RCIA programme gave parish authentic experience

Colette Furlong

Lent this year was like no other I’ve known. As the catechist in a cluster of parishes we spend quite some time every year deciding what programme of faith formation we will offer for the seven weeks, but we could have done without one had we simply embraced as parishes the original Lenten programme – RCIA (the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults).

This year, three adults and two children of catechetical age made themselves known and were ready to join the catechumenate – the journey of preparation for Baptism or Initiation – in time for this Lent. As a liturgist, for years I have lectured on the beauty, value and power of the journey of adults towards the sacraments of initiation, but hadn’t realised how much work was required and just how authentic an experience of Lent and Easter it would offer. 

Because of the work commitments of our catechumens it wasn’t feasible to form a group so each candidate made their journey individually, accompanied by the catechist, but we all came together each Sunday for the celebration of the Mass. We celebrated the dismissal of the catechumens after the Prayer of the Faithful weekly, which drew questions from the assembly – were they less worthy than we etc. But the prayer that accompanies the dismissal explains what it is we were dismissed for – to delve more deeply into the word of the Lord, learning to feast on the Good News of Christ, before they would feast on His Body, as we do every time we celebrate the Mass. It would have been lovely to invite many to join us as we processed from the gathering up the aptly named ‘Upper Room’ of the cathedral for our Lectio Divina, but as with all such groups, they work best when numbers are small.

Over the weeks of Lent as a parish community we accompanied the catechumens through exorcisms and scrutinies until at last they signed their names in the Book of the Elect and arrived finally at the preparation rites on Holy Saturday.

Various rites

Whilst there were some who complained that the various rites should have been done in private, there were many more who were amazed at being invited to extend their hands towards the catechumens to pray a blessing on them. Some noted how they had never heard Lent and its constant call to us all to be renewed in heart and embrace our baptismal identity.

After the Easter Vigil one of the newly-baptised or neophytes asked if it was true, that she was now the Body of Christ; I affirmed her, that when we say ‘amen’ we say yes to what we are – all of us, together in Christ!

This year, our Lenten journey led us to something authentic, a celebration of each other’s faith in Christ. I only hope we remember it for next Lent.

 

A pilgrim journey

At a recent gathering with parents with a child for one of the sacraments we suggested that rather than spend the day like tourists, just passing through, caught up in four ‘d’ words – date, destination, dinner and dressing up – although one parent added ‘drink’, and another ‘dosh’ (monies collected), that they approach it like pilgrims.

Obviously we need to know where we are going, when to be there, what we’ll eat and what we’ll wear, but aware that there’s more to this journey, something deeper, something God-given, also to them. 

 

This Easter Vigil, I was in the company of a nine-year-old. The church was dimly lit and my little friend asked “what’s happening?” “The blessing of the Paschal Fire,” I said. He looked confused. We had a hushed chat about fire and why it might be a symbol of Jesus, and he said, “oh, like the fire lit by St Patrick on Slane?” and added “oh, oh and the Light of Christ?” and before I could agree Lumen Christi was sung. I translated for him, noted his nod of approval and thought, enough said.