RCIA Exploring the way we welcome in a group of parishes? “ Rediscover the journey in faith”

The Holy Spirit will come…

The experience we bring….. Vision? Situation in your diocese/area/ parish? Any track record for working in ‘cluster’ for RCIA?

What are your HOPES for those who come ‘knocking at the door’ making enquiry about becoming a Catholic? Doors of grace

As a COMMUNITY of Communities our S

Relationship Listening to voices different from our own The language we speak Treasures/insights

The HOPES held in the Rite…?

RCIA principles or ‘HOPES’ Apprenticeship in the Christian life, within the heart of the Christian community Work of God – gradual process RCIA 5 Conversion to Christ – discipleship Liturgical rites and liturgical year Preparation for a life of faith (love and service) RCIA 75, GDC 84 Everyone is involved /responsible RCIA 9 Not something we ‘do to’ people or ‘for’ people’ who come but WITH them, co-operating with God’s love

RCIA 75: Conversion to Christ through COMMUNITY LIFE LITURGICAL celebrations CATECHESIS – Word/Sunday SERVICE/outreach/social action Habits of disciple

STEP 1: Rite of WELCOME START EVANGELISATION getting to know Christ & his Church Final Preparation for Sacraments of Initiation Period of Post- Baptismal reflection lifelong CATECHESIS tuned to liturgical year STEP 2: Rite of Election 1 st Sunday of Lent

Group Exercise

St. Thomas Aquinas Parish is a Roman Catholic community of disciples working together for the glory of God and our spiritual growth in Jesus Christ. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we live and share the Gospel through worship, formation and service. Welcome to the St. Thomas Aquinas Parish website. We are three churches in one parish. Our three worship sites are: Our three worship sites are: Our Lady of the Rosary Church, St. Albert the Great Church and St. Thomas Aquinas Church and we are part of the Diocese of ……... Our Lady of the Rosary Church St. Albert the Great ChurchSt. Thomas Aquinas Church

St Thomas Aquinas Parish RC Our Lady of the Rosary RC St Albert the Great RC St George C of E St Mary CofE Blank this out please

In small groups 2’s, 3’s or 4’s What would you like to offer: Who, Where, When, How? Group A: Evangelisation/Pre-Cat Group B: Catechumenate Group C: Period of Lent Group D: Liturgical rites – where,when Group E: Mystagogy:

Wisdom in the room….

A: Evangelisation/Pre- catechumenate? Grace of God at work – no fixed length Happens ‘OUT THERE’ : notice! Listen to and tell stories On the doorstep (home, school, hospital, pub, shop, workplace …) focussed on need/questions of the Enquirer The Rite calls this the Period of Evangelisation: ‘Beginnings of the spiritual life and first Christian teaching…suitable explanation of the Gospel (RCIA 38, 42) Initial conversion to Christ… wanting to change their lives… enter into relationship : co-operate with God’s grace (RCIA 42) Start calling on God in prayer Community: Give evidence of the spirit of the Christian community, welcome them into their homes, into personal conversation,& community gatherings. (RCIA 9)

Evangelisation No Batteries Everyone feeling involved: Gospel living ‘Who is Jesus’ Rite of Acceptance 4 times a year HOLY SPIRIT at work

Consider Role of ‘buddies’ Role of catechists and sponsors Whole community – tell them to be aware and make introductions What about ‘candidates’? Variety of needs and pathways….? Local community – for informal on-going enquiry, adapted to enquirers

B: Catechumenate What did you find?

Bishop: God’s holy Church wishes to know whether these are sufficiently prepared to be enrolled among the elect for the coming celebration of Easter … Have they faithfully listened to God’s word proclaimed by the Church? Have they responded to that word and begun to walk in God’s presence? Have they shared the company of their Christian brothers and sisters and joined with them in prayer?

HOPES of the Church: “Suitable pastoral formation and guidance aimed at training them in the Christian life…” (RCIA 75) PROFOUND sense of the mystery of salvation in which they desire to participate Example and support of entire Christian community… learn to turn more readily to God in prayer… to follow supernatural inspiration Church ‘like a mother’.. Suitable liturgical rites… led into life of faith and worship… Enlighten… direct the heart towards God… foster participation… inspire … nurture a life completely in accord with the spirit of Christ Presentations of the Creed and Lord’s Prayer may be anticipated

Growth in personal relationship with God Alone And with others…

Catechumenate in Pastoral area… A MODEL … Year round – in central venue On that evening: Start together – common ground of wanting to belong and change their lives Split into groups: criterion = baptismal status –Catechumens: pre-baptism focus towards Easter –Uncatechised: through the lens of baptism ‘now I am awake’ End together: short feedback from each group – share insights. Close in Prayer Link to ‘own community’ on Sunday: we care about you!

RCIA Chapter 4 Uncatechised adults 376: conversion based on baptism already received – develop effects 377: faith infused in baptism to grow – suited to needs, in community, with rites to strengthen them 378: for most, corresponds to catechumens’ journey – taking into account special status as already baptised 383: some of the rites suited to needs (eg Presentation of Creed, Lord’s Prayer, book of Gospels) 384:co-ordinated with liturgical year 385: high point normally Easter Vigil… 386 mystagogy with newly baptised…

RCIA: Chapter 5 What about baptised Christians from another denomination? 387 –No greater burden than necessary is required for establishment of communion and unity 391 –Doctrinal and spiritual preparation, adapted to pastoral requirements, for reception into full communion –Never equate candidates for reception with unbaptised catechumens Thoughts: 1.People in the Pastoral Area assigned to accompany ‘baptised Christians’. Receive them when they are ready. Note: Be very sensitive and respectful of their journey to date and the treasure they bring. 2.Uncatechised baptised from another tradition – may benefit from a ‘catechumenal’ style journey.

C: Purification and Enlightenment ? The rite: LENT is a the time for amore intense spiritual preparation 125: for all community – reminder of baptism already received For catechumens – final preparation for sacraments of Initiation For uncatechised adults: final preparation for Confirmation Gospels of Year A – in scrutinies: prayer that uncovers and heals, strengthens, comforts. Valuable for ALL

D: When and Where will the various liturgies be celebrated? THOUGHTS, COMMENTS…? Rite of Acceptance Rite of Welcome Celebrations of the Word, Presentations, blessings etc… Rite of Election Scrutinies Sacraments of Initiation

E: Mystagogy: post-baptismal catechesis 234: time for community and neophytes together to deepen grasp of paschal mystery ( through meditation on Gospel, Eucharist, charitable works) 236: should experience full and joyful welcome and enter into closer ties with other faithful 237 main setting is Sunday Masses of Easter Season Monthly gatherings at pastoral area level Meet on Sundays at local level A diocesan gathering/celebration with the Bishop

Hopes & Opportunities: RCIA….in multi-parish setting Respect for the individual journey Good use of resources across all churches in the wider parish/pastoral area Everyone plays to strengths – does a bit Year round welcome Distinct ‘groups’ helps discernment about readiness to move on Greater impact on wider community and local community – deepen relationships

Practical? Appropriate training – simple, direct, accessible, encouraging A Co-ordinating team? Identify & BUILD your team Distinguish between catechumens and candidates

Challenges? See it as development, not loss ! Territorial? Foster interdependence - each local community brings gifts to the wider pastoral community Active involvement of clergy essential Active involvement of key lay people Encourage WHOLE COMMUNITY to see that they ARE involved through their lives Clear thinking and communication to all – Holy Spirit precedes, accompanies and brings to completion God’s work! Celebrate LITURGIES well in each local community

Thank you

“ Rediscover the journey in faith”

Deus Incubat Anguem If I say “surely the darkness will hide me, and the light become night around me… even the darkness will not be dark to you, the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you”. Ps 139:11-12 We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed. 2 Cor 4 My grace is sufficient for you – my power is made perfect in weakness.. 2 Cor 12:9

Buried Treasure Connections with our experience can be buried beneath layers of traditional interpretation – need to listen with head, heart, and imagination too. Pre-verbal, pre-rational (pictures, stories, dreams, symbols,rituals) Helps us to see the Big Picture – not being “half-witted” about it.

Swimming upstream – the Scriptures and the process “They are the everlasting oracles of life. They have to be questioned and consulted anew with every age, each age approaching them with its own variety of ignorance and understanding, its own set of problems and its own inevitable questions……

….The replies already given cannot be made to serve us. The powers have to be consulted again directly – again and again. Our primary task is to learn not so much what they are said to have said, as how to approach them, evoke fresh speech from them, and understand that speech.” Heinrich Zimmer, on the sacred texts, in “The King and the Corpse”

Cultivate 2 attitudes: Openness to hearing what we have not heard before Willingness to let biblical people speak with their own voices – hear them afresh “let me see with new eyes so that I may not pass by these people… open my ears to hear their voices.. Let the power of their lives become a grace in my own” –Tina Beattie, Workshop: Discipleship and Women in the Church in the New Millennium

Faith that is KNOWN Believed Celebrated Lived out Within the life of the community and the heart- beat of the liturgical year Unfolding of the Paschal Mystery

Evangelisation Catechumenate Purification… Liturgical rites Mystagogy