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Mystagogia

mystagogia, a deepening of our understandings in the mysteries of our faith. For the newly initiated into the faith, this period is the final stage for the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults.

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Rite of Initiation for children

A NEW RCIA RESOURCE FOR CHILDREN OF CATECHETICAL AGE!!!

It is titled "Christian Initiation of Children of Catechetical Age".

We are very grateful to Denise Braddon and her RCIA team from the Diocese of Sandhurst for making it available.

This resource is very clearly and sytematically set out providing the steps and stages of the journey. It is steeped in the Rite. Its catechetical base is divided in 10 units which will prove very valuable to anyone preparing children of catechetical age.

SEE MEMBERS AREA

Rcia for children

Mandy Robinson has has long experience with working with RCIA and her insights in adapting RCIA for children is an insightful, full of practical examples and easy to read.

This article is included in the Memers Only section

Members update

What you will find in the Members Only area

New articles from Rev Dr Elio Capra on Reconciliation and Lent.

RCIA for Children - a new resource

Planning Tools from the Perth Archdiocese

Sample Rite of Acceptance

2008 and 2010 Conference presentations

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ACN NEWS

The executive of the ACN is working to provide all members of the ACN with current and up to date information about RCIA. Our new 'Members Only" section contains a number of useful resources and articles submitted by the leading members of the RCIA community in Australia.

New Article

Featured Articles

Each Month we will select an article submitted and highlight the contribution in our Featured Article page.

The article for June is The Homily of Bishop Prowse on Mystagogia

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Network News November edition

Preparing a RCIA Session on Advent and Christmas

Another end of year break-up party? Let me check my diary. Its so good to catch up with friends. The year is winding down; a small vacation; a fresh start next year. Many RCIA teams are going into recess in December and January. People are busy. They go away. Against this mindset we have the short liturgical seasons of Advent and Christmas a time of spiritual expectation, preparation and conversion, and a time that calls for patience. But sometimes there is little opportunity for RCIA groups to meet with Catechumens and Candidates during Advent and Christmas to explore and experience the riches of these seasons.Patience, hard thing! the hard thing but to pray,But bid for, Patience is!Gerard Manley HopkinsThe aim of an Advent and Christmas Session is to enable Catechumens and Candidates to experience a sense of expectation, preparation, joy and celebration of the manifestation of Christ, the light of the world, through the Incarnation of the Son of God. During this period of joyful spiritual preparation, Catechumens and Candidates may also develop an awareness of sin, a sense of repentance and a growing desire to be filled with Christ, as the light of the world who overcomes darkness. Their minds may also be directed to the second coming of Christ at the end of time. The seasons of Advert and Christmas play important parts in the process of the spiritual conversion of Catechumens and Candidates. During this period of preparation and celebration of the birth of Christ, they will be comforted that Christ is calling them to follow him and that they are being challenged to transform their lives by personal encounter with Christ and union with God.Catechumens and Candidates are unlikely to be familiar with the religious and spiritual meaning of Advent and Christmas. The RCIA team should use all the resources available to them, but preparation for a RCIA session on Advent and Christmas will come down to words, music, language, narrative, symbols and rituals of the seasons. These essential elements are mediators between the Catechumens and Candidates and the Divine. They create an environment where Catechumens and Candidates can participate in what is being performed and can alter and affect their developing relationship with God. A number of important Rites in the RCIA process can take place during Advent and Christmas. Parishes sometimes celebrate the Rite of Acceptance for Catechumens in the first week of Advent. It may also be possible for parishes to hold non sacramental Penitential Services for Candidates during this time in accordance with paragraph 384 of the RCIA text. The Anointing of Catechumens is another powerful rite that can be celebrated. But it is a pre-baptismal rite, and not applicable to baptised Candidates. Blessings and Minor Exorcisms may also be carried out during this time, within a Celebration of the Word or during a RCIA session or meeting.A RCIA session on Advent and Christmas can incorporate any of the above rites within the session itself, and can assist Catechumens or Candidates prepare for any rites planned during a during a Mass or a Celebration of the Word. The RCIA team may exercise a degree of creativity and adapt the session to the meet the needs of the Catechumens and Candidates. The following is a suggested format that may be of some assistance:Prayers (Opening / Closing Prayer)The RCIA team leader or members may wish to prepare the opening and closing prayers for the session with an Advent or Christmas theme. It would be helpful to obtain copies of Advent and Christmas Prayers and make adaptations where appropriate. Take note of the words and phrases used to evoke an Advent theme:- come; long expected; excite in me; joy; hope; prepare our hearts; prepare us for his coming; searching for the light of your Word; the dawn of his coming: welcome the light of his truth; open our heart in welcome; remove the things that hinder us; may darkness not blind us; the joy of salvation; the earth rejoices; the hope of the Savours coming; looking forward with longing; Christs return at the end of time; the coming of your Son; watchful hope: or a Christmas theme:- the heavens rejoice; the earth be glad; He has come; the Son of God is born; shining star; the Word made flesh; the bright dawn; welcome Christ; the dawn of salvation; the birth of your Son; gratitude; humility; a child born; filled with wonder; shine; new light; the light of faith; holy night; Jesus Christ our light; true light; glory breaks on the world. A simple opening Prayer may be as follows:Lord, as we gather here todayFill our hearts and beingWith the wonder of your presence.Grant that we may come to love and know youWith receptive minds and generous heartsAs we search for the light of your Word. Increase our longing for Christ our Saviour And give us the strength to grow in love, That the dawn of his coming may find us rejoicingIn his presence and welcoming the light of truth.We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. AmenScripture Reading An appropriate scripture reading may be selected for sharing and reflection after, or in place of, the Opening Prayer. The group may use Lectio Divina to pray with the Scripture. It would be helpful, before hand, to obtain copies of the Sunday Advent and Christmas Readings from the Lectionary, in order to choose the reading and develop themes for contemplation. The following are the readings for: Year B: Advent1st Sunday of Advent:Mark 13: 33-37. Stay Awake! You never know when the Lord will come.2nd Sunday of AdventMark 1:1-8. Make straight the paths of the Lord.3rd Sunday of Advent:John 1: 6-8. 19-28.There stands among you, unknown to you, the one who is coming after me.4th Sunday of Advent: Luke: 1:26-38. You will conceive and bear a son.Year B: ChristmasMidnight Mass:Luke 2:1-14. Today a saviour has been born for you.Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God:Luke 2: 16-21. The shepherds found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the crib....When the eighth day came they gave him the name of Jesus.The Epiphany of the Lord:Matthew 2.1-12. We have come from the East to worship the king.Another option may be to focus on being receptive to Gods will during Advent and Christmas. An excellent reading for this purpose is Philippians 2:5-11:Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.The RCIA group can then reflect on the importance of becoming receptive to Gods divine will, through the self emptying of ones own will.Information SessionThe Session may now move to a shared discussion on Advent and Christmas with a greater focus on content. One or more team members may wish to prepare something beforehand to initiate discussion, for instance on the meaning of Advent and Christmas, or the history and tradition of these seasons. A helpful way to deal with this is to focus on the symbols and rituals of the seasons. Advent symbols include: the Advent Wreath, Advent Candles, Liturgical colours, the Jesse tree and Advent Calendars. Advent rituals include: the blessing of the Advent Wreath, Candle lighting ceremony; the absence of the Gloria during the Mass and penitential celebrations. Christmas symbols include: the Christmas Manger and Nativity scene, Christmas Candle, Christmas tree Christmas star and lights, the Holy family. Christmas rituals include: the blessing of the Christmas Manger and Nativity scene, the blessing of a Christmas tree; Christmas hymns and Carols.BlessingsBlessings are powerful and sometimes under-utilised rites of the RCIA, which have the ability to connect with Catechumens and Candidates. It is often the transcending moment when theory and practice interface. The RCIA text provides wonderful Prayers of Blessing in paragraphs 97 A I. Another rich resource is the Book of Blessings which contains the order for blessing of an Advent Wreath, a Manger or Nativity Scene and a Christmas Tree. With creativity, the use of appropriate Advent and Christmas symbols, such as a brief candle lighting ceremony, and some minor adaptations to the Prayers of Blessing, the blessings can instil in Catechumens and Candidates courage, joy and peace. Often the RCIA session concludes with a blessing.Minor Exorcism (or Healing Prayers)Minor Exorcisms apply only to Catechumens and have a different focus than Blessings. They have a penitential overtone. The RCIA team should discern when it is appropriate to use a Minor Exorcism during an Advent and Christmas RCIA Session. If a special need arises one of the prayers of Exorcism set out in paragraphs 94 A-K may be used with appropriate adaptations for the season of Advent and Christmas.Planning & Preparation: Anointing of Catechumens and Penitential Service for Candidates:No RCIA Session can conclude without some planning. This is particularly important if there is a brief recess period at the end of the year. If there is an Anointing of Catechumens or a Penitential Service for Candidates planned in the Advent or Christmas season, this is the time to explain it to them. The RCIA team and the Parish Priest should prepare the liturgy for the celebration of the Word and select appropriate prayers for the Anointing with reference to paragraph 101of the RCIA text. The preparation for a Penitential Service for Candidates is more challenging and perhaps not as common. The RCIA team and Parish Priest may prepare the liturgy with reference to the RCIA (US Edition) paragraphs 459-472.Service & Mission Since the Churchs life is apostolic, Catechumens and Candidates should also learn to work actively with others to spread the Gospel and build up the Church (paragraph 75.4 of the Rite). During the period of Advent and Christmas much can be gained by Catechumens and Candidates if they become involved in parish activities or groups such as St Vincent De Paul, local Soup Kitchens and Asylum Seeker Centres. They may also be able to help with the Church environment for Advent and Christmas and the preparation of Christmas Hampers. During this period of time, it may also be helpful for RCIA team members to regularly meet up with Catechumens and Candidates, especially if they do not have strong connections with the parish. These matters can be explored during the RCIA session.Take Home ReflectionWith the planning out of the way and with a concluding Prayer or Blessing, the RCIA session can come to an end. Spiritual conversion remains the key element in the RCIA. A simple poem about Christmas makes this connection beautifully - better than a thousand words.Moonless darkness stands between.Past, the Past, no more be seen! But the Bethlehem-star may lead meTo the sight of Him Who freed meFrom the self that I have been.Make me pure, Lord: Thou art holy; Make me meek, Lord: Thou wert lowly; Now beginning, and alway: Now begin, on Christmas day. Gerard Manley Hopkins

Reasons to read the Rite Really Rational Reasons for Reading the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults(adapted from http://teamrcia.com/2007/07/08/6-reasons-you-need-to-read-the-rcia/)There are actually people out there who are doing the RCIA without having read the book!What book? The RCIA. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. The book. Im sorry if it seems long and boring. But you still have to read it. Heres why.1. Reading the RCIA Rite is the only way to understand the big picture.The RCIA process is meant to help people through a profound conversion experience. It is the most important thing that will ever happen to them. Conversion means meeting Jesus for the first time and giving your life over to the mission of the Gospel. Everything else in life is well, everything else. So if it is that big of a deal, all of us who serve as catechumenate ministers have to be committed to understanding as much as we can about how the process works. And there is only one way to do that. You have to read the book.2. Reading the RCIA Rite is the only way to understand the small picture.One reason the RCIA is really long is that it has to be because there is no one size fits all conversion process. Each person is different and each faith journey is different. Catechumenate teams have to be flexible and versatile in adapting the rite to the specific needs of each individual. There is only one way to know what all the possible variations and adaptations are. You have to read the book.3. Reading the RCIA Rite is the only way to speak with authority.If you have spent any time at all in initiation ministry, you have probably been challenged about something you are doing. Someone doesnt think he or she needs to come to all the sessions. Someone on the staff, maybe the parish priest, doesnt think all the steps of the rite are necessary. Someone on the team thinks we are imposing too much on the catechumens. Someone thinks this is all fine and good for people over 18 but it doesnt apply to children. How do you stand your ground if your source of authority is some workshop I went to last year? In order to speak with the voice of the church and to ensure the best possible pastoral practice in your parish, you have to read the book.4. Reading the RCIA Rite is the only way to be able to train new team members.Right from the beginning, you want to empower the members of the catechumenate team to understand the vision of the church and to be able to implement the fullness of that vision in your parish. Only one way to do that - You have to read the book!5. Reading the RCIA Rite is the only way to remember what you forgot.I have read my copy of the rite so many times the cover fell off. I got my current copy almost 20 years ago, and Im still reading it. Every time I read it, I see something or remember something that hadnt stuck in my head before. Now, those of you that have more brain cells than me (which is most of you) wont miss or forget as much as I do. But you will miss some things and forget some things nonetheless. In order to really absorb the subtleties, fine points, and beauty of the rite, you need to read it often!6. Reading the RCIA Rite is the only way to get people like me to stop bugging you.I dont want to bug you. I really dont. I know you are busy. But think of this as a discipline, like playing the piano, or daily prayer. This ministry is something we were called to do, and part of the call is self-sacrifice. Lets just put on your calendar a 15 minute time slot everyday when you will sit down in a comfortable chair with a nice cup of tea and read a page or two of the rite. For now, lets just say you are committing to reading the introduction and Part I: Christian Initiation of Adults. In my version of the rite, thats 152 pages. If you read two pages a day, thats about 11 weeks. You have to read the small red type too, so no cheating. But some pages are mostly blank so that makes up for it. You can write notes on those pages.Once you start reading it, you wont find it as boring as you thought. If you dont have a copy, the Australian edition (dont use the US one - its different!) is published by St Pauls Publications and the paperback study version will set you back only about $25.

Prowse mystagogia

Mystagogia

HOMILY BISHOP CHRISTOPHER PROWSECATHOLIC DIOCESE OF SALESIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR AMYSTAGOGIA (RCIA) MASSST PATRICKS PAKENHAM29TH MAY 2011Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; 1 Pet 3:15-18Jn 14:15-21Dear friends, in the Liturgy over these last weeks of Easter we prepare to celebrate next Sunday the great Solemnity of the Ascension and the week afterwards the great Solemnity of Pentecost.In todays Gospel, we see a foretaste of these great feasts. We must never forget that the Gospel is a Gospel of Love. Not any sort of love. It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His death and resurrection are the hallmarks of the type of love he gives us by his amazing grace. In todays Gospel he tells us if you love me you will keep my commandments. We see in these words not only the gift but the task of the love of God made present in Jesus Christ. It is the love of the Cross. When Jesus says love one another he also says as I have loved you. The as I have loved you is the love of the Cross.In this reading we see the first articulations by Jesus of what later theologians will describe as the Holy Trinity. Anybody who loves me will be loved by my Father and I shall love him and show myself to him. This is the love of the Father and the Son, made present in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the love friendship of the Father and the Son. Our entry into the Trinitarian love made present by Jesus Christ will be with us throughout our entire lifetime. It is the love that will last for eternity.Even in the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles we see already some stages appearing of conversion to this Love in the early years of the Church. The scripture says When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them... So it appears that the Word of God had been accepted already by the people of Samaria. It is then that Sts Peter and John went down to Samaria and they went down there, and prayed for the Samaritans to receive the Holy Spirit,,, then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit... Here we see a second stage of the coming down of the Holy Spirit. It wasnt simply just an accepting of the Word of God. The leaders of the Church also come to lay their hands on those who were opening up their hearts to receive the liberating message of Jesus Christ.We welcome to our Mass today many from our diocese who, in recent weeks, have become Catholics through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). Two thousand years later we have articulated four periods of entry of adults into Christianity. But even at the earliest stages of the Churchs life we see these first two emerging stages appearing.Initiation to the Catholic Church is not just for the new Catholics amongst us (our Neophytes). Of course we pray for them in this Mass and praise God for their generosity in totally opening up themselves to Him in the Sacramental life of the Church. It gives us all a good example. Initiation into the Easter mysteries is an ongoing conversion for all of us until we meet Jesus face to face.Indeed, in the Second Reading from First Letter of St. Peter, a very important stage of the transmission of the Good News of Jesus Christ is articulated. We hear of St. Peter saying always have your answer ready for people who ask you the reason for the hope that you all have. For the early Church and indeed for all of us now, initiation is truly characterised by giving witness to the life of Christ within us to the wider world. It is simply not good enough to invite Jesus into our hearts and leave it at that. Catholicism is never purely a private matter. It is intensely personal but not private. The personal love of Christ within us cannot be kept to ourselves. It expresses itself in some way or another to the wider world. Indeed the evangelised must eventually become the evangelisers of the world. This is my prayer for all those who are going through the RCIA in this fourth period of the Mystagogia (the post-baptismal catechesis). May you now learn to evangelise in your communities as you indeed have been evangelised by your parish communities over these months.May I recommend that those who have become Catholics in recent times now try to find a place for themselves in their local parish. This would be especially through meditation of the Gospel, sharing in the Eucharist and Sacraments, and doing works of charity. Perhaps you might like to become leaders of the RCIA in future years? Perhaps you may wish to join different scripture groups or St. Vincent de Paul groups or liturgy groups in your parish and in the diocese? Now is your opportunity to make concrete your commitment to the Catholic Faith that you have received.As we continue on with the Mass we find our true home in the Eucharist. It is in the Body and Blood of Christ poured out for us that all I have said in these brief words becomes a living and real reality. When the priest at the end of Mass says The Mass has ended! he really means it. It means that we take the Eucharistic Lord in our hearts to the world in which we live. Our families, our neighbourhood, our workplaces should be able to experience in some way or other the fact that we are living members of Christs Body. Be assured of my prayers in the months and years ahead as you continue to enable Christ to make his home in you.May I take this opportunity of thanking all those in the RCIA Teams around the diocese and especially RoseMarie Black, the Diocesan Co-ordinator, for all the great work, initiative and leadership you have all given in the Diocese and in your parishes. May the Lord who has made His mark on you continue to bring it into the fullness of his Easter life.

Mystagogia

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Mystagogia

HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE MYSTAGOGIA!?!After a long and intense preparation, the celebration of the Sacraments of Christian Initiation at the Easter Vigil comes as a great time of celebration for the whole community. This is followed by the period of Mystagogia. Havent we done work? Havent the neophytes experienced enough catechesis? Hasnt the scriptural, the instructional, the liturgical, the ecclesial catechesis in the previous months been enough? What are we meant to do during the period between Easter and Pentecost?The rite asks us to continue to build on the catechesis given during the previous stages of the initiation journey. The emphasis during this period is on mystagogical catechesis. But what is mystagogical catechesis?My reflection is based on two fundamental documents:1) the Rite itself; 2) Pope Benedict XVIs Encyclical, Sacramentum caritatis1) IN THE RITEThis is how the RCIA describes the period of Mystagogia:This is the time for the community and the neophytes together to grow in deepening their grasp of the paschal mystery and in making it part of their lives through meditation on the Gospel, sharing in the Eucharist and doing works of charity. (RCIA 234) THE PASCHAL MYSTERY: Mystagogia is a time of deepening the neophytes grasp on the paschal mystery. This is not a purely intellectual or academic exercise. As they reflect on the events of the Easter Vigil, they become aware of the link between the death and resurrection of Jesus and their own initiation. The death and resurrection of Jesus still bear fruit in the lives of the neophytes. They entered into the tomb with Jesus and they now share in the new life of the resurrected Christ (see (Rom 6:1-11). During this period they are called to deepening their grasp of this wonderful gift so that their lives continues to be lives on the pattern of the death and resurrection of Jesus: dying to oneself in order to live more fully in Christ, with Christ and for Christ.During their catechumenaljourney the word of God has helped to grow in Christ. This process is now continued anddeepened as they are now sent out to be messengers of the gospel to their families, to thefriends and to all people they meet.SHARING THE EUCHARIST: During their journey they have received strength andcourage from the celebration of the catechumenal rites: In the celebration of the Word ofGod, in the rites of blessings, healing and anointings, in the celebration of the scrutinies.All these rituals led to and prepared for the source and summit of all liturgies: thecelebration of the Eucharist. The focus of mystagogia must be on the Eucharist:deepening their understanding, eagerness and desire to participate with the rest of thecommunity in the celebration of the Eucharist. Several of the Gospels of the Easterperiod point towards the Eucharist (the story of the Emmaus disciples, the breakfast onthe beach, the risen Christ asking the disciples: Do you have anything to eat?)DOING WORKS OF CHARITY: This is not new. During their catechumenal journeythey have been encouraged to use their gifts and talents as a service to the church and tothe community. Now they are called to share more deeply into the very mission of theChurch towards all humanity. Jesus disciples are called to become the messengers ofJesus message; they are called to become the witnesses of Jesus love for all humanbeings.2) SACRAMENTUM CARITATISIn Pope Benedict XVIs Encyclical, Sacramentum caritatis, the purpose of Mystagogical Catechesishas a threefold aim:a) It interprets the rites in the light of the events of our salvation b) must be concerned with presenting the meaning of the signs contained in the rites. c) must be concerned with bringing out the significance of the rites for the Christian lifein all its dimensions. (Benedict XVI, Sacramentum caritatis, 64)The time of Mystagogia is therefore a time of reflecting on the awe-inspiring rites of ChristianInitiation celebrated during the Easter Vigil. We are called to gather the neophytes and with themreflect on the actions, the words, the symbols and the rituals of the Easter Vigil. We are called totake the neophytes on a journey of re-visiting the celebration of the Easter Vigil, step by step,moment by moment. For each of the Easter Vigil rituals we are called to reflect on the followingthree questions:1. What did you experience during the ritual?2. What was God/Christ/the Holy Spirit doing for you through those rituals?3. What is God/Christ/the Holy Spirit sending you forth to proclaim and to witnessthrough the ritual?The emphasis and the focus of mystagogia are service, commitment and mission. That is whymystagogia is not only for the neophytes but for every member of the parish. Like the Apostles aftertheir Pentecost experience, we are all sent to proclaim the good news and to become the witnessesof Christs death and resurrection to the whole world.I started this reflection with the question: How do you solve a problem like Mystagogia? To helpyou solve the problem I have prepared a resource on mystagogia.It consists of a book for the RCIA leader and a journal for the neophytes reflections. This is the linkto this resource:CALLED GIFTED SENT:The Sacraments of the Christian Initiation of the Triduum.Catechists Manual and Catechumens JournalDr Elio Capra SDBJames Goold House Publications - Website: www.kwl.com.au

5 things about Dismissal Team RCIA.JPG

Five Things about the Dismissal

Five things your RCIA team may not know about the dismissalPosted by Nick From TEAM RCIA reprinted with permissionThe very first time I heard about the RCIA was at a diocesan information meeting in St. Louis in 1982. I dont remember a lot about the meeting, but the one thing that really grabbed my attention was when the presenter said that we would be dismissing the catechumens from Mass after the homily. At the time, that was such an unheard of idea that I knew instantly it would cause a great stir in parishes. And indeed, it did cause an initial shock in parishes that implemented the dismissal. Many other parishes decided to simply not do it because it was such a radical departure from the way we had always done things.It seems like we have gotten over the initial shock, but there is still a lot of resistance to the dismissal. There is also a lot of confusion about it. So here are a few thoughts of mine about why I think it is important. Id love to hear yours as well.Hostility or hospitality?I dont hear this as often, but there used to be a refusal to dismiss catechumens because it seemed inhospitable. I hope that thinking has died out. We are not sending the catechumens away because they are somehow unworthy. Were sending them out to do the work that is appropriate to their order in the Body. The job of the Order of Catechumens is to hear the Word of God. During the dismissal session, they focus more intently on the Word, listening deeply to Gods call to them. This is an essential part of their training in the Christian life.Dont do catechesisAnother reason for not dismissing is parishes say they dont have enough catechists. This is a confusion. The dismissal is not a time for catechesis. It is a time for reflection, prayer, and faith sharing the flows from Gods Word at that moment. The leader does not need to be a catechist. He or she only needs to be someone who can lead a reflection on faith. That could be a youth minister, a first communion preparation catechist, a choir member, a lector, someone from the parish council, a Bible study participant, or a member of the Womens Guild. It could even be a catechumen who has some experience with the dismissal process. Or it could be a neophyte who has been through at least a years worth of dismissals already.A single exceptionA somewhat legitimate reason to skip the dismissal that sometimes comes up is that a parish has only one catechumen. I think you could do a dismissal session with only one or two catechumens, but it is true that having a few more participants is beneficial. If you decide not to dismiss the lone catechumen, it is still important to break open Gods word with him or her. You would simply do it after Mass instead of after the homily. After Mass, you could gather a few of the baptized to also share faith and the catechumen will not seem so isolated.Keep the baptized candidates in the MassHere is one of the biggest confusions. Oftentimes, a Protestant who is married to a Catholicand who has been going to Mass for yearsdecides he wants to become Catholic. Too often, the pour soul is stuck into the catechumenate and is then sent forth from the liturgy every Sunday without his wife. These people almost never belong in the catechumenate. Someone who has been to Sunday Mass regularly for years is catechized. They might need more catechesis, but they do not require the beginning conversion level of catechesis that the catechumens need. And since they are not in the catechumenate, these catechized Protestants would not be dismissed from Mass.Keep the Catholics in the MassAnd, of course, parishioners should never be dismissed. Thats seems obvious, but we still get lots of questions about sponsors, spouses, and other team members. The only baptized person who should leave with the catechumens is the dismissal leader. By way of adaptation, baptized uncatechized participants in the catechumenate might also be dismissed. But my preference is that even these folks stay with the other baptized members of the assembly as a sign that they are in a different orderthe Order of the Faithful.So what happens in your community? Are you dismissing catechumens every week? What about in the summer? And what are you doing with the children? Please share your thoughts.

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RCIA Resources List

resources

Resources of RCIA

"This is a list of RCIA Resources compiled by Elio Capra. It is not a final document but rather it is a process of gathering together the best resources used throughout the Dioceses in Australia.

We need your contribution and your suggestions. If you have any other RCIA Resources you would like to add, please, send your suggestions to

Elio Capra at elio.capra_cam.org.au

The list will be updated on a regular basis."

LIST OF RCIA RESOURCES.doc

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2010 Conference

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Brisbane

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2010 Conference

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2010 Conference

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2010 Conference Photos GLENELG South Australia

Perth

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Perth

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BRISBANE

2011

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Hobart

Wollongong

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