Leader s Guide Expanded Edition A REDEMPTORIST PASTORAL PUBLICATION
Imprimi Potest: Thomas F. Picton, C.Ss.R. Provincial, Denver Province The Redemptorists Imprimatur: Most Reverend Robert J. Hermann Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of St. Louis Copyright 2005, 2006 Liguori Publications ISBN 978-0-7648-1327-6 Printed in the United States of America 12 13 14 15 16 / 11 10 9 8 7 All rights reserved. No part of this booklet may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted without the written permission of Liguori Publications. Compliant with the Roman Missal, Third Edition. Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Excerpts from the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for the United States of America, copyright 1994, United States Catholic Conference, Inc. Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission. Liguori Publications, a nonprofit corporation, is an apostolate of the Redemptorists. To learn more about the Redemptorists, visit Redemptorists.com. The session outlines in this volume were written by Debbie Repp. To order, call 800-325-9521 or visit www.liguori.org
CONTENTS FOR YOU, THE CATECHIST Welcome to Journey of Faith...5 AN OVERVIEW OF THE RCIA The Historical Development...7 The Process...8 Inquiry or Precatechumenate...8 Catechumenate...8 Purification and Enlightenment...8 Mystagogy...9 The RCIA Process and the Community...9 The Rites Rite of Acceptance Into the Order of Catechumens...9 Rituals of the Catechumenate... 10 Rite of Election... 10 Rites of the Scrutinies... 10 Rites of Preparation... 10 Rites of Initiation... 11 HOW TO USE JOURNEY OF FAITH Scholastic or Ongoing Catechumenal Model... 13 Adaptation and Method... 14 Practical Suggestions... 15 Before the Session... 16 Beginning and Conducting the Session... 16 INQUIRY Q1. Your Journey of Faith... 17 Q2. What Do Catholics Believe?... 18 Q3. What Is the Meaning of the Mass?... 19 Q4. The Bible...20 Q5. How Do Catholics Interpret the Bible?... 21 Q6. The Saints...22 Q7. Mary... 23 Q8. Places in the Catholic Church... 24 Q9. Who s Who in the Church... 25 Q10. Catholics and Prayer...26 Q11. Catholic Practices... 27 Q12. Catholics and Church...28 CATECHUMENATE C1. The Sacraments... 29 C2. The Sacrament of Baptism...30 C3. The Sacrament of Confirmation... 31 C4. The Sacrament of the Eucharist... 32 C5. The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation... 33 C6. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick...34 C7. The Sacrament of Marriage... 35 C8. The Sacrament of Holy Orders...36 C9. The People of God... 37 C10. Who Is Jesus Christ?... 38 C11. The Early Church... 39 C12. History of the Church...40 C13. Christian Moral Living... 41 C14. Social Justice...42 C15. The Consistent Life Ethic...43 C16. The Dignity of Life...44 3
LENT L1. What Is Lent?...45 L2. Saying Yes to Jesus...46 L3. Take a Look... 47 L4. The Nicene Creed...48 L5. The Way of the Cross...49 L6. The Lord s Prayer...50 L7. The Meaning of Holy Week... 51 L8. Catechumenate Retreat Day... 52 MYSTAGOGY M1. Conversion: A Lifelong Process... 53 M2. The Laity: Called to Build God s Kingdom...54 M3. Your Special Gifts... 55 M4. Family Life...56 M5. Your Prayer Life... 57 M6. Discernment... 58 M7. Holiness... 59 M8. Evangelization...60 4
HOW TO USE JOURNEY OF FAITH Journey of Faith consists of a Leader s Guide The Word into Life, Year A The Word into Life, Year B The Word into Life, Year C Forty-four catechetical handouts divided into the four phases of Christian initiation: - Inquiry or Precatechumenate, consisting of twelve four-page handouts - Catechumenate, consisting of sixteen four-page handouts - Purification and Enlightenment (Lent), consisting of eight four-page handouts - Mystagogy, consisting of eight four-page handouts Three volumes of The Word into Life: A Guide for Group Reflection on Sunday Scripture are available for the three liturgical years: A, B, and C. Each contains all the readings for every Sunday of each year as well as commentaries, themes, and prayers meant to prepare RCIA team leaders to lead inquirers, catechumens, candidates, and neophytes. Use The Word into Life to structure a Lectionary-based program for the church year. After the Scripture, commentary, and reflection questions for each Sunday is an index that relates the themes of the current Sunday s Scripture readings to the catechetical handouts. Journey of Faith presents the bulk of its catechetical material in forty-four personal, interesting, and manageable lessons so that uncatechized or nominally catechized adults can hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. In each lesson handout you will find: Explanation of a faith topic Brief reflection questions with space for short answers Scripture references related to each faith topic Cross-references to the Catechism of the Catholic Church on each faith topic Engaging and integrated art and design For those who are not yet baptized Catholics, initiation into the Catholic Church begins with the inquiry phase in which, through one of several means, people ask questions about things Catholic and form relationships with one another and their catechists. A set of twelve Inquiry handouts in Journey of Faith assist the questioners through this undetermined period. They broadly cover basic questions in such specific areas as: what do Catholics believe, the meaning of the Mass, the Bible, the saints, prayer, and practices, etc. This phase is followed by the rite of acceptance, in which catechumens and candidates enter the Catechumenate, a period of study and reflection on the faith. A set of sixteen Journey of Faith catechumenate handouts aid the learning process during this period. They address more catechetical aspects of our faith: the Church, the sacraments, the moral life, and so forth. At the rite of election, catechumens and candidates enter the period of purification and enlightenment in which they participate in the scrutinies and prepare themselves for initiation at Easter Vigil. Aiding you in this part of the process is a series of eight Journey of Faith Lent handouts. The focus of these is on preparation for reception of the sacraments of initiation and the events of the Easter Vigil. After initiation, the neophytes enter a period of mystagogy, in which they claim a new role of service in the community. A set of eight Journey of Faith Mystagogy handouts assist in redirecting the focus of new Catholics from learning to living. Scholastic or Ongoing Catechumenal Model Flexibility is one of the greatest assets of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Within certain parameters given in the rite itself, the local pastor is given the freedom to accommodate the rites according to his pastoral judgment in order to fit the needs of the parish community, the catechumens, and the candidates. You, as catechists and team leaders, are encouraged to use your judgment in developing a process of faith formation suited to the needs of both catechumens and candidates. The RCIA schedule of most US parishes follows 13
a school year calendar, beginning in September and graduating in May. This approach can tend to create a focus on the content of the faith and make it feel like a course of study short-changing thereby the requirement for an extended time to have the experience of a deepening conversion and growing commitment on the part of the individual inquirer. For this and other reasons (for example, risking that the Catechism becomes the main course text rather than the Lectionary because cognitive learning is seen as most important; the rhythm of readiness is more or less predicated in advance to be completed in about six to eight months, etc.), many pastoral ministers prefer an ongoing model for the process where each phase is available all year around, using separate but simultaneous tracks for precatechumenate and catechumenate, and a third track for Lent and Easter. In this way, the process is open and flexible enough to support and honor the needs and pace of conversion in each catechumen and/or candidate that is at the heart of the Rite. Journey of Faith can be applied equally well to both of these models in that it adheres to the expectation of the rite itself (Rite 72, 76) by providing a built-in flexibility that supports both formats: The Lectionary for Sunday Mass is fundamental to the whole RCIA process, and the three volumes of The Word into Life allow you to structure the process in and around each liturgical year throughout the three-year liturgical cycle in a way that emphasizes the natural rhythm of the call to (ongoing) conversion of heart while also allowing you the flexibility needed for local change of schedule and sequence The forty-four catechetical handouts are cross - referenced to each theme suggested in the more than two hundred Sundays covered by The Word into Life to provide the basic catechetical components necessary for further discussion and sharing. Adaptation and Method Though you do not have to be a professor of theology or an experienced teacher to be a successful catechist, there are certain techniques and practical suggestions that can make the experience easier and more enjoyable. While a faith-filled experience is the work of God, it takes planning on the part of any RCIA team to ensure that the process goes smoothly. If you are only now starting an RCIA process using Journey of Faith, it is necessary for the team to meet several weeks prior to the beginning of the process to review the materials and plan where and when to meet. Take care, however, to resist the temptation to create a precise schedule; we must remain open to the workings of the Spirit in those who present themselves as inquirers, catechumens, or candidates. Your team should continue to meet regularly throughout the process. It is helpful if each team member is aware of the topics discussed, materials covered, and questions raised in each session so that there will be continuity between sessions and among presenters. It is also advisable that catechists contact the following week s presenters in order to brief them on any issues that have surfaced and may need to be addressed the following week. No one can predict the makeup of any particular group. As catechists know, there is a huge variety of ages, backgrounds, and catechetical needs within each group. Personal commitments to the process may also vary widely. While most adults come with a strong internal desire to learn about the Catholic faith, occasionally some may participate because of insistence from spouses or other outside sources. It is possible to have those who have never had any contact with institutionalized religion, those who have been baptized and active in another Christian denomination, and those who were baptized Catholic but not raised in the Church. Persons never baptized are referred to as catechumens, while candidates describe people baptized in another Christian denomination. This being so, be careful not to generate a catechumenate process where one size fits all : While both catechumens and candidates can often participate in the same sessions, the reality of baptism makes for 14
very different perspectives on the hunger for baptism versus appreciation of the grace stemming from it. This difference must also be evidenced in the celebration of the various rites, where the two may need to be separated in prayer and sometimes in physical arrangement of a ritual. In working with adults it is vital that what is presented and discussed be linked with their life experience, especially in the process of faith formation. As catechists and team members, we are co-learners, catalysts, and partners rather than directors. When we openly share the stories of our own faith journey, the catechumens and candidates experience a sense of trust that makes them comfortable in accepting and sharing who they are and where they are in their own journeys. Again, flexibility is key to working with the RCIA. Each session should begin with the opportunity for unfinished business to be addressed from the previous week. Often questions come up between sessions that were not obvious to the participants at the moment the topic was presented. Communication is vital in establishing a sense of trust among participants, and active listening is one of your greatest tools in establishing this trust. Catechumens and candidates need to be accepted and affirmed for who they are, and this requires a nonjudgmental attitude on the part of all, especially the team members. It is important to be aware of your inner reactions to the speaker and to listen with the eyes and the heart. Active listening requires empathy an acceptance of the uniqueness of each individual, and a willingness to feel with them. It requires sensitivity the ability to pick up the feeling level behind the spoken word. This is a feeling for the other in which personal prejudices and emotions are controlled. It requires attentiveness the ability to look at the person and give undivided attention; and receptiveness the desire to genuinely want to hear and the ability to be open to what is said. Practical Suggestions In preparation for each session, the team would do well to read and reflect on the Scripture commentaries for that Sunday given in The Word into Life as well as the appropriate catechetical handout(s). Throughout the week the catechist should reflect upon the Sunday readings. What are the connections, if any, between the readings? Paying special attention to the gospel reading, who are the characters? What are the sights, sounds, smells, feelings that emerge? Attempt to become a part of the text. What stories of your own faith journey come to the forefront? What is the connection between the readings and the faith-life of today s Church? Are there any questions that are raised in your mind? In between prayer and reflection, the commentary can be consulted. How does the author s reflection resonate with your own prayer and reflection upon the texts? Reread the texts and adapt the discussion questions for your catechumens and candidates. After you have prayerfully prepared for the session, relax and enjoy the opportunity to share your faith with those who are eager to be touched by God s Spirit. To further help the catechetical team prepare and present each catechetical topic, this Leader s Guide provides a suggested outline for each of those sessions: Context is immediately set by a quote from the Cathechism of the Catholic Church Leader meditation Materials/resources needed for the session Opening reading from Scripture Discussion questions Suggested closing prayer Make sure to have on hand a complete set of handouts for each participant and sponsor, as well as for yourself. It may be helpful to have name tags for each person in attendance the first two or three sessions. A sign-in sheet will help team members monitor attendance at each meeting. How the handouts are used and the format your parish wishes to use is up to you. They could be distributed and discussed at the same session; they could be distributed at the end of the session and discussed at the next session; they could be distributed for home study and only discussed to the extent that they may raise questions. Because the themes listed under your weekly commentary refer you back to specific handouts, the handouts are ongoing tools throughout the process. 15
Before the Session Review the handout and the accompanying lesson plan in this book. Preparation materials and suggestions are presented here for every handout. It is recommended that only one catechetical handout is discussed at each session. You can use the handouts in the order in which they come to you, or you can follow the themes of the Lectionary readings and use these handouts to support those Lectionary themes. If you wish to broaden your thematic approach, use the alphabetical Index of topics at the back of this Leader s Guide. If, for example, you are using the Inquiry handout Q6 and you want to provide more information on the subject of holiness, look up that topic in the Index and see which other handouts treat that subject. They are referred to in the Index and on the handouts themselves by letter (Q for Inquiry, C for Catechumenate, L for Lent, M for Mystagogy) and number. Make sure that you have a Bible (the NRSV is the translation used in the handouts) and a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Each participant also needs a Bible. Ideally everyone should have the same version. Prepare a sacred space for Scripture sharing and discussion. This is extremely important as it sets the tone for the entire session. Make sure the room has a pleasant atmosphere and that each participant has a comfortable chair. If possible, position the chairs around a larger table or have them face a smaller table. Place a simple white candle in a secure holder on the table. Reverently lay the Bible next to the candle. During each of the sacred seasons, appropriately colored fabric may be placed under the candle and Bible green during Ordinary Time, violet during Advent, white during Christmas, purple during Lent, and white during Easter. Keep a candle-lighter and extra pens/pencils in a convenient place for when they are needed. Beginning and Conducting the Session 1. Warmly welcome the participants and their sponsors. Encourage the attendance of sponsors at all subsequent sessions. 2. At the initial session, introduce each participant and his/her sponsor. Ask each person to briefly explain what led him/her to inquire about the Catholic faith. Encourage each participant to also share information about his/her family and faith background. 3. Encourage them to bring a Bible, pen, and notebook to each session, or keep these supplies in the room between sessions. 4. Always ask for a volunteer to read aloud from the Scriptures. Anyone uncomfortable with oral reading should not feel obligated to do so. Each lesson plan in this Leader s Guide suggests a Scripture reading that promotes the theme of the lesson. Make sure the reader understands which passage to read, and encourage the reader to take a moment to become familiar with it. 5. Ask one of the participants to light the candle. During the first few sessions, explain that the lighted candle symbolizes Christ s presence in sacred Scripture and in this gathering of believers and seekers. 6. Invite the reader to prayerfully read the passage from Scripture aloud. 7. Consult the lesson plan for suggestions for reading and discussing the handout. 8. Because participants come from many faith backgrounds, questions may be posed that you do not feel qualified to adequately answer. Do not attempt to answer questions that are beyond your knowledge or expertise. Let the participant know that you need some time to consult with your director of religious education, pastor, or diocesan official and then make sure to follow through. 9. Encourage participants to use their notebooks for both note-taking and responding to questions in the handouts. Participants may wish to write down questions they have about what is read or discussed. They may also benefit from keeping weekly journals in which thoughts, ideas, and feelings are recorded during their faith journeys. 10. End the formal session with a brief closing prayer. (See suggestions in the lesson plan.) Follow the prayer with companionship time and simple refreshments. 16
INQUIRY Q1: Your Journey of Faith Faith is a gift of God, a supernatural virtue infused by [God]. Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), 153 LEADER MEDITATION A READING FROM JOHN 14:1-4 After meditating on the Scripture passage, read The Characteristics of Faith in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 142-165; 302; 854. This may help you to answer questions posed by those inquiring about the Catholic faith, especially as faith relates to science and human reason. Finally, think about the strength of your own faith. When you pray, do you believe your prayers are being heard? Do you trust that God is intimately involved in your life, even with all its difficulties and imperfections? Most important, do you see the face of God in the questioning? PREPARATION See the Introduction, Practical Suggestions, pages 15-16. Materials Bible open to John 14:1-4 Candle, lighter Q1 handouts Bibles, notebooks, pens OPENING READING FROM SCRIPTURE Ask the prepared participant to light the candle and read the passage from John 14:1-4. Following the reading, allow a moment of silence, and then welcome any comments or reactions to the words. Finally, encourage the mentioning of any special intentions. If any participant is unfamiliar with the Bible, briefly review its organization before beginning the first lesson. Clarify the differences between the Old and New Testaments but emphasize the importance of each. The Old Testament, or Hebrew Scriptures, is the story of the Hebrews (or Israelites ) relationship to God. The New Testament is the record of Jesus life and teachings. DISCUSSION Read the lesson together, allow willing participants to alternate reading sections or columns of the handout. Include yourself in the reading rotation. Pause for a few minutes, and allow adequate time for writing when written responses are required. On page 1 of the handout where Scripture passages are related to faith, participants may each be assigned a passage to find and share with the group. After the handout has been read, additional discussion topics might include: Discuss how faith development is a journey that continues throughout one s entire lifetime. We never reach a point where our own faith is perfect or unchanging. Emphasize that there will be times when our journeys take us into the desert, and our faith seems to stagnate. Faith development is a lifelong process. If time permits, read sections 153-164 of the Catechism with the group. For those raised in a faith tradition that is based in a more literal interpretation of the Bible, much of this information may be very new. CLOSING PRAYER Close with a recitation of the Lord s Prayer and the Doxology. Most everyone should be familiar with the Lord s Prayer, but you may have to teach the Doxology. The Lord s Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. The Doxology: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. 17
CATECHUMENATE C1: The Sacraments Sacraments are powers that come forth from the body of Christ, which is ever-living and life-giving. They are actions of the Holy Spirit at work in his Body, the Church. (CCC, 1116) LEADER MEDITATION MATTHEW 28:16-20 Jesus promises, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Through the sacraments, there are visible signs of the Lord s presence in the Church and in our lives. Each sacrament we receive not only increases the Lord s presence but also increases our own awareness of that presence. We don t walk our journey of faith alone. Jesus walks with us every step of the way. PREPARATION Read sections 1113-1130 and 1210-1211 of the Catechism. Keep this text on hand while teaching the lesson. Use the subject index in the back of the book to find detailed information on each of the seven sacraments. Materials Bible opened to Matthew 28:16-20 Candle, lighter Bibles, notebooks, pens C1 handouts OPENING READING FROM SCRIPTURE Ask a prepared volunteer to light the candle and read aloud Matthew 28:16-20. Following the reading, ask the participants to name ways that Jesus is with us always, to the end of the age. Explain that this lesson focuses on the seven sacraments, visible signs of Christ s presence and action in our lives today. DISCUSSION The handout describes the sacraments as signs of God s love. Discuss and define the words sign and symbol, and give examples of the importance of signs and symbols in our lives. Emphasize that symbols represent important realities. Sacraments are symbolic actions that represent the reality of God s love and saving grace. Sacraments are physical signs and symbolic actions that help us to understand spiritual mysteries. Make sure the participants understand the meaning and importance of rituals. Give examples of how rituals are important in our everyday lives birthdays, holidays, vacations, even getting up in the morning. Carefully distinguish between sacramental grace and superstition (page 3 of the handout). Participants coming from other faith traditions and even some Catholics sometimes have misconceptions about the purpose and meaning of our sacraments. Briefly discuss the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. (Each will be discussed in greater detail in separate lessons.) CLOSING PRAYER After praying for special intentions from the group, pray the Doxology. (See page 9.) This simple prayer proclaims God s faithful presence in our lives yesterday, today, and tomorrow. 29
LENT L1: What Is Lent? The event of the Cross and Resurrection abides and draws everything toward life. (CCC, 1085) LEADER MEDITATION MATTHEW 4:1-11 Recall times when you have felt you were in a desert times that were difficult and seemingly lifeless. Think about why we are often tempted during these times to turn away from Christ and look for comfort elsewhere. In what places or in what things have you been tempted to find comfort? What brought you back to Christ? PREPARATION Read sections 571-605 of the Catechism. Materials Bible opened to Matthew 4:1-11 Place a purple cloth and a crucifix on the prayer table Candle, lighter Bibles, notebooks, pens L1 handouts OPENING READING FROM SCRIPTURE Ask a prepared volunteer to light the candle and read aloud Matthew 4:1-11. As you did during your own meditation, ask the participants to recall desert experiences in their lives. Ask them if they felt more easily tempted during these times. DISCUSSION As you read through the handout, make sure participants have a clear understanding of words that may be unfamiliar to those just learning about the Catholic faith such as repentance, penance, abstinence, and fasting. Talk about the symbolic meaning of forty days. Use the Scripture passages suggested in the handout for examples. Talk about the need for desert time (quiet time) in our lives. Ask the participants to describe their lives. Do they feel they are constantly busy? Do they make a conscious effort to find quiet time each day? Elaborate on why Lent is a call to conversion. Ask the participants to quietly reflect on these things within their own hearts that they would like to change. Give examples of inner conversions changes in attitudes, dealing with anger in a healthier way, letting go of bad habits or objects of attachment. In addition to giving up things for Lent, emphasize the need for positive action or change of attitude. Sometimes positive growth is the more difficult thing to do. CLOSING PRAYER Ask the participants to close their eyes and silently bring to mind one thing they would like to change about themselves. Then ask the group to pray silently, each person in his or her own way, for the strength and grace needed for this inner conversion. End the session by praying the Doxology together. 45
MYSTAGOGY M1: Conversion: A Lifelong Process The parish initiates the Christian people into the ordinary expression of the liturgical life: it gathers them together in this celebration; it teaches Christ s saving doctrine; it practices the charity of the Lord in good works and love. (CCC, 2179) LEADER MEDITATION MARK 1:16-20 Imagine yourself to be one of these first disciples. How would you have responded to Jesus call to come and follow him? Would you have been able to drop your nets and follow? PREPARATION Read sections 160, 545, 981, 1427-1429 of the Catechism. With the help of your parish music director or church musicians, collect a few recordings of Easter songs. Try to select hymns sung by the assembly at your Sunday eucharistic celebrations. Use these songs as closing prayers during the Easter season. Materials Bible opened to Mark 1:16-20 White cloth to cover prayer table Candle, lighter Bibles, notebooks, pens M1 handouts OPENING PRAYER Ask a prepared volunteer to light the candle and read Mark 1:16-20 aloud. Have the participants imagine that they are being called away from their everyday routines to join Jesus in his mission. What are their honest reactions to Jesus call? DISCUSSION After reading page 1 of the handout, ask the participants to describe how they feel now that they are part of the Church. Which of the comments made in the handout best describes their own feelings at this time? Emphasize the existence and importance of mystery in our lives. Help the participants to understand the distinction between learning about the faith and living the faith. Which presents the greater challenge, and why? After reading the story of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, talk about the meaning of the word conversion. Why is conversion a lifelong process? Emphasize that during the process of conversion, there are many highs and lows. Periods of doubt are very normal and are actually an important part of spiritual growth. Conversion is rarely a steady move in the right direction. Discuss the importance of the feast of Pentecost. Relate the experience of the disciples of Jesus to the experience of these neophytes. CLOSING PRAYER Gather everyone in a circle around the prayer table and listen to the recording of a song appropriate for the Easter season. Encourage everyone to sing along. If music is not available, join hands and pray the Lord s Prayer. 53