Appendix B-2 Consultations with Parish RCIA Leaders
by Robert J. O'Donnell, CSP
Paulist Institute for Religious Research
Parish RCIA programs are varied in structure but with many common features. In a typical parish a program coordinator (staff member or volunteer) works with team members, recruits and/or trains sponsors, and provides for the needed catechesis of inquirers, catechumens, and candidates. Diocesan programs (as well as wider training opportunities such as those offered by the North American Forum for the Catechumenate) are prime source for formation of coordinators and some team members. Diocesan workshops (especially for team members) and parish training sessions (for team members and sponsors) represent another level of formation for RCIA ministers.
Almost without exception, parish leaders report that their RCIA catechesis is "lectionary-based," whether in connection with Sunday dismissal of catechumens or in other sessions. Frequently stressed is nurture and support of catechumens and candidates in their process of "conversion." A holistic approach is aimed at, involving experiences of prayer, reflection on Scripture, personal sharing, ritual celebrations, exploration of themes of Christian morality and daily living, involvement with the larger parish community, and opportunities for service.
At the same time, thorough and obvious efforts are regularly made to ensure a well-rounded catechesis of catechumens and candidates in the doctrinal content of faith. A few dioceses provide a list of topics for instruction and discussion, coordinated with the Sunday readings that are the focus of "lectionary-based" reflection and prayer. Most programs use supplementary resources (e.g., Catholic Updates, Journey of Faith, and others) that similarly connect doctrinal themes to the weekly Scriptures. Many programs provide for formal catechetical instruction on these topics by specially trained catechists or parish staff members (including pastors and associates) to offer a solid doctrinal foundation. This balance of process and content is a strong ideal and its implementation seems widespread and growing, if not universal. In a few instances, parishes work out joint provision for catechesis, with rites still celebrated in the home parish of the catechumens and candidates.
Unbaptized or uncatechized children are almost always formed and instructed in a separate juvenile process, given their distinctive interests and abilities. However, children are integrated with adults, especially when whole families are in the RCIA, for the rites. Diocesan training opportunities, especially for catechists, are well appreciated and are an important support for parish RCIA programs.
Reports from parish RCIA team members or leaders indicate that more than two-thirds of those in the RCIA are already baptized, mostly in other Christian communities; uncatechized baptized Catholics are also included. Post-Vatican Council II ecumenical theology and practice, along with the U.S. National Statutes for the Catechumenate, stress the distinction between these candidates for entry into the full communion of the Catholic Church (by Profession of Faith, Confirmation, and first Eucharist) and unbaptized catechumens preparing for initiation into the Church. At the same time, most parishes provide for the formation of these candidates for full communion in the same program and groups with catechumens preparing for Baptism as well as confirmation and first Eucharist. Logistics and personnel are one frequently given reason for combining these two groups. Their mutual support and formation, e.g., with those already Christian reflecting on their faith in Jesus Christ, is another. The provision of "combined rites" for these two different groups at the various stages of their journey recognizes on the liturgical level the presence of both catechumens and candidates among those becoming Catholic.
Parish leaders and team members similarly stress the importance of highlighting the dignity of the candidates' Baptism and being clear about the distinction between catechumens and candidates in word and ritual. On the other hand, they also point to the reality of a conversion process for both of these groups and the vastly disparate levels of knowledge and formation that characterize even the already-baptizedall pointing toward a parallel need and journey for both catechumens and candidates. Parish RCIA leaders stressed the importance of being attentive to the individual's need and journey and, within the limits of the requirements of the RCIA, adapting the process to these personal factors. Most parishes reported a process for candidates that combines them with catechumens, with due distinction of formation and rites, invited them to first Reconciliation (usually at a parish communal service) near the end of Lent, and welcomed them into the full communion of the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. In a few parishes, candidates were welcomed into full communion at other times (e.g., Easter Sunday or during the Easter Season or "when ready"). More than a few parishes noted that they were considering greater flexibility in their ministry with these already-baptized candidates. One-on-one instruction and reception of candidates was noted as an unsatisfying alternative. Some sentiment for truly separate processes for catechumens and candidates surfaced.
Most programs touch on ecumenical issues as these arise in discussion with candidates, e.g., the meaning of Baptism, differences among Christian churches, and what is held in common. Specific references is also made is some programs to the Second Vatican Council's Decree on Ecumenism and subsequent documents on ecumenism. As part of their involvement in parish life, some groups of catechumens and candidates experience ecumenical and interfaith prayer services and other joint activities.
The RCIA is a key dimension of Catholic evangelization but does not in itself exhaust all the richness of that mission as understood and undertaken by the Catholic Church. Inviting and attracting men and women to find or be more deeply converted to Christ in the Catholic communion of faith is a work of the Holy Spirit that takes many forms in the contemporary Catholic parish in the United States.
Parish outreach embraces the fundamental mission of inviting persons to know and live in Christ in his Catholic Church, as well as the specific invitation to pursue a faith journey of initiation into or entering into the full communion of the Catholic Church. Along with the quality and vibrancy of parish worship and social ministry, many Catholic parishes have pursued at least a few steps of invitational outreach; some engage in a wide spectrum of such evangelizing ministries.
Evangelization teams have been formed by some parishes to help the entire parochial community suffuse its spirit and activities with an evangelizing ethos. Neighborhood visitation, pew cards for visitors, parish fairs and socials, Bible study groups, small Christian communities, and Catholic inquiry classes represent just some of the means by which parish communities come into contact with men and women who are not yet Catholic and can share the lived reality and richness of Catholic life with them. Sacramental preparation (for Baptism or marriage) and Catholic schools present similar opportunities. Those involved with catechumens and candidates note that the largest portion come from the 20 to 35 year old range, the most likely time in the life cycle for church and religious commitment and for participation in these sacramental preparation programs.
The human impetus to consider joining the Catholic Church through the RCIA flows heavily through personal channels, through the influence and witness of spouses, family and friends and by their invitation or that of pastors and other parish ministers. Parish leaders report that a substantial majority of those in the RCIA have Catholic spouses or relatives. Pulpit and bulletin announcements, as well as ads in secular as well as Catholic newspapers, are additional means for wider invitation.
Continued growth in faith and integration into parish life for neophytes or those received into full communion is a concern. A few parishes have a mystagogia extending into the full year after initiation. Whether the formal mystagogia embraces the Easter Season or this longer period, it is important to offer specific avenues by which new Catholics can be nurtured in faith and involved in parish life. A small but significant number of parishes guide newly baptized or newly received Catholics into small Christian communities. Some invite them to serve (though in more supportive roles) those entering the Church the following year, e.g., joining in the liturgy for neophytes or hosting receptions for catechumens and candidates. Many parishes offer specific invitations to join in parish ministries through presentations by ministry coordinators during the mystagogia or by means of a parish ministry fair. Most of these parishes in fact try to invite and involve catechumens and candidates in parish activities and service, as appropriate, even earlier in the course of the RCIA process. A healthy stress on the mission of the baptized "in the marketplace" (as well as in parochial ministries) is also increasingly in evidence.
What deters or hinders potential Catholics from entering or completing the RCIA process? Difficulties connected with divorce/remarriage and annulment are almost universally mentioned. Opposition by family and friends is also a frequent deterrent. So too is the time commitment required for the RCIA and lack of schedule flexibility in the process. Some inquirers have difficulties with particular Catholic doctrinal or moral teachings.
Parish RCIA personnel would appreciate help in approaching annulment and marriage cases, recruitment and training of sponsors and team members, and with the mystagogia. They would appreciate wider implementation of and publicity for the RCIA and value their involvement in diocesan workshops and networks that support and prepare them in their ministry.
The RCIA process in most parishes (where implemented) follows a typical pattern, with all or most of the following elements present: initial contact and an interview with an inquirer, an inquiry phase of several weeks or longer, acceptance as a catechumen or welcome as a candidate, a catechumenate of several months or longer, parish sending and a diocesan Rite of Election at the beginning of Lent, scrutinies during Lent, a retreat (though only rarely on Holy Saturday), initiation at the Easter Vigil, a mystagogia period, often including the bishop's liturgy with neophytes.
While a majority of parishes have a (roughly) September to June process, an increasing number are aiming at an ongoing program able to welcome catechumens and candidates at any point during the year, giving catechumens a generally fuller period of preparation, and adapting the process to the needs and background of individual candidates. Only in rare instances of exceptional need are adult Baptisms celebrated at a time other than the Easter Vigil, but some parish ministers acknowledge the desirability of a more flexible schedule in celebrating the entry of already-baptized candidates into the full communion of the Catholic Church.
Liturgical celebrations of steps in the initiation process are generally done during parish Sunday liturgies, for acceptance of catechumens and welcome of candidates and the Lenten scrutinies. The parish sending of catechumens to the Rite of Election is likewise done at a parish Sunday liturgy, but with the Election itself almost always at a diocesan celebration. The handing over of the Creed and Our Father is done either at a special gathering or parish liturgy.
Common adaptations of the rites made on the parish level include provision for greater participation by the parish Assembly, accommodating the use of B and C cycle readings in Lent, use of more inclusive language, and adaptation of the scrutinies to cultural or personal contexts. Approaches to the possibility of combined rites for catechumens and candidates are varied: some parishes want to integrate these more thoroughly, others emphasize greater care in distinguishing the two groups, even to the point of separate celebrations for them. Many parish RCIA ministers express concerns not only about these combined rites but also about care in celebrating exorcisms and the scrutinies, use of language in intercessions and more generally, dismissal (especially in one-Mass rural parishes), and the year-long process. A rite for pairing sponsors with catechumens and candidates would be welcome.
Parish implementation of the RCIA has to strive constantly for fidelity: to the integrity of the process of conversion and initiation and its sacramental celebration and to the ministry of truly sharing the Good News of Christ with those seeking closer union with him in his Church.
The most dynamic parishes stress the importance of personal invitation and proactive outreach to draw men and women to the Lord and the community of faith. The quality of parish liturgy, preaching, commitment to service is integral to this outreach.
When inquirers present themselves for the RCIA, personal and individual attention is a key element of pastoral care, as is ongoing attentiveness to their faith stories and journeys. Hence the need for capable and dedicated team members and sponsors. The initial interview with potential catechumens and candidates is important not only to shape their future path of formation but also to surface potential obstacles such as divorce/remarriage and family hostility. Parish RCIA leaders express a need for diocesan direction and help especially in dealing with marriage cases.
The difficulties of potential new Catholics with inflexibility in the scheduling of the RCIA meetings points to a need for creative ways of reasonable accommodation to different persons' situations, within the boundaries set by the RCIA itself and while calling for commitment on the part of catechumens and candidates. Another kind of adaptability is called for in the formation and reception of already-baptized candidates. One of the ironies of current pastoral practice may be that great attentiveness to catechetical content (presented only by a limited number of qualified staff or team members) limits the number of different groups that can be scheduled to address these various needs.
Parish-level "adaptations" of the rites seem largely based on options offered within the RCIA ritual and statutes, with special sensitivity to cultural and personal differences and a legitimate desire to promote involvement of the larger liturgical assembly and parish in the rites. Language adaptations are a concern and a sensitive issue.
Trends toward a year-round RCIA into which someone can enter in any season and greater care in providing distinctive formation, pacing, and liturgical celebration for already- baptized candidates are evidence of well-grounded pastoral concern and adaptability.
While the period of mystagogia has its own integrative purpose on a spiritual and communal level, many parish teams stress invitation to and involvement of catechumens and candidates in parish activities and ministries throughout the RCIA process.