Resource Packet to Accompany the Guidelines for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and its Adaptations for Children

 

RESOURCES FOR THE PERIOD OF EVANGELIZATION

When the Church describes the beginnings of the formal process of Christian initiation it uses the term “Inquiry” to name what candidates for initiation do.  When it describes what the Church does in this part of the process it uses the term “Period of Evangelization.”  Among the key tasks of this period which assist people in their inquiry by evangelizing them are those shown below. Click on each task for a sampling of strategies and resources which parish teams in our diocese have used for the Period of Evangelization (Inquiry), as well as a special section on team formation and training. Strategies will be listed first, then resources, each followed by the name of the parish(es) which suggested them.

Forming community

Sharing stories

Beginning or deepening prayer Life

Beginning or deepening familiarity with the Scriptures

Asking and answering initial questions

Touring the church

Celebrating the Rite of Acceptance/Welcome

Team formation and training

 

Evangelizing Task: Forming community

Strategies

  • Specific encouragement to participate in everything the parish does – liturgy, social events, service, etc. (Christ the King, Iowa Park)
  • Someone on the team responsible for sending birthday cards, reminders of meetings, invitations to special events to all inquirers (many parishes)
  • Having a specific member or members of the team responsible for hospitality, including name tags, refreshments, introductions of new people, etc. (many parishes)
  • Provide copies of Maryknoll Magazine for inquirers to assist in developing a sense of the global dimensions of the community of the Church.

Resources

  • Serendipity Bible for Personal and Small Group Study; Serendipity House Publishing, 1988. (A bible in modern English translation which offers useful commentary and background as well as questions and small group exercises for helping people connect the Scriptures to their everyday experience.) 800-525-9563; www.serendipityhouse.com
  • Rituals and Ice Breakers; Kathleen Chesto, Sheed and Ward, 1995. (Simple directions for over 25 ice breaker activities and 30 rituals for prayer and community building.) 1-800-333-7373; www.bookmasters.com/sheed
  • Maryknoll Magazine, monthly periodical of the Maryknoll Mission Association of the United States (This handsome little magazine tells short, concrete stories of Christianity spreading the Gospel through service to the poor worldwide). 914-941-7590; www.maryknoll.org .

 

Evangelizing Task: Sharing stories

Strategies

  • Welcome interview, including gathering of pertinent information for possible marriage cases (many parishes)
  • Interview with parish priest prior to Rite of Welcome (St. Matthew, Arlington)
  • Incorporate the exchange of stories into every session with inquirers and sponsors and team (many parishes)

Resources

  • Quest: A Reflection Booklet for Small Christian Communities; The Pastoral Department for Small Christian Communities, Archdiocese of Hartford, published quarterly. (Lectionary based booklets with a format that includes opening and closing prayer, reflection questions on the Sunday readings, suggestions for action.) 860-243-9642; www.sccquest.org (St. Paul, Fort Worth)
  • A Catechumen’s Lectionary; Robert M. Hamma, Paulist Press, 1988. (Contains all the Scriptures for the three years of the lectionary cycle, as well as for holy days.) 800-218- 1903; www.paulistpress.com (numerous parishes)
  • Mining the Word. Office of Adult Formation, Diocese of Fort Worth. (A simple, two page format for helping a group to break open the word of scripture.) 817-560-3300; dluby@fwdioc.org
  • Word to Life    North Texas Catholic newspaper, twice monthly. (This feature appearing in each issue of the NTC gives a short reflection or illustration based on the readings of the following Sunday, and includes one or two questions for reflection and faith sharing.) 817-560-3300 for subscription information; also available on the web site of Catholic News Service, www.catholicnews.com.

Evangelizing Task: Beginning or deepening prayer life

Strategies

  • We ask them to pray daily, fifteen minutes at the same time every day, and to commit themselves to read some scripture every day (St. Thomas Aquinas, Pilot Point)
  • Incorporate spontaneous prayer for personal needs, intercessions for friends, family, public events, etc. into the sessions from the start (St. Matthew, Arlington; St. Jude, Mansfield; others)

Resources

  • Bible 2000, Vision 2000, Challenge 2000, Mission 2000;   Mark Link, RCL, 1999.  (These are excellent daily meditation booklets for the catechumens and candidates.  They contain a passage from Scripture and a message to ponder.)  800-688-8356; www.rclweb.com
  • Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers.  United States Catholic Conference, 1988.       (A collection of prayers and blessings for every occasion; for both inquirers and team.) 800-235- 8722 ; www.usccb.org
  • Handbook for Today’s Catholic; Ligouri Publications, 1994.  (A short, readable booklet that contains, along with lots of other things, several dozen traditional Catholic prayers; also available in Spanish.) 800-325-9521; www.ligouri.org
  • Living Faith Daily Catholic Devotion;  Living Faith Foundation, published quarterly.(This is a small prayerbook with the scripture readings for the day and a thoughtful reflection to ponder.) 800-325-9414;  www.livingfaith.com          
  • Prayers For the Domestic Church (1979); Pilgrim’s Almanac (1989); Prayers for a Planetary Pilgrim(1989);  Edward Hays, Forest of Peace Books. (3 books which provide prayers, reflections for every occasion both for inquirers and team.)  800-659-3227 www.forestofpeace.com 
  • The Rosary: Opening Our Hearts to the Mysteries of Faith, Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, CFR, Creative Communications for the Parish (Explains the mechanics of saying the rosary as well as the biblical and theological basis for its approach to prayer.)  800-325-9414 (St. Rita, Fort Worth)
  • Unity in Diversity: A Scriptural Rosary, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2001 (A leaflet which gives the prayers of the rosary, explains how to pray them, and reflections on each mystery in the light of  the rich cultural diversity of the human family. 800-235-8722; www.usccb.org .
  • Weekly Prayer Services for Parish Meetings;  Marliss Rogers, editor; Twenty-third Publications, 1995. (Based on the lectionary readings, each of these simple services incorporates a call to prayer, opening prayer, Scripture reading, and closing prayer.) 800- 321-0411; www.twentythirdpublicaitons.com .

 

Evangelizing Task: Beginning or deepening familiarity with scripture

Strategies

  • Break open the Word from the Sunday readings, either at a separate Sunday morning session or in conjunction with a weekly catechetical session (St. Frances, Granbury, Sacred Heart, Wichita Falls, many others)

Resources

  • At Home With the Word 2002,  Sunday Scriptures And Reflections;  Mary Katherine Deeley, LTP, 2001.  (Gives each Sunday's readings, a short commentary, two questions for reflection and faith sharing, and some illustrations of putting the scripture into practice.) 1-800-933-1800; www.ltp.org .
  • Catholic Study Bible; New American Bible translation.  Donald Senior, General Editor; Oxford University press, 1990. (The full text of the Bible in a Catholic translation used in the lectionary, with extensive notes, reference articles, cross references, glossary, etc.) 800-334-4249; www.oup-usa.org    (many parishes)
  • Lectionary Of Readings For Masses (most parishes)
  • Foundations in Faith: Precatechumenate Manual;  Resources for Christian Living (RCL), 1997. (Provides  lectionary based materials for inquiry.) 877 – 275-4725; http://www.rclweb.com/html/products/foundations.asp (St. Frances Cabrini, Granbury; St. Mary, Windthorst/St. Boniface, Scotland uses this as a team resource)
  • A Catechumen’s Lectionary;  Robert M. Hamma, Paulist Press, 1988.  (contains all the Scriptures for the three years of the lectionary cycle, as well as for holy days.)  800-218- 1903 (numerous parishes)

Task: Asking and answering initial questions

Strategies

  • Each inquirer is given a packet with basic information about schedules, resources, basic definitions, expectations, etc. (St. John the Apostle, Fort Worth; many other parishes)

Resources

  • Believing in Jesus: A Popular Overview of the Catholic Faith, by Leonard Foley; St. Anthony Messenger Press, 4th edition, 2001. (Readable, comprehensive overview of Catholic beliefs, traditions, practices, from our roots in the Hebrew Bible to the present day and beyond); 800-488-0488; www.AmericanCatholic.org  (Our Mother of Mercy, Fort Worth; St. Mary, Gainesville)
  • Catecismo Para Adultos: La Vida En Christo;  Gerard Weber & James Kilgallon , ACTA Publications, 1997. (Spanish version of an English classic.  An easy to read overview of Catholic teaching with good quotes from scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, etc; includes practical summaries.) 800-397-2282; www.cbpa.org/publisher/acta.htm  (All Saints, Fort Worth) 
  • Catholic Updates; St. Anthony Messenger Press (A series of four page leaflets that give  straightforward, up-to-date teaching on over 100 topic related to Catholic faith; easy to read, inexpensive, practical.) 800-488-0488; www.AmericanCatholic.org  ; (St. Mary, Gainesville, St. Andrew, Fort Worth; St. Patrick, Fort Worth; St. Rita, Fort Worth; many other parishes )
  • Come and See; Karen Albertus, St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2001. (Catechetical session outlines based on the lectionary and using Catholic Updates.) 800-488-0488; www.AmericanCatholic.org  (St. Mary, Gainesville)
  • Handbook for Today’s Catholic;  Ligouri Publications, 1994. (A short, readable booklet that contains, along with lots of other things, several dozen traditional Catholic prayers.) 800-325-9521; www.ligouri.org
  • Journey of Faith; Ligouri Press. (A series of 4 page leaflets containing reflection on the Sunday Scriptures and easily-understood information about Catholic beliefs and practices for those who are exploring the Catholic Church.)  800-325-9521; www.ligouri.org  (Sacred Heart, Wichita Falls)
  • Journey of Faith for Teens and Children; Ligouri Press, 1995. (A version of Journey of Faith series for young people.) 800-325-9521; www.ligouri.org  ( St. Matthew, Arlington)
  • Life in Christ; Gerard Weber & James Kilgallon, ACTA Publishers.  (An easy to read overview of Catholic teaching with good quotes from scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, etc; includes practical summaries.) 800-397-2282; www.cbpa.org/publisher/acta.htm   (St. Mary, Graham)
  • New Catholic Vision; Mark Link, SJ, Resources for Christian Living, 1996 (A series of 31 four page leaflets, plus catechist planning guide for each session, designed to communicate the basics of Catholic faith; include scripture references,  faith sharing exercises.)  800-822-6701; http://www.rclweb.com/html/products/foundations.asp  (St. Patrick, Fort Worth; St. Paul, Fort Worth; St. Matthew, Arlington)
  • Nuestra Fe Catolica; John Barry, Sadlier Inc., 1996. (A  bi-lingual text book summarizing basic Catholic beliefs in very simple, straightforward language.) 800- 221-5175; www.sadlier.com  (All Saints, Fort Worth)
  • The Seeker's Catechism: The Basics of Catholicism; Michael Francis Pennock, Ave Maria Press,.  (Readable, concise, and accessible introduction to the riches of the Catholic faith.) 800-282-1865, ext. 1; www.avemariapress.com  (St. Rita, Fort Worth)

Evangelizing Task: Touring the church

Strategies

  • Catholic Updates pertinent to church interior, etc.

Resources

  • Foundations in Faith Pre-Catechumenate Manual; Resources for Christian Living, 1999. (An invaluable resource for this period which includes the format of the weekly sessions, a tour of the church, and a question and answer session.) 800-822-6701.

Evangelizing Task: Celebrating the Rite of Acceptance/Welcome

Strategies

  • Retreat for Inquirers before the Rite of Welcome (St. Andrew, Fort Worth; St. Matthew, Arlington; St. Francis, Grapevine)
  • Family based retreat for inquirers and sponsors is offered before the Rite of Welcome (Holy Cross, The Colony)
  • Reception in the parish hall after the rite (many parishes)
  • Photo board  in prominent place of Rite and reception, labeled with names of new catechumens and candidates
  • Specific, repeated invitations to community members to introduce themselves to the new catechumens and candidates (St. Rita)
  • Provide a copy of the Rite of Welcome to all liturgical ministers in advance of the event – including priest, deacon, musicians, sacristans, lectors, ushers,  etc. (St. Rita)

Ongoing Need: Team, sponsor recruitment and formation

Strategies

  • Look to active, involved sponsors as a recruiting base for team members (St. Francis, Grapevine)
  • Support team members in participating in diocesan and other training (St. Francis, Grapevine)
  • Maintain a small library or books, videos, cassettes strictly for RCIA uses (team and/or inquirers) (St. Francis, Grapevine)
  • Send team members to training events sponsored by the North American Forum for the Catechumenate (www.naforum.org; 202/529-9493. (Good Shepherd, Holy Redeemer, Aledo; St. Mary, Windthorst, Colleyville; St.

Resources Church documents:

  • Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, Unites States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1988. (This is the indispensable resource for all parish teams, catechists, liturgists, priests, deacons – anyone with leadership responsibility for the initiation of adults or children aged 7 or older.  It contains not only the text of all the rites associated with initiation of adults but background material which explains and clarifies the entire process.) 800-235- 8722 ; www.usccb.org         (All parishes)

·Vatican Council II : Constitutions, Decrees, Declarations;  ed., Austin Flannery, OP, Costello Publishing Company, 1996; available from several publishers. (This is a modern translation of the documents from the second Vatican Council which , among other reforms to Church life, restored the use of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.  See especially the Dogmatic Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy.) 800- 858- 5450; www.liturgicalpress.com

  • Catechism of the Catholic Church, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1994. (The most up-to-date compendium of Catholic teaching, this formal and somewhat technical treatise on the Creed, the sacraments, the ten commandments, and the Lord’s Prayer is more useful as a background resource for catechists than as a text to be handed to inquirers.) (most parishes)
  • The General Directory for Catechesis, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1997. (The church’s official teaching on the goals and methods of passing on the faith to adults and others, it is the companion piece to the Catechism.) Available through the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Publications Office, 800-235- 8722 ; www.usccb.org       

 

Other resources

  • 2001 Sourcebook for Sundays and Seasons: An Almanac Of Parish Liturgy; Peter J. Scagnelli, LTP, 2001 (A treasure chest of information, instructions, ideas and common sense to help prepare communities' liturgies.) 1-800-933-1800 ; www.ltp.org (St. Rita, Fort Worth)
  • Catechumenate : A Journal Of Christian Initiation; ed. Victoria Trufano;  LTP,  six times a year.   (A supportive resource for anyone in the RCIA ministry.)  800- 933- 4213; www.ltp.org  
  • The Catechumenate and The Law : A Pastoral and Canonical Commentary for The Church in the United States; John Huels , LTP, 1995. (Covers aspects of Christian initiation that are affected by the church’s various sources of Canon law.  Helpful for marital dilemmas.) 800-933-1800; www.ltp.org.
  • Celebrating the Rites Of Adult Initiation; Victoria Trufano; LTP, 1986. (Historical, theological, liturgical, and pastoral perspectives on 11 rites of the process of Christian Initiation.   A good sourcebook of general information for the team. )   800-933-1800; www.ltp.org .
  • Come Follow Me   Resources For the Period of Inquiry in the RCIA;  Joseph Sinwell,    Paulist Press , 1990.  (Contains the goals of this period, addresses key questions arising early in the initiation process, and offers practical suggestions for sessions.)  800-218-1903; www.paulistpress.com .
  • Finding and Forming Sponsors and Godparents ; James A. Wilde, LTP, 1988. (65 pages of helpful information for sponsor coordinators, catechumenate directors, pastoral associates, pastors and catechists.)  800-933-1800’ www.ltp.org .
  • Guide for Sponsors;  Ron Lewinski, LTP,  1987.   (Helpful hints on what it means to be a sponsor, how to choose a sponsor, the stages of the catechumenate, and questions frequently asked by sponsors; 45 pages.)  800-933-1800; www.ltp.org . (St. Rita, Fort Worth)
  • How to Form a Catechumenate Team; Karen Hinman, LTP, 1986  (A 68 page booklet which is a valuable, practical resource for recruiting, forming, and maintaining this critical teamwork.)  800-933-1800 (St. Matthew, Arlington; St. Rita, Fort Worth)
  • Liturgical Catechesis; Pflaum Publishing Group (A very readable, helpful, bi-monthly magazine.) 800- 543- 4383, ext. 136; www.pflaum.com .  (St. Rita, Fort Worth)
  • One at the Table: The Reception of Baptized Christians; Ronald Oakman, LTP, 1996. (A valuable critique and vision of the way we bring baptized Christians into the full community of the church..) 800-933-1800.
  • RCIA -  The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults:  What It Is, How It Works; Patricia Barbernitz, Liguori Publications, 1983, (Presents the RCIA in a practical, pastoral way, with simple language and examples of the RCIA at work.).1-800-325-9521; www.ligouri.org  .  (St. Rita, Fort Worth)
  • RCIA, Team Manual   Patricia Barbernitz, Paulist Press, 1986. (This is a very helpful paperback  which contains 88 pages of session samples, liturgies, role descriptions, and interview formats.) 800- 218- 1903; www.paulistpress.com . (St. Rita, Fort Worth)
  • This Is Our Faith; Michael Francis Pennock, Ave Maria Press, 1998. (A faith primer which includes prayer suggestions and reflection./discussion question with each of its 22 chapters.) 800-282-1865, ext. 1; www.avemariapress.com  (St. Francis, Grapevine)
  • Welcoming the New Catholic; Ron Lewinski, LTP, 1994. (Excellent explanation to the initiation of adults; discusses stages and structures of the process, ministries needed, and answers the most commonly asked questions.)  800 933 4213; www.ltp.org .
  • Word and Worship Workbook for Year A, Year B, And Year C; Mary Birmingham,     Paulist Press, 2000.   (These 3 paperbacks offer a comprehensive liturgical, scriptural and catechetical resource designed to explore meaning and implication of the seasons, feasts and Sunday liturgies of each cycle.)    800- 218- 1903; www.paulistpress.com; or North American Forum on the Catechumenate, 202- 529-9493; www.naforum.org