“Why do I have to go to church?” I was feeling cranky, and my six-year-old self wasn’t having it. “Because I’m your mother, and I say so.” My mother wasn’t having it either. End of discussion. Sometime later, we had a similar dispute about my need to finish the now-cold lima beans on my dinner … [Read more...]
What is a catechumenal culture?
There is a story about an old fish that swims near a couple of teenage fish. As he passes by, he says, “Hey guys, how’s the water?” And then, as the older fish swims away, one of the young fish says to the other, “What’s water?” Trying to describe water to a fish is a little like trying to … [Read more...]
How do you know if your seekers are ready for the next step in the catechumenate process?
Shortly after I moved to California in 1992, there was a story in the local paper about a woman who landed at the airport thinking she was in San Jose, Costa Rica. She took a taxi to her hotel, went to bed, and only realized the next morning at breakfast that she was in San Jose, California. And she … [Read more...]
Are we supposed to judge the seekers’ intentions in the catechumenate process?
The new translation of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (which is not yet published), will make an interesting change to the ritual text in English. The current translation says that before inquirers can celebrate the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens, “sponsors, catechists, … [Read more...]
Why discernment—from the very beginning—is so important in catechumenate ministry
Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions. (Mt 19:21-22) The gospel story about the … [Read more...]
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