Diana and I recently led a Making Disciples Institute, and about half of the participants had been involved with catechumenate ministry for five years or less. One of the consistent comments we heard was how overwhelming the process seemed to be.

And it’s true. If you look at the whole scope of what the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults expects of the seekers, the catechists, the RCIA team members, and the parish, it’s a lot to take in. Discipleship is an enormous concept.

I am a big fan of breaking big concepts down into small, manageable ideas. When I was learning to ski, one of my instructors took me up to the top of a mountain. He told me to look down at the bottom of the mountain and asked me how I felt. I was terrified. Then he told me to look down at my skis and to look past them about three feet. He said just think about getting down about three feet. And after that, another three feet. And then another three feet. Easy!

We can think of managing the RCIA process in the same way. What is a small thing you can do right now that isn’t overwhelming? What will move you, your RCIA team, your seekers, and your parish three feet closer to effective discipleship? Here are a few things I thought of.

Your discipleship

(Choose one or two of these for your first three feet.)

• Add one prayer to your prayer routine. If you don’t have a prayer routine, say one prayer before you pour your morning coffee.
• Thank a wait person or cashier by name. If they aren’t wearing a name tag, ask their name.
• Forgive someone. If you can’t, then pray for the strength to forgive in the future.
• Read the next Sunday’s gospel before Sunday.
• Fast from meat this Friday.

Your RCIA team’s discipleship

(Choose one or two of these for your first three feet.)

• As a team (just the team; no seekers), share reflections on last Sunday’s gospel.
• Reflect together on paragraphs 4 and 5 of the RCIA.
• Commit to reading a spiritual book over the next month. If you can’t think of one, click here to see a list of over 100 possibilities.
• Share a meal together. During the meal, each team member shares something he or she is deeply grateful for.
• Choose one aspect of the RCIA process the team wants to improve on over the next 30 days.

Your seekers’ discipleship

(Choose one or two of these for your first three feet.)

• Ask your seekers to commit to daily prayer.
• Ask your seekers to commit to weekly Sunday Mass.
• Ask your seekers where they saw God this week.
• Ask your seekers to commit to one of the works of mercy this week.
• Ask your seekers to forgive someone this week. Or, if they can’t, to pray for the strength to forgive in the future.

Your parish’s discipleship

(Choose one or two of these for your first three feet.)

• Provide picture cards of the seekers, and ask each parishioner to take one and pray for that seeker.
• Ask the parishioners to sacrifice something this week (even though it’s not Lent).
• Ask the parishioners to donate this week to a cause that will relieve poverty.
• Ask the parishioners to commit to one of the works of mercy this week.
• Ask each parishioner to forgive someone this week. Or, if they can’t, to pray for the strength to forgive in the future.

Share your thoughts

What are some other small steps toward more effective discipleship can you take? Please share your ideas in the comments box below.