Jesus leads, Parish follows

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Jesus leads, Parish follows

• Strategies for unlocking each persons journey
• The pre-catechumenate
• invitation to hear each others stories
• deepening the relationship with Christ
• moved towards discipleship
• building the Kingdom of God

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• Session 4
• Lectionary Based Catechesis
• Liturgy Based Catechesis
• Instructional Based Catechesis
• Combining the three
• After the enquiry phase and the Rite of Welcome
  or Acceptance is complete the candidates and
  catechumens begin their formation in their
  journey.

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• Within each stage of the journey there exists a
  deepening understanding of
• Kerygma awakening relationship with Christ
  deepening awareness of Christ in daily life and
  practice conversion of mind and heart to Christ
  growing faith in Trinitarian nature of God.
• Evangelia familiarization with Christian
  teachings gradual catechetical instruction to
  incrementally expand understanding of Church
  teachings intra-relation of Christian teachings
  through conversion process.
• Koinonia sense of community celebrating faith
  in community support of community in journey of
  conversion, i.e. PP, RCIA team, sponsors, parish,
  family, involvement of all Baptized through the
  RCIA journey (representative/ growing familiarity
  and recognizing community of faith etc.
• Leitourgia prayer-personal, community,
  liturgical liturgical seasons/year unfolds
  growing discernment/awareness/desire to
  participate in sacraments.
• Diakonia initial enquiry into the Catholic
  community of faith bearing witness through
  community belonging service of others as natural
  in accepting full participation in community of
  faith live each moment sacramentally

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Liturgy Based Catechesis

• Liturgy can never be a closed ritualUnless each
  member of the assembly lives the ritual moment in
  their daily lives, the content of the celebration
  is reduced.
• (Joyce Zimmerman)

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• The Liturgical celebrations of the RCIA along the
  journey of conversion, identify the deepening
  faith in God liturgy reflects the strengthening
  relationship with Jesus that is recognized and
  demonstrated.
• Liturgy creates a public forum through which the
  whole Church participates in the celebration and
  thanksgiving of conversion, which incorporates
  the life of the parish community in the RCIA
  journey.
• Liturgy as celebration of Christ in a community
  of faith offers understanding and challenge to
  the catechumens/candidates, since the meaning of
  relationship with Christ is not a private affair
  but a public event to be celebrated.
• Liturgical ritual actively engages
  catechumens/candidates in the ancient rites of
  the Church and reveals the living tradition of
  Catholicism while inviting them to be part of
  this continuous faith journey of which we are all
  travelers on our path home to God The Father.

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The Rite of Acceptance/Welcome41, 42

• This is the 1st public rite that welcomes
  catechumens and candidates into the Church
  community.
• The Catholic faithful, who up until this point
  may not be aware that the journey of conversion
  has begun for members of their local community,
  recognize the evangelization taking place amongst
  them. This offers hope to the Catholic faithful
  who unconsciously live out their Christian faith
  in quiet example, possibly touching peoples
  lives through this contact or may even challenge
  their perception of actively living the Gospel
  message to reflect their faith.
• This public liturgy demonstrates The Churchs
  acceptance and welcome of catechumens and
  candidates, while enabling an opportunity for
  Gods grace to be poured out on those members
  beginning the period of formation and learning
  more about Christ.

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The Rite of Election/Enrolment 105 106

• This is the 2nd public rite that draws to a close
  the period of formation.
• The term Election, refers to those on the RCIA
  journey of conversion who are elected by God,
  which the Church on earth serves to formalize
  this Divine calling. It is at this Rite that the
  catechumens and candidates meet the Bishop in
  Rite, which acknowledges the universal fellowship
  of Catholic belonging.
• The Rite of Election is a doorway to the next
  phase of intense scrutiny.
• The beginning of Lent is the perfect time in the
  Liturgical calendar to commence this intense
  final stage towards receiving the Sacraments of
  Initiation since all the faithful travel this
  journey of reflection, redemption and draw closer
  to God through penitence, abstinence, and good
  works.
• Supported by godparents, sponsors and catechists,
  the catechumens and candidates present themselves
  as ready to begin this final period towards the
  Easter Vigil to receive the Sacraments of
  Initiation.

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The Scrutinies

• Solemnly celebrated through Sunday Liturgies in
  Lent
• Their intention is designed to uncover, and then
  heal all that is weak, defective or sinful in the
  hearts of the elect. RCIA 128
• They are designed to seriously examine the lives
  of the elect in seeking true repentance.
• Three Scrutinies Gospel Year A
• The Samaritan woman at the well
• The light of the world Gospel of the man born
  blind
• The Resurrection and the Life Gospel of Lazarus

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Presentations RCIA 134

• The Creed is presented to The Elect in the week
  following the 1st scrutiny
• The Lords Prayer is presented to The Elect in
  the week following the 3rd scrutiny

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Examples of Lectionary Based Catechesis

• Prayer
• Knowledge
• Gospel
• Community
• celebrating The Word
• familiarity with the lectionary cycle
• context of the Liturgical Year.

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Lectionary Based Catechesis

• The Word is central to the heart of the RCIA
  conversion journey
• The Liturgy of the Word is known as The Mass of
  the Catechumens since they can fully participate
  in this part of The Mass
• RCIA 82 To implant in their hearts the
  teachings they are receiving
• i.e. morality forgiveness sense of sin and
  repentance Christian duties, responsibilities
  and privileges prayer community worship and
  gathering

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Lectionary Based Catechesis cont

• Connects The Word and the living experience
  with relevance to today.
• The Liturgy of The Word is presented in a manner
  that is relational to the catechumen and
  candidate.
• It presents the Divine message in a practical
  manner for living the Gospel teaching today.
• The Good News has a continuous relevance for
  todays life.
• The Gospel is a handbook to introduce the life of
  Jesus to the RCIA in a gradual unfolding that
  converts the heart within.
• The Lectionary offers digestible progressive
  Scripture passages for the RCIA to discuss and
  reflect on.
• The Lectionary also provides the link to
  Liturgical practice the obligation of Mass
  attendance and the Liturgical seasons can be
  gradually explained to build understanding.

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Instruction based catechesis

• Brainstorm activity
• Instructional based catechesis sometimes uncovers
  areas of impediments and unease areas we may
  feel uncomfortable to discuss areas that
  challenge the views of the catechumens and
  candidates. Although we are living hospitality
  and sharing faith in the RCIA journey, our
  mission is to responsibly and accurately share
  the truth of Christ.

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Meeting plan

• Time allocation?
• Time allocation?
• Time allocation?
• Time allocation?
• What time do you plan the meeting to finish?
• Remember
• hospitality of
• coffee/tea/supper

• Prayer relational to Lectionary reading?
• Reading sharing the Liturgy of the Word
• RCIA group sharing What did
• the catechumens and candidates
• understand in the Readings? How is it relational
  to
• their lives? How will you guide the discussion?
• What instruction regarding tenets of
• Catholic faith/tradition/practice link to the
  Gospel
• message?
• How will the meeting close?
• Is there take home reading material?
• What reflective consideration would you like the
• catechumens and candidates to make during the
• week if any?