Welcome Back! Please bring your white binders and Seeker’s Catechism to all

sessions from this point on. Please find a time for your Interview if you haven’t had one. We are talking about and praying for you. Rite of Acceptance: November 1, 9:15 a.m. Mass. If you

can’t be there or need to talk with us, please do so ASAP. Our session on Wednesday, November 11 will be in the

Parish Hall. Supper will be provided – bring a dessert! Baptismal Certificates are due in to the Parish Office by

Wednesday, December 2. Pray for our soon-to-be Child Catechumens

The Rite of Acceptance / Welcome

The purpose of the Rite: To gather Inquirers and Catechists before the

assembled Church for the first time To permit Inquirers to publicly declare their

intentions to become members of the Church To recognize the role of their Sponsors To publicly join Inquirers to the Church To distinguish Catechumens (the unbaptized) from

the Candidates (baptized Christians of other traditions)

(Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, 41-45)

What happens: Inquirers who are ready for the Catechumenate will

gather at the 9:15 a.m. Mass on November 1, with their sponsors if they are available. Pews will be reserved for them and their families in Church

Those who took part in this Rite before, or those who do not feel ready at this point in time, are not required to take part, but are warmly invited to attend

Members of the RCIA Team will be present at this Mass to assist, and to help with the first Breaking Open of the Word (more on that in a moment…)

What happens: The Rite will take place immediately after the

Homily. Fr. Murphy and Deacon Joe will assist. Inquirers, Sponsors, and Team members will be

called to stand before the Assembly, facing the altar. And what happens next? Wait and see. After the Rite concludes, the new Catechumens and

new Candidates, together with their sponsors and the RCIA team will process out of the Church for the Kelley Room, for the Breaking Open of the Word.

Dismissals and

Breaking Open the Word

The purpose of Dismissals: Liturgy of the Word = Mass of the Catechumens Liturgy of the Eucharist = Mass of the Faithful To give Catechumens a place of their own, as they

are not yet ready to accept the Creed or partake in the Sacrament of the Eucharist at Holy Communion

To show the Assembly that a separation, however temporary, still exists between them and those preparing for entry into the Church at a future date

Some Masses - for special reasons - will not have a Dismissal, but the Celebrant will publicly recognize the coming time when Catechumens will celebrate more fully as fully initiated members of the Church

The Dismissals: Take place at various Sunday Masses, rotating

through the course of the Catechumenate Allows the entire parish community to see the

participants and Team, in order to provide prayers and other forms of support, as is their responsibility

Enables participants to see the various “communities” formed within the Parish at different Mass times

Helps them to determine which Mass time will be the best “fit,” once they have been initiated

The purpose of Breaking Open the Word: To give Catechumens a deeper understanding of the

role of scripture in the life of the Church To invite them to take the Scriptures deeper into their

own lives To join them in a special way with Catechumens

everywhere preparing to join the Church To allow them to reflect on their experiences and

feelings in a place beyond the Wednesday evening sessions, in their own words

N.B.: Candidates, as they are already baptized, may remain in Church, though they may not yet partake in the Eucharist.

The Period of the Catechumenate

What is the Catechumenate? The ancient Baptismal Rite, revived after the Second

Vatican Council (1962-1965) and extended over the course of each participant’s process of “conversion”

For those preparing for Baptism, it is an extended immersion into the Paschal Mystery, which allows them to thoroughly absorb the conversion experience

For those already baptized, this permits a reaffirmation of baptismal vows and an extended opportunity for reflection on one’s baptismal call

How long does it take?? The length of the Catechumenate depends upon

“the grace of God and on various circumstances, such as…the cooperation of the individuals, and the help of the local community. Nothing, therefore, can be settled (beforehand)” (RCIA, 76).

What does it look like? Regular, frequent faith-sharing Celebrations of the Word, various blessings, and

prayers of exorcism (for those not yet baptized) Catechesis, flowing from the Sunday assembly

From the Greek katachein, “to echo back” The mysteries of Christ and the stories of the Church are

shared with the listener in the hopes that it may be “echoed back” to others.

The topics of the Wednesday lessons enjoy a special relationship with the readings from the Lectionary, either from the prior or the following Sunday.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Oct 31/Nov 1: ALL SAINTS DAY (B)

668: Wis 3:1-9

Rom 5:5-11

John 6:37-40

CATECHUMENATE BEGINS at 9:15 a.m. Mass Rites of Acceptance & Welcome, First Dismissal (3rd Floor)

Nov 4: Charles Borromeo Church History 1

C 0687 10 Peak Moments of Church History C 0100 The Christian Family Tree

N.B.: Next week’s meeting in Parish Hall!

Nov 7/8: 32nd OT (B)

155: 1 Kgs 17:10-16

Heb 9:24-28

Mark 12:38-44

Dismissal at 9:15 a.m. Mass

Nov 11: Martin of Tours Church History 2 In Parish Hall, with supper provided

Nov 14/15: 33rd OT (B)

158: Dan 12:1-3

Heb 10:11-14, 18

Mark 13:24-32

Dismissal at 9:15 a.m. Mass

Nov 18: Dedication of the Basilicas of Ss. Peter & Paul The Year of Grace (Paul)

ACM: pp. 108-111 (Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer)

C 1195 The Liturgical Year: How Christians celebrate time

Nov 21/22: CHRIST THE KING (B)

161: Dan 7:13-14

Rev 1:5-8

John 18:33b-37

Dismissal at 9:15 a.m. Mass

Nov 25: Catherine of Alexandra Thanksgiving Week

Nov 28/29: I Advent (C)

3: Jer 33:14-16

1 Thes 3:12-4:2

Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

**No Dismissal – Thanksgiving Week

Dec 2 Sacrament(s) of Initiation (Deacon Joe)

ACM: pp. 52-53 (Baptism), 66-67 (Confirmation), 76-77 (Eucharist)

C 0301 Sacraments of Initiation: sacraments of invitation C 0893 Sacraments: It All Starts With Jesus

Dec 5/6: II Advent (C)

6: Bar 5:1-9

Phil 1:4-6, 8-11

Luke 3:1-6

Dismissal at 9:15 a.m. Mass

Dec 9: Juan Diego Sacraments of Healing

ACM: pp. 132-33 (Reconciliation), 50-51 (Anointing)

C 0386 The Sacrament of Reconciliation C 0196 Anointing of the Sick C 0890 Ten Tips for a Better Confession

Dec 12/13: III Advent (C)

9: Zep 3:14-18a

Phil 4:4-7

Luke 3:10-18

Dismissal at 9:15 a.m. Mass

Dec 16 Sacraments of Service/Vocation

ACM: 94-95 (Orders), 116-117 (Matrimony)

C 0797 Sacrament of Orders: priesthood in transition C 0697 Deacons Today: ministers of service C 0596 Sacrament of Marriage: sign of fruitful grace

Expectations during the Catechumenate: The Parish Community: Active prayers, support,

encouragement during the Dismissals and Rites, and an open invitation to Catechumens/Candidates to begin taking part in the apostolic work and life of the Church (RCIA 75, 4)

The Clergy: Pastoral formation and guidance, recognition and support; done privately with each participant and publicly in the life of the Church and in liturgies with the Assembly (75, 1)

Expectations during the Catechumenate: The RCIA Team: Lessons, appropriate materials,

listening, and the “tools” for participants to “set out on a spiritual journey…from an old nature to a new one made perfect in Christ” (75, 2)

The Sponsors: Attendance with their participant at all Wednesday lessons, Sunday Breaking Open the Word sessions, and Rites as scheduled. Sponsors also communicate with the clergy and the RCIA as necessary about any special needs or situationsthat may arise

Expectations during the Catechumenate: Participants:

Candidates must provide written record of baptism, or if written record is not available, an Affadavit

Attend all Wednesday night sessions, and as many Breaking Open the Word sessions as possible

Participate in all events with their Sponsor Interview prior to the Rite of Election on the 1st Sunday

of Lent (February 21, 2010) Participate in a Retreat Experience prior to the Easter Vigil

Questions?

Then it’s Break Time!