'The giant on the second floor' truly was a spiritual titan
The new school year started in 1958 at St. Joseph School in Evansville with news spreading that on the second floor a giant nun had taken up residence teaching the sixth graders! She was “tall, lean and mean!” Luckily, I was a “first floor” third-grader, s...Read full story »
Monday, September 01, 2014
Exploring more misunderstandings about the RCIA
This week, we continue our look at the RCIA. Another misunderstanding is that the goal of the RCIA is baptism. A high school student once approached me, after his younger sister was baptized, confirmed, and celebrated Eucharist on Holy Saturday, asking if he could be baptized.&#...Read full story »
Monday, August 11, 2014
Exploring parishioners roles in RCIA initiation
Many Catholics have the misunderstanding that initiating new members is the RCIA Team’s responsibility. The very first pages of RCIA ritual situate initiating new members squarely “within the community of the faithful;” and, the faithful are to “pro...Read full story »
Monday, July 28, 2014
Exploring more misconceptions about RCIA
Another common misunderstanding (of the Right of Christian Initiation for Adults) is that “Everyone comes to the Church at the same time and is initiated at the same time.” Nothing is further from the truth! Although we celebrated Pentecost weeks ago, three ad...Read full story »
Monday, July 14, 2014
Some common misunderstandings of RCIA
The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults is not a “program.” According to Paragraph Nos. 1 and 2 of the ritual, the RCIA is a “sacramental ritual of Christian initiation … which includes not simply the celebration of the sacraments of baptism, confirmation,...Read full story »
Monday, June 30, 2014
New members of Church need push to branch out
Some 15 years ago, either the North American Forum on the Catechumenate or the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate conducted a survey on how many Catholics who joined the Church through RCIA remained active members. The results were a shocking – 50% nationally. Ho...Read full story »
Monday, June 16, 2014
'Parking lot Mystagogy' reveals the touch of God grace
As a sacramental church, God’s grace is mediated through the person of Jesus, His Church and the sacraments. It has been impossible to meet personally with those who joined the Church this Easter to share where God’s grace touched them through the sacraments. However, we did...Read full story »
Tuesday, June 03, 2014
RCIA ritual emphasizes our need to welcome new members
Have you ever attended a new meeting or joined an organization by yourself without being accompanied by a friend or relative? If you are a gregarious, extroverted person, it’s easy for you to reach out, start conversations, and make new acquaintances and possibly friendships....Read full story »
Monday, May 12, 2014
Easter Vigil not the end for RCIA candidates
Holy Week became the “holiest week” for several new members of our parish this year. In remembering the historical washing of the disciples’ feet, Jesus’ crucifixion, his Passover from this life to the Father, and the glorious celebration of Easter, we tried to i...Read full story »
Monday, April 28, 2014
Learning to look at Lent in a new way
Thank God Lent is over! Now I can get back to eating my three pork chops instead of two; my chocolate cake, which I sacrificed for 40 days; not to mention my Cokes and Pepsis! I’ve attended enough extra daily masses that, in case I miss Sunday mass this year, I should be ta...Read full story »
Sunday, April 13, 2014
