Do you remember the Third Sunday of Lent in 2020? Most of us celebrated Mass that day, and many of us celebrated the first scrutiny with the elect. And for most of the parishes in the United States, that was the last time we would be in church together for a very long time. The …
Q. We have both child and adult catechumens who are asking if they can just be baptized and then continue on with their formation to celebrate confirmation and eucharist when they are ready. Is that possible? A. For both unbaptized adults and children who have reached the age of reason, when they are ready to …
Q&A: Can a catechumen be baptized and then wait on confirmation and eucharist?
The 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time Background: The Sermon on the Mount continues; we are once again being taught the basics of life in God’s kingdom/reign. And they are not about kosher ordinances or other do’s and don’t’s but about love in action—which is why this selection from Isaiah was chosen to parallel this Gospel. …
There is a famous Van Gogh painting titled Irises. The frame is dominated by dozens of beautiful blue irises. And off to the left, almost as if it is being pushed out of the picture, is a single white iris. Some might say the white iris doesn’t fit, yet somehow it does. If you are …
Today we’ll examine three places we can adapt from where the norm is given, three places where we can and should make adaptations, three places where you must adapt the text, and three places where you cannot adapt or divert from the norm provided. How does this sound like what happens in your parish? Share …
Sometimes we can feel overwhelmed by all there is to do in initiation ministry. At times, I’ve been the only person on the catechumenate “team.” Even parishes blessed with larger teams can feel like there is always more to do than people to help. How in the world are we going to manage it all? …
We’ve all seen images of sailboats racing through the water, tipped way over to one side, looking like they are about to capsize. I don’t know how the sailors keep their boats afloat like that. To me, it looks like magic. But I do know how to tip liturgies into the wind. Just as a …
Three principles for adapting the rites of the catechumenate
The 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time Background: Ordinary Time gets its name because each year one of the three synoptic gospels is read “in order” starting with the Baptism of the Lord which marks the end of the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany season and going on through 34 Sundays to Christ the King. Only Lent-Easter-Pentecost interrupt the steady …
Reflection Questions for RCIA Seekers: Year A – The 2nd through 4th Sundays of Ordinary Time
The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle may be the father of the New Year’s resolution. Legend has it that he made a resolution to become more virtuous and then kept a daily journal to track his progress. The legend doesn’t say if he reached his goal, but we do know that it is difficult for most …
Adaptation is an important concept in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Paulist priest and liturgist, Ricky Manalo, says liturgical adaptation is like Thanksgiving dinner. Preparations usually do not begin with decisions about appetizers or salads, but with the main course, turkey. The next decisions probably concern stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy, then vegetables …
What does the Rite (Order) of Christian Initiation of Adults say about adaptation?
