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Pastoral principles for children in the RCIA
I once overheard a pastoral minister say that she was working with a family who wanted to have their child baptized. The child was six-and-a-half years old.

"We got her in just under the wire," the pastoral worker said — meaning the child was under seven years old and therefore baptized as an infant. She did not have to go through RCIA. The pastoral worker said it like it was a sort of victory.

When we encounter children who wish to be initiated (or whose families wish it for them), sometimes our pastoral thinking gets a little skewed.

Time to recover the prophetic power of the RCIA dismissal
When I first heard about the dismissal of the catechumens from the Sunday Mass, it was an "I-could-have-had-a-V8-smack-on-the-forehead" moment. I instantly saw the catechetical value for parish communities. If mid-pew Catholics saw people processing out of church in the middle of Mass, what would they think? How would they deal with the disruption? Who would they ask about what is going on? Would they become curious enough to explore their own reasons for staying?

That was a very long time ago, and now, more than 30 years later, the dismissal ritual has lost much of its prophetic edge. The focus has shifted from the dismissal itself to what happens with the catechumens after the dismissal. But note that the what the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults says that they do and what they actually do in many cases do not align.

It’s time to rethink the way we do RCIA
The way you teach and form your catechumens and candidates can determine whether they simply become name-only Catholics or lifelong disciples.

We all agree that the community needs to be involved in the RCIA. But how do we do this? The key is to stop trying to get the parish involved in the RCIA and start getting the catechumens and candidates involved in the parish.

When you get out of the classroom mentality and begin teaching the RCIA in the midst of the community, you will be shaping not just a group of people but an entire parish into lifelong disciples.

You need to be in this course if:

  • You want to get the entire parish on fire and involved in the RCIA process from beginning to end
  • You want to help all the baptized evangelize and become examples of discipleship for your catechumens
  • You want to learn an effective and simple method for teaching catechumens that connects the Catholic way of life to the dogmas and precepts of the church and inspires them to be witnesses to Christ in their daily lives
  • You want to implement a comprehensive, systematic, year-round, and complete catechesis for your catechumens and candidates…without overwhelming them or burning out you or your team
  • You want to honor the specific needs of each person and the abundant gifts the Holy Spirit gives to each of your parishioners
  • You want to get seekers started in formation no matter what time of year they show up at your door
  • You want your catechumens and candidates to become not name-only Catholics but lifelong disciples

Early bird price: $53.99 $39.99 only until June 15

Need more info? Click here

What you’re saying about TeamRCIA

Thank you for all you do in helping RCIA leaders better understand what RCIA is, and how to implement it. I have found your resources to be some of the most insightful I have found. Thank you again!

God bless,

Brian Hanson, MTS
Coordinator of Evangelization & Catechesis
RCIA resource highlight

Apprenticed to Christ: Activities for Practicing the Catholic Way of Life

by Jerry Gallipeau

Inspired by the principle that one learns how to be a Christian by doing what Christians do, Apprenticed to Christ provides catechists with ideas and resources for the "apprenticeship" of catechumens, candidates, and others participating in parish religious formation.


This hands-on method, the Church’s preferred approach for the catechumenate, is presented in a systematic, easy-to-use format based on the Liturgy of the Word for Sunday Mass, with activities suggested for each Sunday of the three-year cycle of readings. Recommended catechetical resources including the Catechism of the Catholic Church, conciliar documents, papal encyclicals, liturgical documents, and more help to link each suggested activity with the teaching of the Catholic Church.

A fresh and fruitful approach for those who work with catechumens, candidates, confirmation preparation, and both youth and adult religious formation.

Your pric
e: $16.95 $16.10


A complete catechesis for Christian life
Free sample of Faith, Life & Creed
Click button to learn more
Resources for your team
A Child’s Journey: The Christian Initiation of Children
Rita Burns Senseman


Price: $19.99 $18.99
Year-Round Catechumenate
Mary Birmingham


Price: $15.95 $15.15
 
 
 
 
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Photo credits: Emily Reider| Unsplash
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