RCIA - topic Eucharist

[andersonbd1]

Hi,
I’m preparing to lead our weekly RCIA class. The class is 1.5 hours long. We have booklets we usually go through, but I found it to be somewhat lacking for this week’s topic - the Eucharist. So I’m scrapping it and coming up with my own plan. I printed out the portion of the compendium for everyone. I’m also printing out a bunch of scripture passages (from Jeanne Kun’s "Food from heaven). Another thing I’d also like to go over is the proper way to receive communion - gestures and all that. I thought the GIRM would be the place to find this stuff, but I guess it isn’t. Is there any formal instructions anywhere? Also, does anyone have any other ideas of for info I should be covering?
Thanks,
Ben

 

[jmcrae]

Do they need to be taught how to receive at this early stage?

They will be going over that during Lent, closer to the time of their First Holy Communion, I should think? (Or is this going to be their only exposure to teaching about the Eucharist for their whole RCIA formation?)

Also, keep in mind, for many of them, this is their first exposure to the subject. Try to stick to one main, memorable point.

Do you talk for the full 90 minutes, or do you have discussion sessions and/or response exercises in between some short talks that you give?

If you are breaking it into short talks with discussion periods/exercises in between, you can deal with a few more points, but don’t overwhelm them with too much stuff all at once - you want them to be able to remember what they’ve heard, later on.

If it were me, I’d start with the reading from Matthew 26:17-30. and point out that this is when Jesus established the Mass. Also point out that the words used in the Institution (26-28) indicate the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Discuss this teaching in plain language - if you have to use technical terms, make sure you define them as you go along.

This actually encompasses two points - Jesus established the Mass, and the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

I would then allow them to unpack these points through a guided discussion, and then use the remaining time to talk about what happens at the Consecration, the special role of the priest at Mass, who may receive Holy Communion in the Catholic Church (make sure they understand that not even all Catholics can receive, all the time) and what it means to be “properly disposed” to receive Holy Communion - this could be framed as a guided discussion, or as a short talk.

 

[rskempf]

I can recommend a few resources.

The missal that should be available in the church normally has a short document on the back cover or inside the from cover titled something like “For the Proper Reception of the Eucharist.” This is a basic summary that is placed in the missal so anyone can find it and read it during mass.

I also recommend a book The Faith Explained, by Leo Trese. If you have time to pick this up, it is a great resource.

The Catechism is arguable the best resource and all in you class should get a copy. There is a small format paperback copy that is easy to carry around. This has an index that can be used to search by key word.

Any document directly from Pope John Paul II, or Pope Benedict XVI on the eucharist is great but it depends on your audience and how much time is available. I recommend perusing these if you have time.

Here are a few documents from the United Conference of Catholic Bishops.

1. usccb.org/pope/euchengl.htm
2. usccb.org/dpp/Eucharist.pdf
3. usccb.org/dpp/realpresence.htm

I read item 2 and it was recommended to me by a great priest. I like it a lot. The other two seem pertinent to your topic.

This is the “source and summit” of our faith. There is an incredible amount of material available from the vatican website and the USCCB. I plead, make sure you are using credible material. There is a lot of “weak” material out there that is not completely aligned with the Faith.

Thanks for your service!

Rick

PS: I am reading Paul of Tarsus now and it gives a good picture of the early celebration of the Eucharist by the early church. The early church fathers would be another good resource to see how this part of our faith was initially celebrated - much like it is today.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Hi,
I’m preparing to lead our weekly RCIA class. The class is 1.5 hours long. We have booklets we usually go through, but I found it to be somewhat lacking for this week’s topic - the Eucharist. So I’m scrapping it and coming up with my own plan. I printed out the portion of the compendium for everyone. I’m also printing out a bunch of scripture passages (from Jeanne Kun’s "Food from heaven). Another thing I’d also like to go over is the proper way to receive communion - gestures and all that. I thought the GIRM would be the place to find this stuff, but I guess it isn’t. Is there any formal instructions anywhere? Also, does anyone have any other ideas of for info I should be covering?
Thanks,
Ben

Send me an Email and I’ll send you a Power Point that will help.

 

[grannymh]

This is a small suggestion for making the Eucharist important – which Jesus Christ is…

At the beginning of each class, give a short comment, scripture verse or a quote about the Eucharist… Pope John Paul II is a good source.

Or ask the CCD coordinator to have second or third graders write a few sentences about why they love Jesus in Holy Communion. Or get testimonials from Confirmation students or from your oldest parishioners about why the Eucharist is important in their lives.

Whatever you choose to read to R.C.I.A. should only be a couple of minutes at the beginning of every class. The goal is to teach by your example that the Eucharist is important in your life.

Blessings,
grannymh

 

[grannymh]

P.S. to my earlier post.

Please,
Please,
be sure to teach Transubstantiation!

A good easy to read and easy to quote pastoral letter is the following:

www.rockforddiocese.org click Meet Bishop Doran.
Then click Bishop Doran’s “Pastoral Letter on the Eucharist”, 1997.
or try www.rockforddiocese.org/bishop

Blessings,
grannymh

 

[Ruthie]

Thanks for the link, Granny! That is a wonderful letter.

If anyone else had trouble reading it, cut and paste it into a document, and the over-written lines will sort themselves out. At least, they did for me.

Merry Christmas and happy new year,

Ruthie