This article originally appeared in Celebrate!
The Journal That Makes Liturgy Come Alive!
The last issue of Celebrate! was published in 2012.
On May 20th we will celebrate
the feast of Pentecost marking the end of the Easter season. In many parishes Pentecost
marks a change in the parish calendar.
There are fewer meetings and some of the regular groups tend to “take a
break for the summer”. In our country it
is common for parish life to move into a slower rhythm as the school year ends
and families look to weekends away. Although the onset of nicer weather and
summer schedules changes the rhythm of our parishes it need not lead to a lack
of activity for the initiation team. The
‘slower days of summer’ can be a time of renewal, formation and activity.
Renewal
The 90 days of Lent and Easter are busy
and intense for those preparing to celebrate initiation, sponsors and the leaders
of the initiation process. The weeks
shortly after Pentecost are an ideal time to gather the leaders for a day of
reflection and prayer.
Whenever possible gathering away from
the parish is helpful for it allows for a different experience and reduces the
opportunity for interruptions. The day
of reflection is a time of nourishment for the leaders. The agenda would not
provide time to address practical issues nor to plan. When designing the day it is important to
include sufficient time for a short reflection by a facilitator, silence and
shared prayer. Each of these elements
fosters a time of renewal. Some parishes may be able to join with one or two
other parishes and share the cost of a facility and facilitator.
For many, this yearly gathering has
become an essential component of formation for initiation leaders. The pastoral staff and finance committee
recognize the importance of renewal and budget accordingly.
Formation
As we enter into the long period of
Ordinary Time it is particularly helpful to gather the pastoral staff and the
initiation leaders to reflect on the liturgies of Lent and the celebration of
the initiation sacraments. For example,
taking time to reflect on the rites that began the period of Lent as well as
the Scrutinies and Presentations will allow for discussion that may lead to
changes for next Lent.
This reflection can begin by recalling
the experience, noting the ritual actions or activity that fostered
participation and naming anything that inhibited participation of all. A review of the ritual text including the
pastoral notes and rubrics will allow you to name any aspects of the rite that
needs to be celebrated in a stronger way.
A review of the rite may lead to new information and understanding of
the three Scrutinies and the Presentations of the Creed and Lord’s Prayer.
For example, a parish team may realize
that the intercessions for the Scrutinies “may be adapted to fit various
circumstances” (RCIA, 140). The intercessions may be written after the
preparation for the scrutiny has been completed so that the particular needs of
the local community are included. A thorough reading of the pastoral notes may
lead to a decision to include the Presentations of the Creed and Lord’s Prayer during
the extended period of the Catehcumenate. (RCIA,
134). The reasons for anticipating
the Presentations may be linked to the length of the catechumenate and the
needs of the catechumens. This decision
would be revisited each year for the needs of the catechumen must be
considered.
Adopting this practice of reflection and
reading the rite may be applied to all periods and rites of the initiation
process. Taking time to review the
pastoral notes for the Period of Evangelization and Precatechumenate and the
Rite of Acceptance may lead to implementing pastoral practices that more
clearly reflect the vision of the rite.
It has been my experience that even after
years of working with the ritual text, the pastoral notes and the rubrics still
have something to offer a seasoned initiation leader. The slower days of summer provide some
breathing space and an opportunity for the leaders to further their own
understanding of the rite. During this
long period of Ordinary Time there may be opportunities to travel and take a
course or attend a conference or gathering focused on initiation. Members of the parish initiation team are
more likely to stay involved when they are able to continue to grow in their
own understanding of this ministry.
Activity
In a parish with an ongoing inquiry
group there would be regular gatherings during the slower summer months. It is important to continue the contact with
the inquirers although the nature and frequency of the gatherings may
change. A barbecue either at the parish
or at the home of one of the parishioners would allow for family members to
attend. A time of socializing and shared
prayer before the meal would mentor others in community living.
Throughout the Easter season it is
possible to have a variety of people formally connected to the initiation
process. It is becoming more common for
a parish to have catechumens who continue to gather to Break Open the Word each
Sunday throughout Easter and Ordinary Time.
These people are continuing their time of apprenticeship and
formation. During the summer months the
catechumens and families along with the inquirers and families could
participate in a visit to a local outdoor shrine. The visit to the shrine could include time
for prayer, catechesis on the saint and fellowship.
In some parishes there are a number of
festivals that occur during the early months of summer. Often the festival is linked to a particular
cultural group and focus on a certain saint.
Inviting the leaders responsible for the festival to include those
seeking initiation is a concrete way of fostering a greater understanding of
initiation as a task of all the baptized.
The neophytes, those newly received into
Full Communion and their families could be involved in the organizing and
hospitality for some of the activities.
The slower days of summer are times of
renewal and rest. It is possible to
respect the need for renewal while expanding our understanding of initiation as
a time of formation and apprenticeship.
We live as Catholics 52 weeks of the year so it is reasonable for our
initiation process to reflect the fullness of a Catholic lifestyle.
