RCIA Folks - good/great class ideas?

[InternetWoman]

I’m looking to tap anyone who has been through RCIA for any examples they may have of great RCIA classes. I’m thinking of some sort of great exercise, or discussion topic, or whatever that really helped you understand some aspect of the faith. I don’t want my RCIA folks to have to sit in a “teach only” class with glazed over eyes. I’d like to develop some really good exercises or discussion questions that will get them involved and thinking.

Suggestions?

Thanks

 

[jwinch2]

I actually am mostly against those types of things in RCIA. Opening things up for discussions is often counterproductive in RCIA because you have so many people with no grounding in the faith. If you have a table of 4 with varying backgrounds but none of them Catholic, what exactly are they supposed to come up with?

Having said that, I think it can be done in small amounts from time to time if handled correctly.

The biggest issue I see with RCIA is a lack of preparedness on that part of those doing the teachings. Do you have handouts, powerpoint presentations, an organized lecture/presentation, study questions, etc.? Do you have the knowledge to tie in the writings of great saints, doctors of the church, or popes that relate to issues from the Catechism? Are you skilled enough to link the topic to the relevant passages in the Bible and perhaps the writings of early church Fathers or even Church councils? The ability to tie in multiple sources of material on the same topic and present it in a coherent and articulate manner is one of the things that makes a teacher. Anyone can sit up there and read the handouts or the catechism out loud which is far too often what goes on.

There’s my 2 cents. I hope it helps…

Peace, and thanks for your work in RCIA.

 

[InternetWoman]

Do you have handouts, powerpoint presentations, an organized lecture/presentation, study questions, etc.?

So if I call it “study questions” instead of “discussion questions” then they are OK?

Sample “question”:

We’ve just read Jesus’ Sermon on the mount and the eight beatitudes. Can you rephrase them so that they are in more modern language? Can you see a relationship between them that relates to spiritual growth?

As you can hopefully tell I’m trying to get the Beatitudes out of theory mode into “how do I live my life right now.”

I’m looking for more ideas on how to take things from theory to practice.

(And yes - agenda, class handouts, power point slides, related Saints, lists of associated books to read, and given that I’ve been doing this for 25 years, a certain degree of experience.)

 

[jwinch2]

So if I call it “study questions” instead of “discussion questions” then they are OK?

Sample “question”:

We’ve just read Jesus’ Sermon on the mount and the eight beatitudes. Can you rephrase them so that they are in more modern language? Can you see a relationship between them that relates to spiritual growth?

As you can hopefully tell I’m trying to get the Beatitudes out of theory mode into “how do I live my life right now.”

I’m looking for more ideas on how to take things from theory to practice.

(And yes - agenda, class handouts, power point slides, related Saints, lists of associated books to read, and given that I’ve been doing this for 25 years, a certain degree of experience.)

OK, I see more where you are going now. I think doing things like that are fine when the content has been presented adequately first. And yes, there is a difference between study questions and discussion questions. Discussion questions are typically something that gets bantered around by a group. Study questions are taken home with students for them to work on in their own time to bring back to share with the group later once they have done some sort of investigation using appropriate sources.

As for the rest, I don’t mean providing students with outside sources to go look up. I mean can whoever the instructor is for the day, make links between the catechism, scripture, councils, church fathers, and saints during the teaching process?

I am probably coming across the wrong way here and if so, I apologize, but pedagogy and good teaching is something I care about. I am a university professor and while research is a major part of my job, teaching is very important to me. I have come across way too many “teachers” who are nothing of the sort. Even ones who have been doing it for a long time.

 

[anp1215]

I don’t know if this is what you’re asking for, but my favorite class in RCIA was when they took us on a tour of the church. We walked over to the church and they told us the technical terms for everything. Catholics probably know those terms in their sleep, but the average Protestant won’t know what a “narthex” or “ambo” is. They will probably call it the foyer/lobby and the pulpit. So it is good to point that stuff out, and easier to do in the church than it is on paper. They also pointed out the symbolism of everything (many Catholics don’t even know about a lot of it) such as how a lot of things are in groups of three (for example, the windows along the top of the wall) and what the stained glass represents.
Anyway, that is a fun, hands on class.

 

[puzzleannie]

have a box and some index cards where they can write their own questions and drop them in, so you can prepare some material to answer them for the next session.

 

[anp1215]

have a box and some index cards where they can write their own questions and drop them in, so you can prepare some material to answer them for the next session.

That’s a good idea. Some people (me) don’t like asking questions in front of others, so they (I) let questions go unanswered. This way they won’t feel like they’re asking a “dumb” question.

 

[Texas_Roofer]

I’m looking to tap anyone who has been through RCIA for any examples they may have of great RCIA classes. I’m thinking of some sort of great exercise, or discussion topic, or whatever that really helped you understand some aspect of the faith. I don’t want my RCIA folks to have to sit in a “teach only” class with glazed over eyes. I’d like to develop some really good exercises or discussion questions that will get them involved and thinking.

Suggestions?

Thanks

I agree it is not a teach only class but a teaching down (from on high), the questions should match the teaching plan so what plan do you use?

 

[InternetWoman]

I generally tailor the discussion question to the particular question. For example, tonight, we broke into small groups (4 to 5) and each group had to write an advertisement for an Apostle (to be posted in the Jerusalem Times ). The Ad had to list the qualifications of the Apostle and a job description.

We put all the best parts on the whiteboard. When we were done I asked them if they were ready to sign up for the job, since we are all called to be apostles of the Lord.

Next week I’m going to have the write the front page of the Jerusalem Times for Easter morning.

I don’t always do newspaper type questions, it just seems to fit the two classes (we are working out way through the Gospel of Matthew).

 

[InternetWoman]

OK, I see more where you are going now. I think doing things like that are fine when the content has been presented adequately first. And yes, there is a difference between study questions and discussion questions. Discussion questions are typically something that gets bantered around by a group. Study questions are taken home with students for them to work on in their own time to bring back to share with the group later once they have done some sort of investigation using appropriate sources.

Then I have my group do both. Study questions get reviewed at the start of class and are designed to get them thinking about the topic ahead (or remember the one we just covered). Discussion questions are done at the end of class and are intended to make them apply the teaching (moving from intellect to will).

As for the rest, I don’t mean providing students with outside sources to go look up. I mean can whoever the instructor is for the day, make links between the catechism, scripture, councils, church fathers, and saints during the teaching process?

We have a “Saint of the Week” at the end of every class - generally the “top 50” in popularity (as defined by EWTN ) We try and focus on how that person followed Jesus and what they had to suffer/struggle to do so.

I am probably coming across the wrong way here and if so, I apologize, but pedagogy and good teaching is something I care about. I am a university professor and while research is a major part of my job, teaching is very important to me. I have come across way too many “teachers” who are nothing of the sort. Even ones who have been doing it for a long time.

I’m in the Phoenix area, the people I get in my RCIA class (all 40 of them) often have little to no knowledge of God so it’s an up hill battle. We have to focus on getting the basics across. Getting them to read Scripture is difficult. The Catechism (the big CCC) is impossible (tried it for 3 years and gave up). We do use the USCCB Catechism for Adults but even that you have to stand on their toes.

We touch on a few councils - Hippo and Carthage (for the Canon), Vatican II for it’s change to the liturgy. But we have to keep things basic and simple. Eyes glaze over if you try and go too deep.

 

[InternetWoman]

So to repeat - what I’m looking for is examples of good class exercises or though provoking discussion questions that get people involved and really thinking about what it takes to follow Jesus (via his true Church).

For example - the Trinity. We cover that in 3 weeks. Any ideas of ways to help make that more concrete? (OK so even Aquinas had trouble with this but we’ve got to try!)

 

[Kathryn_Ann]

Greetings!
:harp::angel1:

I wonder if most people going through RCIA were like me, in that I wanted to learn the How, When and Where of how to behave at Mass! If people can learn about the proper way to cross oneself, what the words mean, genuflecting, holy oil, what to do when other are going to Holy Communion, (and how wonderful it will be when you can join them,) they will feel more at home at Mass. Many in RCIA are shy about asking these simple questions, and get caught up in the heavier topics, when really, people are delightfully childlike and trusting in their wish to learn the simple things.

I hope this helps. I had a wonderful RCIA experience, and our Parish Priest and our Sister instructor were wise to understand that a balance was needed between the lofty, the sublime and the very simple things about the Catholic faith.
Blessings!
Kathryn Ann
:knight2::harp::grouphug: