Catechumenate

But the point is sometimes overlooked that the restored RCIA is much broader than a sequence of sacraments: it entails a dynamic of conversion marked both by ritual and intense catechetical efforts--the catechumenate. The purpose of this entire order or catechumenate is to prepare for and help elicit the act of faith, which is both personal and communal (ecclesial) and which is intrinsically linked with the sacrament of baptism.

John McCloskey, the Opus Dei priest whose catechumenate program for conservative Washington powerbrokers is credited with facilitating the conversions of such notables as failed Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork, columnist Robert Novak, conservative book publisher Alfred Regnery, economist Larry Kudlow, one-time New York gubernatorial candidate Lewis Lehman, abortion doctor-turned-pro-lifer Bernard Nathanson and disgraced Tyco International counsel Mark Belnick.

To take but one example, one cannot study the sacraments of initiation without reference to the liturgical year and to the rites of the catechumenate. Thus manuals such as L'Eglise en Priere,(4) Gottesdienst der Kirche,(5) Anamnesis,(6) La celebracion en la Iglesia,(7) by including individual sacraments under the general heading of "Liturgy" place them in what is their proper context, not only for purposes of history but also for theological reflection.

Bithos said he has used catechetical and catechumenate models, learned at the University of Dallas, in ministry at his Greek Orthodox parish in Austin.

The final chapter of the first volume returns to the question of the catechumenate and integrates the previous material into a fresh perspective on this institutionalized form of conversion.

Could the rest of the catechumenate planning team come to her house for our weekly meeting instead?

He became active in his parish, especially in the catechumenate, which "got me reading more," he said, "and got me involved with people exploring their faith." He became a parish religious education teacher.

The General Introduction discusses the ritual practices in the early catechumenate, their variations, and their underlying theological significance.

He attended catechumenate classes for some time, but soon gave it up because he found it confusing.

[Kate Oglebay White worked for 17 years at La Maison d'Ananie, center for the catechumenate in Paris.]

Agatha, "a diverse congregation in South Central L.A." but she struggles with whether to join a catechumenate class and be baptized and confirmed because "of the institution and the constraints that come along with being Catholic.

By Diana Macalintal, the cofounder of TeamRCIA.com, a free online resource for catechumenate teams.