How to "sell" Mystagogy?

[quiet52]

I would like to learn more about how parishes which are serious about Mystagogy (the fourth period of the RCIA process) “sell” it to their newly-initiated.

I am not asking “What do you do during Mystagogy?” although please feel free to share what you do. I am asking “How do you persuade people to participate once they are baptized, confirmed and receive first Holy Communion?”

What do you say in your bulletins, or to the participants, or from the pulpit? Does your pastor recognize the importance of this period of RCIA? Does your RCIA team and the sponsors take it seriously? Do you educate the rest of your parish about it?

I am also wondering if research has been done on the effectiveness of Mystagogy vs. no formal Mystagogy. For example, how many Catholics who participated in formal Mystagogy still attend Mass every Sunday two years, or five years, after being initiated, vs. Catholics whose parishes didn’t offer any formal Mystagogy?

 

[twopekinguys]

I would like to learn more about how parishes which are serious about Mystagogy (the fourth period of the RCIA process) “sell” it to their newly-initiated.

I am not asking “What do you do during Mystagogy?” although please feel free to share what you do. I am asking “How do you persuade people to participate once they are baptized, confirmed and receive first Holy Communion?”

What do you say in your bulletins, or to the participants, or from the pulpit? Does your pastor recognize the importance of this period of RCIA? Does your RCIA team and the sponsors take it seriously? Do you educate the rest of your parish about it?

I am also wondering if research has been done on the effectiveness of Mystagogy vs. no formal Mystagogy. For example, how many Catholics who participated in formal Mystagogy still attend Mass every Sunday two years, or five years, after being initiated, vs. Catholics whose parishes didn’t offer any formal Mystagogy?

Mystagogy is probably the hardest thing to deal with when it comes to RCIA.

Our parish has tried numerous approaches, and to be honest, we have found that there isn’t really any one single approach that works. Our period of mystagogy varies from year to year, depending on the class that joins at the Vigil.

One year, our class developed a really strong devotion to the rosary. So, by Easter Vigil, we had it in place where different members of the class would lead the rosary before each Mass. We even helped set them up in rosary groups, that would meet on a weekly basis to socialize, and pray the rosary together. This ultimately ended up with many parishoners starting their own rosary groups.

Another year, our class got really caught up in church history, so we set up several Bible study nights geared toward that aspect. These included video presentations, guest speakers that had extensive knowledge of church history, that sort of thing. Of course, these were open to other parishoners as well, and were a great success.

One of the really neat things we have done is when it comes to Holy Thursday. We have the neophytes bring up the new oils, lector, cantor (if they can sing…lol), be gift bearers, and have their feet washed.

This year, our class seemed to be drawn to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, So I think we are going to work on special Holy Hours geared toward them, and possibly 24 hour adoration. They also seemed to be drawn to things that deal with the homebound, and hospital ministries, but we’re not really sure how we’re going to integrate that into the mystagogy period, but we’re working on it.

For our parish, we have found that flexibility counts, and there isn’t any kind of standard period of mystagogy.

Hope this helps.

 

[JaredR]

I have just been received into the Church and we have entered the Mystagogy period. It wasn’t really presented to us as a choice or something optional (this is not a complaint). We’ve always met after Sunday Mass for RCIA, and the director informed us that we would continue to meet after Sunday Mass until Pentecost.

 

[fdesales]

I would like to learn more about how parishes which are serious about Mystagogy (the fourth period of the RCIA process) “sell” it to their newly-initiated.

I am not asking “What do you do during Mystagogy?” although please feel free to share what you do. I am asking “How do you persuade people to participate once they are baptized, confirmed and receive first Holy Communion?”

What do you say in your bulletins, or to the participants, or from the pulpit? Does your pastor recognize the importance of this period of RCIA? Does your RCIA team and the sponsors take it seriously? Do you educate the rest of your parish about it?

I am also wondering if research has been done on the effectiveness of Mystagogy vs. no formal Mystagogy. For example, how many Catholics who participated in formal Mystagogy still attend Mass every Sunday two years, or five years, after being initiated, vs. Catholics whose parishes didn’t offer any formal Mystagogy?

You must take a different approach from the very BEGINNING. If the RCIA is centered on “receiving the sacraments” or is made the grand finale, it is only natural that very few would continue to come after the Easter Vigil. You must begin, from the very first day, to tell the candidates/catechumens that RCIA is a period of sacramental formation, the beginning of a life long journey, which does NOT end at the Easter Vigil. This must be addressed from the start. You can never refer to RCIA as a “class” that ends with the Vigil. There must not be a sense of a class that ends on Easter Vigil.

As you enter into Lent, you can begin to speak about the benefits of the upcoming Mystagogia - promise that they will get to meet people from the parish, that the gatherings will be a different environment - one less structured and focused on fellowship rather that formal learning. Make is sound “fun”!

If your Period of the Catechumenate included a lot of group discussion, the people should be a relatively close-knit group by now (in other words, if your RCIA class was not a 90 minute lecture… :yawn and they will desire to continue, if they are taught that Mystagogia is not an additional burdensome series of classes, but an opportunity to continue fellowshiping, learning about the ministries in the church (and helping them to learn what their OWN calling is…) and telling them that you are helping them to better experience the Risen Lord.

I underline that because it is the theme of Mystagogia… You can do this by drawing upon the experience of the Vigil, Mass in general, linking the sacraments to life events (birth of child - baptism), Lectio Divina, and of course, lay ministry and discernment.

You can also tell them that they can meet once a month after Pentecost, like a BBQ at one of the team’s house. You could do a short Bible study or just have everyone share how their walk has been - regarding their prayer life, study, or how they are evangelizing their own environment (modeled after the Cursillo meetings…)

Please be aware that the biggest reason that Neophytes drop out of active membership of the Church is because they do not feel part of the local community. Don’t skimp on Mystagogia, make it clear to them from the beginning that fellowship and getting to know others - and themselves - is vitally important.

If you need any more help, let me know…

Regards,

Fdesales

 

[tinalewis]

I had zero Mystagogia, and that was fine with me. I was invited to join Mystagogia with my former RCIA class (I had dropped out of RCIA in January), but I didn’t feel the desire to. I did attend a field trip with my former RCIA class when they were in Mystagogia, because that was the best way to visit a famous church a distrance away from our city. Truthfully, my former classmates seemed more interested in shopping in the church’s gift shop than in viewing the relics and visiting with the Benedictine Sisters.

It’s been nearly 2 years since I became a Catholic and of course I continue to attend Mass at least 3 times during the week and every Sunday in addition to distributing Holy Communion to a nursing home and city hospital and also serving on a parish committee. Only one of my former RCIA classmates remains involved in the parish.

I don’t know what I would recommend to retain new Catholics in the faith. This is something that has puzzled me for two years now. I certainly wouldn’t push too much Mystagogia on anybody. Perhaps we could ask the new Catholics what they would like and what would keep them involved parishioners?

 

[mswood]

We where told by the deacon running our RCIA that classes continued until Pentecost and he expects us to be there, he has been telling us since classes started. He always stressed that the Easter Vigil and the Sacraments of initiation was just the beginning and not the end. We all also have a great respect for him and I doubt anyone will be missing classes because of this respect.

 

[DanielP]

You must take a different approach from the very BEGINNING. If the RCIA is centered on “receiving the sacraments” or is made the grand finale, it is only natural that very few would continue to come after the Easter Vigil. You must begin, from the very first day, to tell the candidates/catechumens that RCIA is a period of sacramental formation, the beginning of a life long journey, which does NOT end at the Easter Vigil. This must be addressed from the start. You can never refer to RCIA as a “class” that ends with the Vigil. There must not be a sense of a class that ends on Easter Vigil.

I agree with this. This is a problem with the RCIA program I am in (I was received into the Church on Easter Vigil). We were not told until a couple of months ago that we were expected to continue with RCIA until Pentacost. Not that I have a problem with this, but It was a surprise to all of us. Everything up until that point had been in preparation for receiving the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil. Our next meeting is on April 14th and it is a “feedback to the team” night. This will be one of a few things that I will bring up.

If you want Mystogogy to be a priority to your people in RCIA, you need to make it clear that Mystagogy is part of the process early on, IMHO.

 

[quiet52]

You must take a different approach from the very BEGINNING. If the RCIA is centered on “receiving the sacraments” or is made the grand finale, it is only natural that very few would continue to come after the Easter Vigil. You must begin, from the very first day, to tell the candidates/catechumens that RCIA is a period of sacramental formation, the beginning of a life long journey, which does NOT end at the Easter Vigil. This must be addressed from the start. You can never refer to RCIA as a “class” that ends with the Vigil. There must not be a sense of a class that ends on Easter Vigil.

As you enter into Lent, you can begin to speak about the benefits of the upcoming Mystagogia - promise that they will get to meet people from the parish, that the gatherings will be a different environment - one less structured and focused on fellowship rather that formal learning. Make is sound “fun”!

If your Period of the Catechumenate included a lot of group discussion, the people should be a relatively close-knit group by now (in other words, if your RCIA class was not a 90 minute lecture… :yawn and they will desire to continue, if they are taught that Mystagogia is not an additional burdensome series of classes, but an opportunity to continue fellowshiping, learning about the ministries in the church (and helping them to learn what their OWN calling is…) and telling them that you are helping them to better experience the Risen Lord.

I underline that because it is the theme of Mystagogia… You can do this by drawing upon the experience of the Vigil, Mass in general, linking the sacraments to life events (birth of child - baptism), Lectio Divina, and of course, lay ministry and discernment.

You can also tell them that they can meet once a month after Pentecost, like a BBQ at one of the team’s house. You could do a short Bible study or just have everyone share how their walk has been - regarding their prayer life, study, or how they are evangelizing their own environment (modeled after the Cursillo meetings…)

Please be aware that the biggest reason that Neophytes drop out of active membership of the Church is because they do not feel part of the local community. Don’t skimp on Mystagogia, make it clear to them from the beginning that fellowship and getting to know others - and themselves - is vitally important.

If you need any more help, let me know…

Regards,

Fdesales

Thank you for your excellent post Fdesales. Yes, this is what I try to convey from the beginning of the process. That we are not just focusing on their preparation for the sacraments, but they are preparing for a sacramental lifestyle, and that we cannot do it alone.
But it seems as if my voice is the only one talking about Mystagogy. The pastor, the sponsors, no one else in the parish, seems to care about this period or talk about it. The indifference can be “deafening.” I am hoping that those who have been participating in the sessions will follow through. They seem to enjoy the process. But when everyone else seems not to encourage them …
Of course, I will follow through, leading the Mystagogy. But there are no substitutes.
How do you “teach” your pastor and the rest of the parish about the importance of Mystagogy?

 

[fdesales]

Thank you for your excellent post Fdesales. Yes, this is what I try to convey from the beginning of the process. That we are not just focusing on their preparation for the sacraments, but they are preparing for a sacramental lifestyle, and that we cannot do it alone.
But it seems as if my voice is the only one talking about Mystagogy. The pastor, the sponsors, no one else in the parish, seems to care about this period or talk about it. The indifference can be “deafening.” I am hoping that those who have been participating in the sessions will follow through. They seem to enjoy the process. But when everyone else seems not to encourage them …
Of course, I will follow through, leading the Mystagogy. But there are no substitutes.
How do you “teach” your pastor and the rest of the parish about the importance of Mystagogy?

You need to immediately line up some speakers, people “in charge of” particular ministries at your parish. One a week should be good enough. Trust me, they’ll be happy to get up there and share with others what they do, esp. if it means they might recruit someone! Tell them to speak about their conversion experience, not just about their ministry, although you want them to talk about that, as well. If possible, call upon former RCIA people, you want to include them, as well. Converts are the “best” for expressing the Mystagogia experience - it is new to them and can identify with the new experience, while many craddle Catholics can have a harder time with something they have grown up with and know no other way.

There are a number of topics you can cover, in addition to the guest speaker, and they would appeal to new Catholics. They have received gifts from the Spirit, you’ll have to help them find what that is. So the importance of lay ministry and serviing the Church are important topics. We also cover several different forms of spirituality and Lectio Divina, which will help them in their prayer life. Doing a short bible study on the Easter Gospels are also worthwhile, esp. Cycle A, since they are selected specifically for the Neophytes!

These people want to experience God. You have to draw this out for them and give them more ways that they can experience Him in their daily lives. Don’t worry about the sponsors too much. They don’t need to be there. The Pastor, remind him that in many parishes, nearly 50% of former RCIA participants are no longer active at the parish, they’ve fallen back again - primarily because they do not feel connected to the parish - in other words, they were not introduced to hardly anyone, know nothing about what the parish does.

Is he the one who teaches the classes? I have found that pastors support you nearly always IF they are not required to invest more time. Take it over - but if you feel it’s too late, give it a go, anyway and see what happens, and then plan it better for next year. It will be good feedback to see what might work for next year.

Anything else, let me know.

Fdesales

 

[kage_ar]

These people have become a community, a group during RCIA. They should be thrilled that they are not just “cut loose” after Easter, that they can still learn and fellowship together!

 

[jmcrae]

I agree with this. This is a problem with the RCIA program I am in (I was received into the Church on Easter Vigil). We were not told until a couple of months ago that we were expected to continue with RCIA until Pentacost. Not that I have a problem with this, but It was a surprise to all of us. Everything up until that point had been in preparation for receiving the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil. Our next meeting is on April 14th and it is a “feedback to the team” night. This will be one of a few things that I will bring up.

If you want Mystogogy to be a priority to your people in RCIA, you need to make it clear that Mystagogy is part of the process early on, IMHO.

I agree with this. Everything needs to be on the original schedule handed out on the first day, so that people can mark their calendars. We live in a busy world - people do not take kindly to these kinds of surprises.

 

[kage_ar]

I agree with this. Everything needs to be on the original schedule handed out on the first day, so that people can mark their calendars. We live in a busy world - people do not take kindly to these kinds of surprises.

Of course!

We have mystagogy on all the schedules, you can’t spring it on people!

 

[tinalewis]

These people have become a community, a group during RCIA. They should be thrilled that they are not just “cut loose” after Easter, that they can still learn and fellowship together!

Not all RCIA groups become a community. Neither mine nor my husband’s RCIA group bonded beyond the “Hi, how are you?” stage.

 

[kage_ar]

Not all RCIA groups become a community. Neither mine nor my husband’s RCIA group bonded beyond the “Hi, how are you?” stage.

How sad!

I cannot imagine spending hours each week together, learning the Faith, praying, sharing, eating, laughing, crying, and not getting past the “Hi, how are you” stage.

 

[ccom23]

Our RCIA director has put April 25th as the “Final Meeting” on our schedule. He has April 11, 18, and 25th listed as Mystagogy. Beyond April 25th we’ll no longer meet. Our group of 10 are polite to each other but have not met outside of meetings other than Mass.

 

[jmcrae]

Our RCIA director has put April 25th as the “Final Meeting” on our schedule. He has April 11, 18, and 25th listed as Mystagogy. Beyond April 25th we’ll no longer meet. Our group of 10 are polite to each other but have not met outside of meetings other than Mass.

That’s unfortunate. Part of the point of having RCIA instead of individualized instruction is to build a small community of people that you can feel like you know, so that you don’t feel completely alone when you go to Mass.

 

[fdesales]

Not all RCIA groups become a community. Neither mine nor my husband’s RCIA group bonded beyond the “Hi, how are you?” stage.

Sounds like you went to the “RCIA is about lectures” class…

Unfortunately, there is still a line of thinking that becoming Catholic means knowing the doctrines…

 

[onegreenclover]

I don’t think that you necessarily have to sell it. I thought that it was a required period because our RCIA made it clear that that is the remaining period of the whole process itself. I think it tells you a lot when people don’t come after the vigil.

 

[puzzleannie]

we call and send written invitations, literally, to each of the post-Easter sessions and special parish events they are invited to during the year. still only get half the newly baptized returning, although most come for the classes on penance and make first confession. they are all coming to the parish Easter dinner tonight except one who works, this event serves as our reception to introduce them. They also have all volunteered for the parish festival next month. I have one person from a parish organization assigned to contact each neophyte once a month or so to issue personal invitations to parish events as well.