Nick Wagner is the cofounder and codirector of TeamRCIA.com.
As catechumenate ministers, our role is not only to guide others on their faith journey but also to nurture our own spiritual growth. In the midst of this busy ministry, finding moments of stillness, silence, and deep connection with God through contemplative prayer can be a transformative practice. In this article, I’m going to describe …
Nurturing contemplative prayer: A guide for catechumenate ministers
Every week at the bottom of the TeamRCIA newsletter, there is a question for you to answer. One of our readers, Joana, recently replied to this prompt: “Describe a specific encounter or conversation where you felt called to share your faith. How did you respond?” One of our priests had referred a young man to …
I have never met a catechumenate minister or team member who is not busy. Many of us are involved in more than just catechumenate ministry at the parish. Many of us are volunteers and have actual jobs out in the real world. And then there are other obligations like family, social life, and sometimes school. …
A significant part of our job as catechumenate ministers is to accompany catechumens on their journey towards full initiation into the church. Their initiation will include joining us for the first time at the Table of the Lord. While catechumens are not yet able to approach the eucharistic table, their participation in the Liturgy of …
Nurturing catechumens’ prayer life through active participation in the liturgy
On the journey of faith for the catechumens, the role of scripture in discernment holds tremendous significance. As catechumenate team members, it is our responsibility to model the importance of engaging with scripture as a source of guidance and inspiration. By incorporating scripture into our daily lives and discernment practices, we not only deepen our …
In a previous article, I wrote about using prayer to discern God’s will. In this article, I want to look at morning prayer as a powerful way to pray. In an ideal world, every Christian would begin the day with prayer. Of course, that doesn’t always happen. Nevertheless, as catechumenate leaders, we have a particular …
Embrace the power of morning prayer—for the sake of your seekers
We have been asking catechumenate leaders and team members how they discern God’s will. (Click here if you’d like to share how you discern.) The one theme that is consistent in almost every answer is “prayer.” This makes sense, doesn’t it? Prayer is an essential aspect of the life of a disciple. It is through …
Prayer as a pathway to discernment: Seeking God’s will in catechumenate ministry
The catechumenate is designed to train catechumens to become lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ. However, it’s easy to get caught up in delivering the curriculum and lose sight of the ultimate goal—the conversion of the catechumens. What we do matters, and if we are doing something that matters, that means we are creating change. So, …
Embarking on a journey of faith and seeking a deeper relationship with Christ is a profound and life-changing experience. The Rite of Acceptance plays a vital role in this conversion process. When we celebrate this rite with inquirers, they are changed from outsiders to insiders as the community embraces them as their own. But this …
From seekers to disciples: Unpacking the conversion journey within the Rite of Acceptance
In a previous article, we noted that what it means to be a “good Catholic” has changed. One clear marker of that change is the call to return to our roots from the early church and embrace a synodal way of living. In this article, I want to explore how we might apply the principles …
Embracing conflict in the catechumenate: a path to synodal living
