End of Period of Mystagogy / Neophyte Year

[quiet52]

The final period of the catechumenal process, the period of Mystagogy, has ended now for those initiated during Easter 2008. RCIA leaders are encouraged to bring them together on their “one year anniversary” (give or take) in order to give thanks to God, to share with one another their spiritual experiences, and to renew their commitment (RCIA 250).

I’m wondering if RCIA leaders, or former RCIA participants, who have actually taken this stage of the process seriously, can share their experiences. How have you observed the end of the period? Did you “wing it” or did you use a particular resource to help you structure an evening with group sharing questions, prayers, etc.? Was it well-attended? What do you suggest?

 

[jc-servant]

We don’t do a formal end of the year for this period at my parish. Our RCIA continues to meet for a few weeks after Easter. During these weeks the participants go through how people can continue to grow in their faith life and how they can participate in the parish and other Catholic organizations. In the past they had reps from many ministries and organizations in the parish come in and give short presentations to the class. We tend to have very active converts who are so plugged into the parish life at the end of their first year that they are not separated back out to recognize the end of their first year in the church. We have such large RCIA classes every year that I don’t know how practical a one year reunion would be with 100+ people trying to share at once.

During RCIA, we have already been providing opportunities for everyone to begin to live as active Catholics outside of mass. We take them on their 1st Catholic retreat where they do adoration, a group rosary, etc. On the retreat, they hear from recent converts who share their conversion stories and also from priests. They have been doing shared prayer and intercessory prayer the whole time. Additionally, as a group there are service activities including working with the Knights and Men’s Club on T-giving baskets. Helping Lifeteen fundraise for their mission trip by working in the kitchen at the Lenten fish frys, etc. There are so many sponsors and RCIA team members who have been through Christ Renews His Parish that many of our converts go through that spiritual formation process within their first 1-2 years as Catholics. It gives them a range of people both in age and spirtual maturity with whom to have a much closer relationship as they continue their faith journey.

 

[quiet52]

You have a hundred people a year in RCIA?! :dancing::extrahappy::clapping:

That’s wonderful. I can’t even imagine that happening here.

 

[tinalewis]

Hi quiet53 -

Last year the RCIA group met at their regular classtime until Pentacost. I think it was just a seasonal decision - in that a lot of people go away for vacation during parts of the summer, others had childcare issues in the summer, and our teacher (who is a religious) had order matters to attend to. The same thing will occur this year in my husband’s RCIA class. In this sense our parish RCIA classes follow the annual school year schedule.

Our parish’s RCIA class of 2008 had 4 completers - not counting me since I dropped out right before the Rite of Election because at that time progress on my husband’s annulment of his first marriage had stalled. Only 1 new Catholic out of the 4 completers - plus me - are still regular church-goers at our parish. One moved out-of-state, but I don’t know why the others haven’t been around. Perhaps a lengthier mystagogy period would have made a difference by giving them a forum to discuss ideas and concerns. Perhaps they decided that our parish wasn’t a good fit for them and switched to a different one.

The only other regular churchgoer out of the 2008 class is good friends with a family in the parish and that probably has a lot to do with it. But I didn’t know anybody in the parish when I signed on to RCIA. I think additional mystagogy for either of us wouldn’t have made any difference.

I think we new Catholics who are really in love with the church will stay not matter what. Perhaps that’s what should be emphasized first in RCIA: *Falling in love with the church. * The period of mystagogy might be too late to re-light a fire after it’s already grown dim.

 

[PJM]

=quiet52;5075340]The final period of the catechumenal process, the period of Mystagogy, has ended now for those initiated during Easter 2008. RCIA leaders are encouraged to bring them together on their “one year anniversary” (give or take) in order to give thanks to God, to share with one another their spiritual experiences, and to renew their commitment (RCIA 250).

I’m wondering if RCIA leaders, or former RCIA participants, who have actually taken this stage of the process seriously, can share their experiences. How have you observed the end of the period? Did you “wing it” or did you use a particular resource to help you structure an evening with group sharing questions, prayers, etc.? Was it well-attended? What do you suggest?

Dear friend in Christ,

Could you please share with me your source for this declairation?

I teach RCIA, and am under the impression that the period of Mystagogia only begains after the Easter inductions.

I’m not doubting you, simply asking for evidence of your position.

What are the terms you apply prior to Easter?

Love and prayers,

A confused Catholic.

 

[quiet52]

Dear friend in Christ,

Could you please share with me your source for this declairation?

I teach RCIA, and am under the impression that the period of Mystagogia only begains after the Easter inductions.

I’m not doubting you, simply asking for evidence of your position.

What are the terms you apply prior to Easter?

Love and prayers,

A confused Catholic.

PJM, I don’t have a “position.” Mystagogia is the fourth stage or “period” of RCIA, beginning after the reception of the sacraments of initiation (which are most commonly received during the Easter Vigil). My question is about those who became Catholic last year (2008). Their period of Mystagogy ended this year.

In the ritual book, you can go to the section entitled “Period of Postbaptismal Catechesis or Mystagogy” in Part I – Sections 244-251.

Section 250 states: “On the anniversary of their baptism the neophytes should be brought together in order to give thanks to God, to share with one another their spiritual experiences, and to renew their commitment…”

I was wondering if and how other parishes put this into practice. In my parish our new Catholics from last year are gathering this week with our new Catholics from last weekend’s Easter Vigil. All are looking forward to it. I’d like to make it as meaningful for them as possible, which is why I posted here.

Thank you for your involvement in the RCIA process, and happy Easter!

 

[PJM]

PJM, I don’t have a “position.” Mystagogia is the fourth stage or “period” of RCIA, beginning after the reception of the sacraments of initiation (which are most commonly received during the Easter Vigil). My question is about those who became Catholic last year (2008). Their period of Mystagogy ended this year.

In the ritual book, you can go to the section entitled “Period of Postbaptismal Catechesis or Mystagogy” in Part I – Sections 244-251.

Section 250 states: “On the anniversary of their baptism the neophytes should be brought together in order to give thanks to God, to share with one another their spiritual experiences, and to renew their commitment…”

I was wondering if and how other parishes put this into practice. In my parish our new Catholics from last year are gathering this week with our new Catholics from last weekend’s Easter Vigil. All are looking forward to it. I’d like to make it as meaningful for them as possible, which is why I posted here.

Thank you for your involvement in the RCIA process, and happy Easter!

Thank you my friend,

I thought I may have missed something.

I have suggested a second year (optional) training, but not having any luck selling the idea?

Happy Easter… Jesus Chrsit is Rised today

 

[adowcday]

A lot of RCIA programs find that RCIA sessions held for those who were initiated at Easter (Mystagogy) are poorly attended. Makes sense: they got what they came for!

I think that the best approach is a good adult faith formation program open to all parishioners and providing opportunities to learn about scripture, doctrine, spirituality, and marriage and family life. Mystagogy is a life-long process in which all of the baptized.

By the way, our parish in San Diego had 24 in RCIA this year, 6 of whom were baptized at the Easter Vigil.