Teaching an RCIA class

[RCCDefender]

We used this last year and it will probably be used this year. I thought it sucked.

We did not use the entire binder; we have a rather condensed RCIA it seems. Anyway, when ever my team was up to lead the class I found my own materials and focused on the Catechism.

Why? Check out this Update on Mary. I wish it would be worth it to fisk this whole article but here are some highlights. It (not so) subtley calls into question the perpetual virginity of Mary.

Um…she was not pregnant out of wedlock. She was betrothed. The author of the piece (of ****), Elizabeth Johnson, C.S.J. spends a lot of filler in this Update chiding us to remember and yet she seems ignorant of Jewish customs regarding marriage.

Don’t get me started on the the Update on the Holy Spirit.

The organizers of this product really didn’t take care not to include questionable material. And since we kind of did our own thing I don’t really know how effective the whole programs approach would be. My observation was that there was a lot of feel good fluff.

I have no idea if this would work better with well-catechized facilitators but I was dealing with comments like “I learned not to pray for things more than once. Once is enough” and “I personally don’t have a problem with women priests” said to unsuspecting candidates.

WOW!!! I don’t ever remember reading anything like that, maybe that one wasn’t in mine, I’ll have to check… I did have RCIA at the Cathedral, so I had always thought that was a plus. I remember we had to read some other books on Mary as well. And I was reading as much as I could get my hands on in my spare time, so I might have had a lot more influence from those outside sources than others in the program. I’ll have to look back over my manual. Maybe I am attributing more of my outside studies (and my bliss at becoming Catholic) to my RCIA class than I should. Thanks for pointing out your experience with this program. I haven’t heard of anyone else who used it. Maybe you could give me the reference to the one about the Holy Spirit as well. I should really reevaluate this program since you had such a bad experience.

 

[jmcrae]

I hope you will start in the beginning like Genesis and speak about the Old Testament the time of the Jewish religion, and sacrifices.

I have a session that I have developed that gives an overview of the whole Bible story, beginning with the Creation and ending with the establishment of the Catholic Church.

I include different details each time, depending on the interests of that particular group, but it follows an orderly outline. The main purpose of the session is to introduce them to the Bible and show where things are, generally speaking, and give them a sense of how it is put together. I also make sure they understand that although the sections are in chronological order, the individual books in each section tend to skip around quite a bit. For example, in the Penteteuch, it’s safe to say that Genesis and Exodus are chronological, and then Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy go back over the same time period, and fill in more details. Then the book of Joshua picks up where the book of Exodus left off, and so on. (I could give the whole lecture here, but it takes me about 45 minutes to give it out loud: I don’t think you want 45 minutes of text, here.)

Then the time periods of Jesus and the birth of Christianity, the Great Schism, the Protestant Reformation. Just a quick overview /timeline not too deep.

Our overview of that is extremely light - I don’t like going into it too much, because one thing I really want to avoid is anything that could be mistaken for “comparative religion.” We mention that in the past, some people have created religions based on our teachings; some of these people were people who left the Church because of various issues, many of which were misunderstandings, but that they have developed their own traditions, now, and aren’t likely to be coming back.

Beside the earlier mention issues - many candidates are embarrassed about trying to learn the Mass. So have a handout ready - a good one listed on this forum from before the crash was available at soladeiverbum.com/handouts.shtml

Thanks for the link. I also have a one-page over-view of the Mass that I put together - I didn’t print out all the prayers, but I do note the sections, and I indicate, “Stand,” Kneel," and “Sit” at the appropriate places. I also make sure that they all have a copy of the St. Joseph Missal to follow along with, and to use at home for memorizing the prayers in their spare time.

Another thing I did was I put together a page of standards of etiquette in Church. People do find this very useful, although I am still seeing a lot of gum in Church.

(How do you train your Inquirers to lose their gum outside, before they come into the Church? This problem seems to be getting worse and worse with each group that I have.)

 

[JCPhoenix]

Well, I know a little bit more now.

It is indeed very much a part of the liturgy, ie what readings are being done the upcoming Sunday. Every week has a related topic, ie the sacraments, etc.

I will be observing during the first few weeks, and I don’t have the book for th end of this liturgical year (B), but I have the C book which begins in Advent. This way I can look it over and start to prepare.

She explained that the catechists will use the book (The curriculum), read the scriptures, and the corresponding parts of the catechism, and present the information. Apparently being a storyteller helps to make it all “relevant”.

I’m very excited!

 

[CatQuilt]

Well, I know a little bit more now.

It is indeed very much a part of the liturgy, ie what readings are being done the upcoming Sunday. Every week has a related topic, ie the sacraments, etc.

I will be observing during the first few weeks, and I don’t have the book for th end of this liturgical year (B), but I have the C book which begins in Advent. This way I can look it over and start to prepare.

She explained that the catechists will use the book (The curriculum), read the scriptures, and the corresponding parts of the catechism, and present the information. Apparently being a storyteller helps to make it all “relevant”.

I’m very excited!

You’ll do a wonderful job! They’re lucky to have you teaching them.

 

[tracydaisy]

Our Parish is using

acmrcia.org/pub.html

I’ve had a hands on view of the package, and would reccomend it highly!

Me too.

THis is my 4th year teaching and the 1st year with the ACM book. It has loads of hand outs, but I’m having trouble deciding what to teach when. Any ideas? I started with “the existance of God”. How do you choose what to teach and when to teach it? Last year the lessons were so structured, that I’m having trouble with all this freedom.

I would love to have a RCIA teachers sub-forum. I think it would be wonderful to have a place to ask other RCIA teachers questions and share tips, stories, and good jokes for class. Is there anyone else interested?

 

[kage_ar]

Me too.

THis is my 4th year teaching and the 1st year with the ACM book. It has loads of hand outs, but I’m having trouble deciding what to teach when. Any ideas? I started with “the existance of God”. How do you choose what to teach and when to teach it? Last year the lessons were so structured, that I’m having trouble with all this freedom.

I would love to have a RCIA teachers sub-forum. I think it would be wonderful to have a place to ask other RCIA teachers questions and share tips, stories, and good jokes for class. Is there anyone else interested?

The Cathecists were able to review the ACM book and handouts etc. during one of our workshops - to know that this material was available if we needed it for any of our CCD classes.

Between CCD and Youth group - while I so want to be involved with RCIA, there is just not time this year to commit, but I know I will be popping in here and there.

Our Priest is the RCIA teacher. Our Parish’s first class was last Wed, there were 48 people there, 18 are non-Catholics.

Your suggestion of the RCIA teachers subforum - well, I’d like to see that for ALL us Cathecists

 

[Birdysboy]

I am assisting this year. We have about 8-10 students. Our Priest is lead teacher, with 3-4 other assistants. During inquiry, we will just sit back and help the students. Maybe offer help on as needed basis.

After we start the formal part (right before Advent) each assistant will be assigned a topic ( a specific sacrament, moral theology, the Creed, etc) to seminar with the students. We will prepare handouts, encourage discussion, blah blah. I will have a test on mine, oral. We will have an agenda on a monthly basis up to Lent, then maybe have teaching points on Moral Theology and Being Catholic in a Secular World type stuff. Very practical, useful material.

The best thing I can encourage any teacher to do is spend time before the Blessed Sacrament prior to class. It helps so much.

 

[Birdysboy]

Me too.

THis is my 4th year teaching and the 1st year with the ACM book. It has loads of hand outs, but I’m having trouble deciding what to teach when. Any ideas? I started with “the existance of God”. How do you choose what to teach and when to teach it? Last year the lessons were so structured, that I’m having trouble with all this freedom.

I would love to have a RCIA teachers sub-forum. I think it would be wonderful to have a place to ask other RCIA teachers questions and share tips, stories, and good jokes for class. Is there anyone else interested?

The RCIA Teachers subforum is an awesome idea.

Start with a question box, maybe stuff your topics so the students will feel good about adding to it.
Sample topics include:
What makes a church christian?
Who was Jesus?
Are Catholics Born again?
What is Grace, Faith?
Is Baptism necessary for Salvation?
Do Catholics worship Mary?
Do Catholics still eat fish on Friday?
Is the Pope faliable?
What is the difference between mortal and venial sin?

Remember some people have no starting point at all and all these questions are the first time they have thought of them, nothing is new.

 

[tracydaisy]

The RCIA Teachers subforum is an awesome idea.

Start with a question box, maybe stuff your topics so the students will feel good about adding to it.
Sample topics include:
What makes a church christian?
Who was Jesus?
Are Catholics Born again?
What is Grace, Faith?
Is Baptism necessary for Salvation?
Do Catholics worship Mary?
Do Catholics still eat fish on Friday?
Is the Pope faliable?
What is the difference between mortal and venial sin?

Remember some people have no starting point at all and all these questions are the first time they have thought of them, nothing is new.

This is a great idea. Thanks so much.

 

[tracydaisy]

Your suggestion of the RCIA teachers subforum - well, I’d like to see that for ALL us Cathecists

Of course would want to leave anyone out.

Anyone else interested in a Cathecists subforum?

Does anyone know how we get a subforum started?

 

[jmcrae]

The RCIA Teachers subforum is an awesome idea.

Start with a question box, maybe stuff your topics so the students will feel good about adding to it.
Sample topics include:
What makes a church christian?
Who was Jesus?
Are Catholics Born again?
What is Grace, Faith?
Is Baptism necessary for Salvation?
Do Catholics worship Mary?
Do Catholics still eat fish on Friday?
Is the Pope faliable?
What is the difference between mortal and venial sin?

Remember some people have no starting point at all and all these questions are the first time they have thought of them, nothing is new.

And make sure that you know the correct answers to these questions. (Quick poll - how many people here think that penance on Fridays “went out with Vatican II?” )