I am struggling with finding a new source for children’s catechumenate. Can you help?
 
 
 
 
I understand your frustration. There is not much available. Here is what I’ve used in various situations over the years. As you well know, you have to pick and choose what fits your children and their families. So, it’s not too “user friendly.” A few ideas:

Journey of Faith is a set of pamphlets for the various periods from Ligouri Press. The caution is you can’t just use them week to week and then when you get through a series, you’re done — onto the next period. For example, you have to choose a “catechumenate pamphlet” that fits with the Liturgy of the Word for that day.

God is Calling is a box set of materials from St. Anthony Messenger Press. It’s intergenerational and great for family sessions. Has some “minimal adaptation” for children’s catechumenate.

Living the Good News is a lectionary-based catechesis resources, but it is only published three seasons of the church year.

Perhaps some other folks will chime in with ideas.

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What is the church’s position on baptizing adults that are traveling often and do not have time for a formal RCIA program? They are aware of all Catholic precepts but lack the formal baptism and confirmation but faithfully seek these sacraments. Any help would be appreciated.

This is a great question that sends us back to the ritual text, The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, to seek guidance for a real, practical, pastoral situation of someone seeking sacramental initiation. This traveling catechumen is not alone! Many parish communities include those whose work takes the away from home on a regular basis.

The obvious answer is that the “church’s position on baptizing adults” is the full implementation of the RCIA. Other than in the exceptional circumstances addressed in Part II of the Rite, the norm always includes a period of evangelization (or pre-catechumenate), the catechumenate, a time of purification and enlightenment, all leading to full sacramental initiation at the Easter Vigil. Nowhere does the rite call for a “formal program.”

To answer this question adequately and with fidelity to the rite, we must turn to the intent of each period of formation and make application to the situation of the individual who travels often and may not be able to gather with a home parish group on a regular basis.

Essential elements of formation

Paragraph 42 of the RCIA asks us to look far beyond Catholic precepts (with which the individual you describe is familiar) to issues of true conversion: evidence of faith, intention to change her or his life, a strong living, loving relationship with God, a sense of sin and repentance, a prayer life, and a sense of the church. If these qualities are “alive and well” in your inquirer, then he or she is ready for the catechumenate. The Rite of Acceptance should be celebrated in the home parish at a time when this catechumen can participate fully.

Remembering that the purpose of the catechumenate is apprenticeship into a life of discipleship, we turn then to paragraph 75 of the RCIA, which outlines the essential elements of formation for a catechumen:

• formation in the Word and solid catechesis based on the Word
• participation in the community
• active participation in the liturgy
• and apostolic witness and service

Think outside the “classroom”

None of these is time or place bound! Therefore, some out-of-the-box or, more appropriately, “out-of-the-classroom” thinking needs to happen so that some creative solutions for this situation may be discovered.

Some important considerations for the traveling catechumen include:

• Does she or he have a well-formed sponsor with whom there is a strong, consistent relationship and communication?
• Does the catechumen participate in the liturgy of the Word (and dismissal rite if available) on a regular basis regardless of what town or city she or he is in?
• Is there a catechist, team member, or sponsor who maintains regular online communication with the traveling catechumen to share reflections on the Word, discuss questions or concerns, share insights?
• In what ways is the traveling catechumen serving the community of the church and the world as a Christian disciple?
• When the catechumen is in her or his home parish, how is she or he involved in the life of the community? How and when are her or his stories of living the life of discipleship with its challenges and opportunities being heard and received by the home community? What support can she or he expect from the home community?
• With whom does the catechumen reflect on and discern her or his journey of discipleship and call to full sacramental initiation?
• When the catechumen enters into the period of purification and enlightenment as one of the elect, does the home parish make arrangements for her or him to celebrate the scrutinies in the parish to which travel takes her or him?
• Does the catechumen have a commitment to celebrating the Rite of Election in the home diocese and sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil in the home parish?

Focus on relationship

I wonder if the traveling catechumen isn’t somehow a sort of prophet in our midst calling us to look again at what we do and why we do it. Are we so used to or comfortable with the organization of parish programs that we miss the very essence and purpose of the catechumenate, the formation of faithful disciples? Jesus met his disciples where they were—in a tree, at the taxation bureau, by a well, near a lake, or in the dark of night—and began an intimate relationship with them in their particular time and circumstances, gradually drawing them into a share in his own mission. In his name, this is our task, too, whatever it takes.

I have approximately ten children of various ages that have either been baptized only or have not been baptized. What is your recommendation on the process for initiating them and receiving them into full communion? Right now I put them in the appropriate grade and then work with them. How often should we meet and for how long?

The children who are not baptized and are older than age seven would definitely be fully initiated according to the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (see nos. 252, 253, 304, 305, National Statute 18). Their formation should also following the general pattern of the catechumenate, which means they should participate in the RCIA as adapted for children.

The children who have been baptized may or may not participate in the RCIA, depending upon their previous religious formation. Take time to discern whether or not these children really need a complete catechumenal process. If they “did not receive further catechetical formation” after baptism, then according to no. 400 of the RCIA, they should participate in the RCIA. If however, they were baptized (especially if they were baptized Catholic), but just missed religious education along the way, they may do well to be put in your religious education program. Then, you can just work with them to prepare them for the sacraments they need.

However, if all or most of these ten children need some form of catechumenal formation, I suggest you follow no. 255 of the RCIA and “form a group of children who are in the same situation.” A children’s catechumenate group such as this must distinguish that some of the children are baptized. In addition to forming a children’s catechumenate group, you may find that some of the children want or need to be with their peers in the regular religious education program.

One more point to consider is the diversity in ages of the children. It sounds like you may have a wide variety of ages in your catechumenate group. A family-centered approach to children’s catechumenate is a great approach to initiation ministry and it helps to diminish the difference in ages among the catechumens. Also, the RCIA tell us that the children’s initiation “depends” on their parents (nos. 252, 254). Thus, when you do family-centered catechumenal ministry, you are following the guidelines of the RCIA and addressing the issue of age diversity among the candidates.

Summary

Although you will need to discern what is best for the children in each particular circumstance, here is a brief summary of what I’d recommend:

1. Discern what type of formation each child needs.
2. Form a children’s catechumenate group for those who need full initiation and a full catechumenal process. These children and their families would participate in the various periods of the RCIA: precatechumenate, catechumenate (including dismissal from Sunday liturgy), purification and enlightenment, and mystagogy.
3. Do family-centered initiation ministry.
4. The children may or may not attend your regular religious education program, depending upon their catechetical needs.
5. The unbaptized children would be fully initiated at the Easter Vigil, though it may not be the Easter Vigil this year! It may take a longer period of time. The baptized children would probably receive the sacraments at a time other than the Easter Vigil, although that depends on the pastoral situation and their family circumstances.

For more guidance on this topic, read Chapter 1 in Part II of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.

• Do child catechumens need both RCIA and religious ed classes?
• The key to adapting the RCIA for children
• How to prepare baptized, uncatechized Catholic children

My understanding is that in the children’s catechumenate, peer companions over the age of reason could be confirmed along with the catechumens. Is this true?

Yes, it is a possibility. According to the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, “Baptized children of the catechetical group may be completing their Christian initiation in the sacraments of confirmation and the eucharist at this same celebration” (308).

The rite continues by reminding us that if the bishop is not the celebrant for this celebration, then the bishop must grant the faculty to confirm the baptized Catholic children. Paragraph 256 also says that “if possible,” the baptized companions are to receive confirmation and eucharist with the catechumens.

In addition, there are other considerations for the question of peer companions possibly being confirmed with child catechumens. The rite tells us that the initiation of child catechumens “should preferably” take place at the Easter Vigil (check paragraphs 256, 304, and the National Statutue, 18).

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At the same time, the rite provides for a celebration of the sacraments of initiation with children that is outside the Easter Vigil (see paragraphs 309-329). Here, the rite describes a celebration where the candidates for initiation (317) are fully initiated and the “previously baptized children of the catechetical group” are confirmed and celebrate the eucharist (322, 329).

Notice, however, that in this instance, the bishop is the celebrant. So, if your parish priest is the celebrant in such a celebration, remember he must have permission to confirm the Catholic children.

All in all, paragraph 256 highlights two of the most considerations: the primacy of the Easter Vigil for initiation and the needs of the children.

• Do child catechumens need both RCIA and religious ed classes?
• The key to adapting the RCIA for children
• 5 principles for adapting the RCIA for children

(Note from Nick: I asked Rita Burns Senseman to answer a question we recently received. She is a leading expert in children’s initiation. Thanks Rita!)

Should young people in the RCIA attend regular religious education classes in addition to the catechesis and programs they take part in with the RCIA?

It depends. In most instances, if your parish has a well-developed RCIA for young people,then there is no need for them to participate in regular religious education. Besides, it is often “too much” for a catechumenal family to attend all RCIA sessions, which include Sunday dismissal from the Liturgy of the Word, in addition to regular religious education.

However, the complete answer to this question depends upon discerning what the individual child and family really need to complete the process of initiation and conversion (see RCIA 253). The first step is to talk with the child and the parent or guardian and determine what type of formation the child needs and how this fits with what your parish has to offer. For example, if a fifth grade child is truly uncatechized and has very little religious formation, it may be unwise to have the child join a fifth grade religious education class. Such “classes” are designed for baptized, catechized Catholic children. The child may be better served in a catechumenal group with other children, their Catholic companions (RCIA 252, 254), their parents (RCIA 252, 254) and possibly some sponsors.

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On the other hand, if your parish does not yet have a well-developed children’s catechumenate, the child may need to be part of some regular religious education in order to have interaction with baptized Catholic peers (RCIA 254.1, National Statutues 19). Another issue to consider in the discernment process is the age of child. Although it may be unwise to have an uncatechized fifth grader in regular religious education, it may be fine for a first grader. A younger child may feel very comfortable in a first grade catechetical session.

In addition, when discerning what is the best pathway for the child, consider her or his previous religious formation. If the child is already evangelized and somewhat catechized, they may not need a precatechumante. And, if the child is fairly well catechized, they may feel very comfortable in the parish catechetical program. For example, if the child has been coming to church for years, but has not been baptized, it may be appropriate for them to attend parish religious education, in addition to the RCIA sessions.

In the end, it depends on the needs of the child. There is no easy answer. It’s not a “one program fits all.” Discernment is the key.

We have a new pastor, and he told us that we are not supposed to be confirming adult Catholics at the Easter Vigil. If confirmation is an initiation sacrament, what’s wrong with celebrating it at the Vigil?

Your question raises a larger issue of who should be celebrating sacraments at the Easter Vigil. I’ve seen group weddings celebrated at the Vigil because the couples were being “initiated” into married life. Simply attaching the word “initiation” to a sacrament does not automatically mean is needs to be celebrated at the Vigil.

Primary purpose of the Easter Vigil

The Easter Vigil is primarily for the initiation of unbaptized adults. If you turn to RCIA 23, you’ll read, “The celebration of the sacraments of Christian initiation should take place at the Easter Vigil itself.” There are exceptions, but initiating unbaptized adults at the Vigil is the norm.

Children of catechetical age are considered “adults” for the purpose of the rite, but the Easter Vigil norm is a bit more flexible if they are under 14 years of age. Turn to paragraph 304 in the section on adaptations for children: “[C]elebration of the sacraments of initiation should preferably take place at the Easter Vigil or on a Sunday…” (emphasis added).

That’s really about it for the norm—the usual situation envisioned by the RCIA. Every other situation is some kind of an exception. Unfortunately, in some places, the exceptions are starting to become the norm. Let’s look at some of them.

Read the rest of this entry »

What should we do with people who just want to be baptized without participating in any formation sessions or rituals? Some people are shy and do not want to be put on the spot. Should we just baptize them because they desire it, or do we put them through an individual program, ignoring the benefits of the community? Or do we just let them walk away as they go looking for another church?

My suggestion would be to first assign a very strong, trust-inspiring sponsor to such person. The sponsor’s job would be to be constantly present and reassuring to the seeker.

You might also adapt the way you hold your catechetical sessions so the seeker never feels put on the spot. For example, the seeker, the sponsor, and a couple of parishioners who are friends of the seeker (or will become friends of the seeker) might meet regularly for coffee and talk about questions the seeker has.

That might go on once a week for several months until the seeker feels ready to share some thoughts with a little bit larger group. When the seeker is finally ready to take the next step, the Rite of Acceptance could be celebrated at a smaller Sunday liturgy, like the early morning Mass or the Saturday evening Mass. If even that is too scary, it could be celebrated at a weekday Mass.

I think part of the seeker’s spiritual journey has to be to find a way to share his or her faith publicly, even that sharing is in very small and safe environments. The reason to baptize, after all, is to initiate catechumens into the mission of sharing the gospel with others.

What do others think? How have you handled a shy seeker?

Do you have any recommendations for “some sort of celebration” at the end of the Easter season that the RCIA mentions in paragraph 249? Our parish has traditionally done a “commissioning,” a blessing prayer over the neophytes by the community at the end of mass on Pentecost. Does it need to be on Pentecost or is the following Sunday fine?

I don’t think there is a specific guideline for the celebration mentioned in paragraph 249. My sense is that the Rite means simply a party—a parish pot luck or reception after Mass, perhaps. I would think it could include a blessing prayer over the neophytes, but I would be reluctant to call it a “commissioning.“ I would worry that might diminish their initiation as their “great commission.” If you are going to pray a blessing over the neophytes at Mass, it seems like Pentecost would be the ideal Sunday. If you are going to offer the blessing at the party, any Sunday near Pentecost, before or after, would be appropriate. The following paragraph in the RCIA notes that the neophytes from the previous year be brought together to give thanks to God on their anniversary. It might be a joyful moment for those who are ending their neophyte year be at the party also to be witnesses to those who are about to begin their neophyte year.

How about the rest of you? Any suggestions for or examples of implementing RCIA 249?

What do you do when an inquirer wants to get to the “nitty-gritty” about the Catholic Church and “God” and does not really want to faith share or hear other’s stories about God in their life?

In the precatechumenate, the inquirer sets the agenda. So I’d answer whatever questions he had, nitty, gritty, and otherwise. If he wants to get baptized, he will eventually need to learn to grow in and share his faith. It is a prerequisite for celebrating the Rite of Acceptance. See paragraph 42. He can remain in the precatechumenate for a long as he needs to, asking whatever questions he needs to. However, until he shows the beginnings of a spiritual life, he cannot be a candidate for the Rite of Acceptance.