can ask questions online between your RCIA sessions… In any case, the link to go to is as follows:

http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?showforum=13

Much like tabs for your Bible, these tabs have been specifically designed for the United States edition of the R.C.I.A. ritual book – whether your copy of the R.C.I.A. is published by Liturgy Training Publications, Liturgical Press, or Catholic Book Publishing Company.

This multicolor tabs (each color is for a different part of the R.C.I.A.) allow you to quickly find what you need when you need it without having to constantly rely upon the table of contents.  We recommend purchasing a set of tabs for each member of your parish R.C.I.A. team.

You wouldn’t believe how much time and energy you will save in the long run with something as simple as a set of reference tabs for your ritual book!

In the R.C.I.A. process, we often minister to individuals who were baptized Catholic, but have yet to receive both their First Holy Communion and Confirmation.  Also, many of those involved in the R.C.I.A. process (whether they be coordinators, team members, sponsors, or participants) know of Catholics who are currently inactive or perhaps come to Mass on occassion.

CatholicsComeHome.org is a website created for an exciting initiative wherein Catholics Come Home (a non-profit organization) is airing television commercials on Prime Time TV in select dioceses.  Soon, these commercials will air nationally in the United States and then in other countries (e.g. Australia) as well.  This website address is promptly displayed during the entire television advertisement, directing viewers to visit the site on the Internet.

This website is beautifully designed with video through Adobe Flash technology as well as audio clips.  On the website, you may view the television advertisements and find a great deal and variety of online resources for inactive Catholics as well as for those who are not Catholic.

Helpful for RCIA Team Members

Here are three ways the CatholicsComeHome.org website may be of help to RCIA Team members:

1. The Marriage Issues section of CatholicsComeHome.org is an excellent resource to use when preparing a catechetical lesson on the sacrament of Holy Matrimony or a related topic.

2. In the website’s Shop section, you can purchase a DVD of several of the advertisements, evangelization cards, and even car magnets.

3. The website contains a section titled An Overview of Basic Catholic Teachings, which is a one-stop database of links to further explore the main aspects of the Catholic Faith.

Share “Epic”

One of the most popular commercials created by Catholics Come Home is titled Epic and you can share it with others by emailing the direct link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhskBMpKa4I

To preview Epic, click the play button below:

If you have any RCIA participants who are adept at using the Internet, you may want to introduce them to the forums at the website at Catholic-Convert.com.  The exact web address is forums.catholic-convert.com.  Upon visiting the website, you need not register to read the online conversations, but if you want to ask a question or contribute to an online conversation, simply click the Register link at the top of the website to create a free account.

There is a particular forum at the aforementioned website that may be of interest to RCIA participants.  It is named “Catholicism 101″ and looks like the following:

When you click on the title of the forum (Catholicism 101), this causes you to enter the forum, and the existing posts are listed by topic.  Here is an example of what you might see:

When you click on a topic, you will then be able to view the original post and all of the replies below.  If you have registered, you will be able to post a new topic.  This would be the way that an RCIA participant would be able to ask questions or receive pastoral advice.

The most appropriate day of the week and time of the day.
The experience of each parish will determine the specific times that most potential inquirers are available.  It is possible that, if there is a sufficient number of participants, more than one time period can be made available, especially if Sunday afternoons can be offered as well as one, perhaps two, evenings a week.  The demand for meeting space in most parishes is high, and the needs of other organizations must also be taken into account by the pastor and RCIA leader.

A comfortable room temperature.
A too-warm room encourages drowsing.

Tables around which groups of participants and RCIA team members can sit.
This makes eye-to-eye interaction and conversation possible during breaks, which classroom-style seating cannot.  Even if there are no tables, chairs should be arranged in several groups, rather than having everyone seated facing one direction.  If the chairs are somewhat uncomfortable, inexpensive chair cushions might be a good investment.

Bibles and binders for all inquirers.
If the parish can afford it, giving to all inquirers inexpensive Bibles (preferably the translation used at Mass), Bible tabs, and empty three-ring binders (to keep handouts) upon their first arrival at a precatechumenate session is not only helpful to catechesis but also is an appreciated form of welcoming each person.  Here is a link to the New Catholic Answer Bible.  Eventually, participants might also be given copies of the Catechism of the Catholic Church or the recently published Compendium to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, again to the extent that the parish resources permit.

An RCIA library.
If the parish can afford it, a selection of books, CDs, DVDs, audiotapes, and videotapes – the choice of media will depend on what kinds of media players, if any, participants own or can use – allows participants to enrich what they have learned or to get questions answered on topics that cannot be covered in depth in the weekly catechetical sessions.  The library can be stored in one or more boxes between sessions, preferably on a cart so that it is not necessary to lift and carry the boxes.  Participants can be permitted to check out items for a specific period, depending on the likely need for given items by more than one participant. A checkout sheet allows the leader to know where items are at all times (and to ensure their return at the conclusion of the neophyte year!).  If there is a sufficient number of books, RCIA team members might be permitted to check out items as well, perhaps requiring a shorter return time or allowing items to be checked out only during periods when the regular catechetical sessions are not held, such as during the Christmas season. (See the blog post titled “A Lending Library“)

Tables for display and hospitality.
Tables should be available, ideally outside the room, for setting up the RCIA library, if one exists; for placing handouts; and for serving drinks and snacks.  In climates where part of the catechumenal period is cold, a way to provide warm drinks should be developed; conversely, in hot weather, if possible chilled drinks should be made available.

Setting up a sacred space.
The meeting room should have a place for a sacred space, the place of honor where a Bible is enthroned, together with a crucifix or appropriate icon, statue, or painting, and resting on a cloth of the color liturgically appropriate for the day of the catechetical session.

Using religious art.
If the room is used for other purposes, religious art (mounted prints, for example) might be placed around the room to change its tone during special events such as day-long catechetical sessions.  Large votive candles on tables can also contribute to a more prayerful atmosphere.

Placement of a wall clock.
If the room has a clock, the catechist should face it when teaching.  This not only allows the catechist to keep to the schedule of the evening, but also minimizes clock-watching by participants.

All the above elements may be difficult for some parishes with limited resources to provide.  Over the long history of the Church, catechesis has taken place, and the faith has been implanted and matured, in every setting imaginable.  Less-than-ideal settings are merely less than ideal; they do not make transmission of the faith impossible nor should the parish RCIA process be curtailed because everything is not “perfect.”

The above can be found on pages 78-80 of the RCIA Leader’s Manual published by the Association for Catechumenal Ministry and distributed by Liturgy Training Publications.

Teach the Premise

The premise of the doctrine is the underlying truth upon which the doctrine is based.

For example, for the doctrine of Faith, the premise would be: “We believe because of the authority of God who reveals. He cannot deceive nor be deceived” (Catechism #156). For Scripture, the premise would be “God has chosen to speak to us in human words. He is the author of these human words” (Catechism #105). By conveying the premise from the get-go, the catechumens/candidates will have little lights go off in their minds as they come to grasp with the intellect the rhyme and reason behind this particular doctrine.

The premise should be very short and sweet. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is an excellent resource to use to find the premise underlying this or that particular doctrine.

Teach the Essentials

The essentials are those aspects of the doctrine, which cannot be left to chance that the students will get them on their own.

Let’s return to the example of Faith. Faith (1) Is certain. (2) Necessary for salvation. (3) Seeks understanding. (4) A gift. (5) Can be lost and increased. Like for the premise, you can find these essentials by using the Catechism of the Catholic Church. For these 5 essentials on “Faith,” look at paragraphs 153-165 of the Catechism.

For the doctrine of Scripture, three essentials are: (1) The human authors are true authors, so Scripture has a very human element to it, though without error. (2) The Magisterium is the authentic interpreter of Scripture. (3) Christ is the center of all of Scripture.

Teach What Is Commonly Misunderstood

Insufficient or ineffective catechesis has left many participants with a false understanding of the doctrines of the Catholic Faith. When we catechize, we should teach those misunderstandings so as to clear them away.

With regard to Faith, many often think it is a “blind leap.” Not so. Our faith has very good reasons upon which it rests, and there are many evidences that underly what we believe. Take the Resurrection for example. There are many very good reasons that we believe Jesus was raised from the dead. The Catechism calls these reasons “‘motives of credibility’ (motiva credibilitatis), which show that the assent of faith is “by no means a blind impulse of the mind.”

For Scripture, many have come to believe that Scripture is the only source of God’s revelation to us. We need to show that there is another coequal channel by which God’s divine revelation comes to us, and that is Apostolic Tradition (See Catechism #74-83).

Teach the Scriptural Basis

All doctrine is grounded in Sacred Scripture. Many Scripture passages enlighten our understanding of a particular doctrine. We should be constantly turning to Scripture and allowing for the Word of God to under gird everything we teach.

Faith: Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching…”

Teach Related Doctrines

The Deposit of Faith is an organic unity. The doctrines of the Faith are not independent of one another. Often, the teaching of a related doctrine will reveal to a participant what had been previously hidden. By teaching in an “integral” fashion, the catechumens/candidates will get so much more out of the catechetical sessions, and an excitement will soon begin to buzz among them as they grow in their understanding.

Jesus is the perfecter of our Faith. By Prayer, we can increase in Faith. Mary is the perfect role model for the life of Faith. The Church hands on the Faith. Faith is necessary for Salvation.

Scripture together with Tradition makes up the single sacred Deposit of Faith. Reading Scripture can give increase to one’s Faith. The Church determined the canon of Scripture. The Trinity is the principal author of Scripture. Scripture was written for the sake of our Salvation.

Related Blog Entry

To learn about how to devise a curriculum for the catechumenate, see the blog entry titled: “Catechesis in the Catechumenate.”

Designed as a daily devotional for those who have just been initiated through the R.C.I.A., this little book compilation of homilies for the Period of Mystagogy from eight of the Early Church Fathers: St. Ambrose, St. Augustine, St. Basil, St. Clement of Alexandria, St. Cyril of Jerusalem, St. Gregory of Nyssa, St. John Chrysostom, and St. Leo the Great.

50 passages are provided for the 50 days between Easter and Pentecost (or, for any other time of the year if you wish).  These passages are taken from the Church’s great teachers and focus upon a relevant point of the mystical or moral life.  Each passage is then followed by practical applications for allowing this reading to inspire one’s prayer life and daily actions.  These snippets from these master catechists are truly Mystagogy (“Revelation of the Mysteries”) as they ponder the powerful implications of receiving the sacraments of initiation… ramifications that transform us and make us truly holy!

Daily titles include: (here are some examples)

• On the Power of Ordinary Things
• Passing Sinless through the Sea
• You Are Other Christs
• The Milk of Mother Church
• The Sacred Vine, the Eucharist
• A Nation of Priests
• Our Daily Bread
• Scandals and Sinners in the Church
• The Mystery of the Mass
• Pilgrims on Earth

Everyone involved in the Christian initiation process must always keep in mind any circumstance or motivation is good that has brought an individual to contact a parish to find out more about the Catholic Church, and that throughout the Christian initiation process, God’s graces are poured out in abundance on each person.  In general, the leader and team must provide opportunities for participants to respond to the Lord through a powerful proclamation of the Good News, joy-filled catechesis, participation in reverent and beautiful liturgies, opportunities for heartfelt prayer, compelling testimonies, and service opportunities.  All of these in effect “till the soil” and “scatter the seed” which God will then cause to grow in the participants’ hearts and minds.

For some people, an initial motivation will rapidly develop into a deeper desire to become Catholic.  Others may progress more slowly.  Some need to be challenged to grow, while others will be best served with more time to think and pray before deciding to become Catholic.  Conversion will happen at different times, for different reasons, and with different degrees of response from each participant.  For these reasons, the RCIA ritual book explains that “nothing… can be settled a priori” and that the “time spent in the catechumenate should be long enough – several years if necessary – for the conversion and faith of the catechumens to become strong” (RCIA 76).

The Church does a disservice to an individual by initiating him or her before his or her faith has become strong.  While this does not mean that each participant must have the faith of a saint before he or she is baptized or received into full communion, if a sufficiently sturdy foundation is not laid before a person receives the sacraments of initiation, some minor difficulty after initiation may cause a neophyte to abandon his or her practice of the faith when the tabernacle doors have barely been closed.

The leader should ensure that the absence of each participant is noted.  When more than an occasional obsense occurs, the leader should ascertain, from RCIA team members, the godparent or sponsor, or the participant, the reason for absences.  Some absences are unavoidable due to family or work circumstances, illness, or other legitimate reasons.  In these cases, it is not a lack of interest or desire.  The leader must do everything possible to arrange for whatever support all those involved in the RCIA process can provide including recruiting additional intercessors to pray for the person (and, if it is appropriate, other parish assistance as well).  In addition, the leader should ensure that all handouts, and tape or CD copies of catechetical sessions, if they are recorded, are mailed or given to the person.  The leader should also, as appropriate, make personal contact, especially to restore enthusiasm when the person is again able to attend catechetical sessions.

Different demands are made of the leader and team in the case of inidivudals whose attendance is faltering for reasons having to do with disinterest or tepid interest, or who continue to attend but display disinterest or little evidence of conversion.  Individuals who become known for a lukewarm commitment need additional intercessory prayer.  The RCIA leader should also personally invite those whose attendance is poor to return.  The leader and team must be careful not to assume that individuals who are by nature quiet and reserved are uninterested.  Such people may not be comfortable asking questions, or sharing what is taking place in their hearts at group settings.  In these cases, a good relationship with a godparent or sponsor is crucial to prevent an incorrect interpretation of appearances.

The above can be found on pages 183-184 of the RCIA Leader’s Manual published by the Association for Catechumenal Ministry and distributed by Liturgy Training Publications.

Each segment is very manageable at a length of only twenty-five minutes, and the content is given in a conversational setting, in bite-size pieces.  This resource takes much of what is said in the Church’s General Directory for Catechesis and puts it into video, to make this rich understanding of catechesis available and accessible to the average person.

Using a variety of professionals in the field, each segment approaches catechesis from a unique angle, giving the viewer a multifaceted and beautiful vision of what it means to hand on our Catholic Faith in a meaningful way that changes lives through the power of God’s grace!

Here is a list of the titles of the 13 segments:

1. Handing on the Faith Today
2. The Pedagogy of God
3. Handing on the Faith Personally
4. Handing on an Adult Faith
5. Handing on Faith Holistically
6. Handing on an Organic Faith  
7. Handing on the Story of Faith
8. Handing on the Faith Scripturally
9. Handing on the Faith Prayerfully
10. Handing on the Faith Liturgically
11. Handing on the Faith Truthfully
12. Handing on the Faith Beautifully
13. Holiness-the Point of Handing on the Faith

The cost for this resource is only $46 ($40 plus $6 for shipping), a price well worth the wealth of catechetist training material contained within these 4 DVDs.

To purchase your copy today and have it shipped as soon as possible, click here.

A quote from the above article:

“Mystagogy is properly situated after the reception of the sacraments because only then do our fledgling Catholics, the neophytes, have the grace to understand and appreciate the sacred mysteries of the Church in a more profound manner.”

Here is a brief quote taken from this article:

“While the ritual may seem very minimal and the recitation of names monotonous, there is a perceived sense of drama for anyone who has attended this rite. For me, this year’s celebration of the Rite of Election was a source of great consolation and hope for our future as a church.”

This spiral-bound Catechist’s Manual is a priceless gem for catechists who serve within the parish RCIA catechumenal process.  It was designed by a team of clergy, catechists, directors of religious education, RCIA directors, diocesan officials, and theologians to be a practical help for catechists as they craft the catechetical portion of any RCIA session.  Each copy of the Catechist’s Manual comes with a free copy of the RCIA Overview Chart. 

Table of Contents

Now, we will examine the different sections of the Catechist’s Manual using the table of contents as our guide.

Section One: Using the Catechist’s Manual

This section is very short: only 2.5 pages, and it explains the following sections.

Section Two: Introduction to Christian Initiation – A Liturgical, Catechetical, & Pastoral Process

This section provides a summary of the structure of the RCIA process, offering a basic context for the following sections that elaborate upon the catechetical aspect of the RCIA process in detail.  The liturgical and pastoral aspects of the RCIA process receive much more significant treatment in the RCIA Leader’s Manual.

Section Three: Teaching Variations – How Catechesis Changes in Each of the Four Periods

The RCIA ritual book tells us that catechesis should shift in emphasis (and in method to some degree) as a participant goes through the process (see RCIA, no. 4-7).  This section explains in practical terms how those changes serve the process and help foster conversion.  It’s important to note that the lesson plans provided in this Catechist’s Manual are primarily written for the Period of the Catechumenate.

Section Four: Teaching Structure: How the Lesson Plans Work

Each one of the 60 lesson plans included in this manual are designed uniquely according to a structure developed by Msgr. Francis D. Kelly in his book titled The Mystery We Proclaim: Catechesis for the Third Millennium.  This section’s 8 pages are indispensable for someone who wants to glean the most from the Catechist’s Manual.

Section Five: Teaching Systematically: How to Determine the Order of Teachings

Ever wondered how to develop a curriculum within the RCIA?  This section help you build the skills necessary to determine what to teach when.

Section Six: Teaching Organically: How to Teach the Relationships among Doctrines

The General Directory for Catechesis tells us: “The various elements of the Christian faith should be presented in a well structured way and in harmony with each other by means of an organic vision that respects the ‘hierarchy of truths’” (GDC 241).  This section aids the catechist in making clear the connections among the doctrines of the faith, so that the catechumens and candidates are able to grasp the unity of the Catholic Faith, to see how every truth that we believe is important and connects with every other truth in a harmonious fashion.

Section Seven: Sixty Lesson Plans

This is the meat of the Catechist’s Manual and is priceless in and of itself.  We are given 60 Lesson Plans titled by topic.  Here is a complete list of the topics:

Angels
Anointing of the Sick and Redemptive Suffering
Baptism
The Battle of Prayer
The Blessed Trinity
The Blessed Virgin Mary
Cardinal Virtues and the Virtues of Chastity and Humility
The Church
The Communion of Saints
Confirmation
Creation
The Dignity of the Human Person
Divine Revelation
Ecumenism and Other Religions
The Eucharist (Lesson 1 of 2)
The Eucharist (Lesson 2 of 2)
The Existence of God
The First Three Commandments
The Four Last Things
The Four Marks of the Church
Freedom in Christ
God the Father
Grace
Holy Orders
The Holy Spirit
The Incarnation
Introduction to Prayer
Justification and Merit
The Kingdom of God
The Last Seven Commandments
Liturgical Prayer
Liturgy
The Lord’s Prayer
The Mass
Matrimony
Mercy and Justice
The Mystical Body of Christ
Natural Law
Original Sin and the Mystery of Iniquity
The Paschal Mystery
The Priesthood of the Faithful and Evangelization
Providence
Reconciliation
The Sacramental Economy
Sacramental Living
Sacred Scripture
Sacred Tradition
Salvation and Redemption
The Second Coming of Christ
The Social Teachings of the Church
The Son of God
The Story of the People of God
Temptation and Sin
Traditions of Prayer
The Two Great Commandments (The New Law)
The Universal Call to Holiness
The Virtue of Faith
The Virtue of Hope
The Virtue of Love
Vocations: God’s Call

Each Lesson Plan is composed of two pages.  The first page is titled Catechist Preparation and the second page is titled Catechetical Session.  Below, we have provided a sample of these two pages for the Lesson Plan on “Faith.”  Click on either image to view or download the entire page in Adobe Acrobat PDF format:

Appendix I: Table for Matching Catechist’s Manual Lesson Plans and Participant’s Book Handouts

This handy table helps you choose which handouts from the RCIA Participant’s Book to give out to participants according to which topic above you choose for an RCIA session.

For example:

Appendix II: Three Examples of Arrangements of Teachings

This section offers three examples of how parish RCIA directors and catechists have used the principles discussed in the introductory sections of this Catechist’s Manual to determine an initial ordering of their RCIA teachings.

Appendix III: Glossary of Key Terms for the Lesson Plans

Each lesson plan contains definitions of key terms.  This glossary is a compendium of all the key terms found throughout the 60 lesson plans.

Appendix IV: Alphabetical Index of Hymns and Songs in Lesson Plans

Each lesson plan contains recommended hymns and songs for that particular catechetical topic.  This section is a simple alphabetical index of all these hymns/songs.

Appendix V: Seasonal Substitutes for Liturgies of the Word and Hymns

These are wonderful recommendations of Scripture passages and hymns to use in lieu of what you will find in the Lesson Plans if you are in the seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Lent.

Appendix VI: On Not Using Lectionary-Based Catechesis as the Primary Method to Determine the Order of Teachings

This 5-page section explains how Lectionary-based catechesis does not suit the demands of systematic catechesis because the Lectionary does not follow the hierarchy of truths from Sunday to Sunday.

Appendix VII: Doctrines in the Liturgy for Liturgical Catechesis

This appendix presents numerous citations from prayers of the Mass in the Roman Missal (a.k.a. the Sacramentary), from the sacramental rites, and from other rites and blessings of the Latin Rite that show how the doctrines presented in each lesson plan are prayed in the Church’s liturgy.

A. In March of 2008, ZENIT News Agency published a great article titled “Thousands in US to Join Church” that answers this question.  Approximately 65,000 adults are baptized in the Catholic Church each year.  With approximately 240 million individuals aged 18 and above in the United States, sixty-five thousand is approximately 00.027% (a little over a fiftieth of one percent) of the adult population.