Last week I attended the 2014 National Meeting of the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions (FDLC). I’m not a liturgist (and don’t even play one on TV) but I was invited by our diocesan director for worship and the catechumenate to participate in a consultation process with the US Bishop’s Committee on Divine Worship regarding edits to the National Statues on the RCIA.
(With a new translation of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults on the horizon, this is an opportune time to reevaluate the national statues in light of our pastoral experience since implementing the RCIA in America.)
In addition to the consultation process we heard from a variety of voices, most notably from the staff of the USCCB Secretariat of Divine Worship; a report on a recent survey by CARA about the RCIA in parishes; pastoral and theological reflections by Fr. Ron Lewinski and Fr. Paul Turner; and Parish Day presentations by Jim Schellman and D. Todd Williamson. Here are some of my takeaways that I tweeted from the meeting.
Bishop Conlon: Too often the #RCIA is a catechetical program w/ graduation, rather than a rite w/ catechetical preparation. #Amen
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) October 1, 2014
I think Fr. Merz just invented a new word: "evangelizational." #ILikeIt
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) October 1, 2014
Question raised about official Liturgy of the Hours app. Needs permission from Rome. #YesPlease #FreeTheWord #liturgy
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) October 1, 2014
Surprising: half of all #RCIA participants across the country are in their 20s or 30s. What's attracting them? #Catholic
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) October 2, 2014
71% of parishes use a school-year model for #RCIA. Has focus on Catholic schools over the decades negatively affected other programs?
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) October 2, 2014
Homework: read #EvangeliiGaudium no. 166. Does this describe #catechesis in your parish/school? http://t.co/6COv2HYeQt
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) October 2, 2014
Lewinski: We do a good job talking about Jesus, but do we introduce people to the living Christ? #RCIA #evangelization
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) October 2, 2014
Lewinski: #Liturgy and #catechesis need each other; can't do one well without the other.
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) October 2, 2014
64% of neophytes are immediately channeled into service in the RCIA team. // Are we initiating people into community or "RCIA society?"
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) October 2, 2014
Lewinski: [Parishes] are greenhouses for growing the new missionaries. #Amen
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) October 2, 2014
Fr. Turner's six principles for our conversation: pic.twitter.com/coNLgzKqG5
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) October 3, 2014
Schellman: Since initial implementation of #RCIA we've learned to give catechumens more and better catechesis earlier in the process.
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) October 4, 2014
Schellman: How we make disciples is remaking the Church we serve. #NewEvangelization
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) October 4, 2014
Schellman: Church is a community on the Way. Discipleship is "walking wet" after our baptism.
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) October 4, 2014
Williamson: We are rediscovering virtue of charity; it's in many of B16, @pontifex's writings, heard a lot in new #RomanMissal translation.
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) October 4, 2014
Williamson: #Liturgy is where we get the best look at the worldview of the Kingdom of God.
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) October 4, 2014
Williamson: Taken as a whole (readings, prayers, etc) the liturgical year helps us reflect on all of the teachings of the Church. #RCIA
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) October 4, 2014