St Peter & St Paul — Sitting by the Beautiful Gate
Our neophytes are finding themselves increasingly ‘at home’ in the parish community, which is fantastic – life-giving for all. They have talked a lot about their Easter experiences over the last months, and the community have shared their lives in many simple, small ways. The heart-beat of the Word pulsing throughout the process of preparing these people for the sacraments, continues in other forms in the parish. And yes, the community continue to give ‘thoughtful and friendly help ‘ (RCIA 234)
However, once again the process of initiation has challenged us. Why am I surprised that the readings for the feast of Saints Peter and Paul raise more questions than answers? Yes, we have received into our community a number of people this year, but there are still so many people ‘sitting at the Beautiful Gate’ turning to us expectantly, and hoping to get something from us, and actually either we don’t notice them at all, or we are frightened of them because they are ‘different’, or we are too busy, or we don’t think the Church can support even a conversation with them, so we ignore them.
Perhaps for me the challenges are:
- Can we notice the people on the edge, and try and get into their shoes?
- If we ask them to ‘Look at us’ what do they see?!
- How can we engage their trust and confidence?
- If we say (with Peter) ‘I will give you what I have’, what exactly do we mean by that?
- When we hear the questions from Christ for ourselves: ‘Who do you say I am?’ and ‘Do you love me?’ and find ourselves saying with Peter ‘You are the Christ’ and ‘Yes, you know I do’, how do we avoid paying lip-service, and actively respond to Christ’s follow-up: well then, feed my lambs and look after and feed my sheep?
- And what about the Church in Acts - do we ‘pray to God unremittingly’ for one another, and for those in troubled circumstances?
- How can we make ourselves available, and be that liberating and healing presence? How do we show we care and not leave people with a sense of isolation and rejection?
Peter took the crippled man by the hand and helped him to stand up on his own two feet for the first time (and the man was jumping up and down and praising God! ) Can we dare to do this? I think so, yes, because, as Paul says in his letter to Timothy, the Lord will stand by us and give us the power – power to bind up the wounds of hostility, disparaging remarks, prejudice, and power to loosen the bonds of helplessness and hopelessness.
Solemn Blessing for the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul: You might like to pray this line by line, very slowly, allowing silence between phrases. How does it speak into your life?
The Lord has set you firm within his Church
which he built upon the rock of Peter’s faith.
May he bless you with a faith that never falters.
The Lord has given you knowledge of the faith
through the labours and preaching of Saint Paul.
May his example inspire you to lead others to Christ
by the manner of your life.
May the keys of Peter, and the words of Paul,
their undying witness and their prayers,
lead you to the joy of that eternal home
which Peter gained by his cross, and Paul by the sword.
EUROCAT 2009: when strangers meet
For us, it’s twenty-one years since the publication of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults in English(1988),and some forty-four years since the Vatican II call for the restoration of the catechumenate (Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church, Ad Gentes Dec 1965). At the end of this week there is to be European gathering of representatives involved in the catechumenate (‘Eurocat’), with delegates expected from 22 countries, east to west, north to south. Each delegation is asked to provide a ‘poster’ of statistics from their context, together with a written report, and will have the opportunity to speak about the state of the catechumenate and the challenges faced.
So what are the good things? And the challenges? Although we do not have a ‘desk’ for the catechumenate at national level, as many countries do, the RCIA Network for England and Wales does have membership in most dioceses. Together we build on the good work that many dioceses are doing, and aim to encourage and share resources, both people and materials. From Network conference and study day participants over the years, and from those working in advisory roles, we hear that although many dioceses have identified ‘mission’ as important, this model is not always connected with RCIA. Statistics are available as to the numbers attending the Rite of Election in each diocese, as well as adult baptisms and receptions. Do these provide a full picture of catechumenal activity? What proportion of parishes in each diocese see themselves as initiating communities? How are those already graced through Baptism received into full communion in our parishes? How do we begin to integrate candidates and catechumens into the life of the community from the very start?
At the moment you may be aware that the Network is engaged in producing material that will support formation of parish ‘teams’. There are Network study days this year on the Role of the Assembly, with workshops on Receiving the Baptised and Formation of Teams. Work is also being done in collaboration with the Bishops Conference Department for Christian Life & Worship on Guidelines for Christian Initiation of Children of Catechetical Age.
The Eurocat conference theme is ‘Integration’ looking at what happens when strangers meet, and the psychological aspects of integration of newcomers into existing social systems. Please remember the conference in your prayer – perhaps with echoes of today’s Gospel in mind. There will be much telling of stories of ‘what has happened on the road’ in different lands, and perhaps some ‘agitation and doubts’. But above all, hearing Christ speak ‘It is I’ in all of these.
You are warmly invited…..
Lent! and it begins with a blissful invitation 'Come back to me with all your heart'. At the beginning of this period in the ritual text is the quote 'The water that I shall give will turn into a spring of eternal life'. That sounds mysterious......
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RCIA 125: 'In the liturgy and liturgical catechesis of Lent, the reminder of baptism already received or the preparation for its reception, as well as the theme of repentance, renew the entire community along with those being prepared to celebrate the paschal mystery..... for both the elect and the cmmunity Lent is a time for spiritual recollection.'
We are being drawn into an ever-deepening experience of who Christ the Saviour is for us personally and communally. Through the Word, in Sunday Gospels, in scrutinies and presentations, we are invited to come closer and be touched by the one who has given us living water to quench our thirst, light for our path, and the freedom to live life to the full, in love and service of others. Its an opportunity for each of us to be reminded of who we are and who we are becoming, and to renew our resolve to hold fast. We might take time in these next six weeks to look at the initiation rites for ourselves, and through the lens of these promises, our intimate covenantal relationship can take on new meaning and hope. The whole purpose of the Gospel of John, proclaimed in the scrutinies, is our union wth Christ through the Spirit - so no academic pursuit this! No requirement to learn or acquire or achieve or posess - but simply to open, and allow for what is happening amongst the people in the Gospel narratives to happen among us in our communities. These are not rituals instituted and left behind by a departed Jesus, but Jesus risen and present in and around us now.
So with a double-awareness of Jesus in his time and history, and Jesus in similar movement in our lives, we respond to the invitation, the question:
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What is your thirst? What darkness or blind spots are in your life? What causes you to remain bound up in 'deathly' attitudes?
We read the gospel differently when we are hungry, says Gustavo Guttierez. You could by extension say we read the gospel differently when we are thirsty, blind or bound up with troubles? And we discover that Christ meets us right where we are, with living water, light for our path, new life full of hope and meaning.
So yes, I am looking forward to Lent and I pray to be open to both personal and community renewal.
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Lord God, You created the human race and are the author of its renewal. Bless all your adopted children and add these chosen ones to the harvest of your new covenant. As true children of the promise, may they rejoice in eternal life, won, not by the power of nature, but through the mystery of your grace. We ask this ghrough Christ our Lord. Amen (RCIA 122, B, Prayer over the Elect)
Rejoice! The Lord is with you!
On Christmas eve, at our Vigil Mass, Sean will be received into full communion with the Catholic Church. It’s been a long journey – around 20 years, married to a Catholic, and parenting 4 Catholic children, and the time seems right. Sean has been part of a Catholic parish community for all this time, learning how Catholics pray, how they worship together, how they live out faith in daily life, and have a care for those on the margins. He’s been part of all this! After 18 months of more formal ‘enquiry’, and some instruction on various aspects of the Catholic faith that he needed to know about, Sean and the community felt that Christmas Eve would be perfect – and so in these last days of Advent, he is especially in our hearts, as with Paul we pray ‘Glory to him who is able to give you the strength to live according to the Good News’. Sean wondered if he ‘knew’ enough, and then he realised that he could never know enough! There would always be more – and it would be in the realm of experience that he would grow, surrounded by the love and support of family and community, his relationship with Christ would develop. We, the community, have been encouraging him through lectio with the Sunday Gospels – and like Mary, some of what has been heard has been deeply disturbing….challenging… That God is with us! Do we believe it? Is it true? This is our story! As James Hanvey said in the Tablet (29.11.08) We are not dying! We are not declining! We are being made ready! We are learning anew who we are, and the mystery of what we carry within us! Sean is helping us to do this!
‘A secular world can describe us… if it chooses. It may seek to dismiss us… but it does not write our story! It can’t judge the life of the Spirit or the work that God is doing in His people!
James Hanvey, Tablet, 29.11.08
In the fulfilment of Sean’s initiation , the Holy Spirit overshadows, and in the fullness of time this Christmas Eve, as we celebrate the great solemnity of the Incarnation, the world stands still, as Sean’s past, present and future are brought together, and Christ is born anew in another of God’s holy ones, ‘You are my Son, this day have I begotten you’. – Sean’s quiet and humble response and our prayer too, ‘ Let what you have said be done in me’.
Let’s pray with joy and hope for one another as God’s glory breaks on the world time and time and time again! Very happy Christmas to all bloggers and readers!
Credit Crunch – what currency have we invested in?
Every time you turn on the radio or the telly these days, its doom and gloom and credit crunch. None of us, whatever our financial 'profile' is immune from the effects of this, whether its the pension fund, or the high street bank we use, exchange rates, cost of heating and fuel, food, mortgage, even jobs. How does the Gospel speak into our lives this week? How does it fire up our faith when the going gets a bit tough? How does it support our catechesis for bringing people into communion with Christ? The entrance antiphon for 29th Sunday in OT is a call for protection, the opening prayer for strength and joy, Isaiah 'from the rising to the setting of the sun, apart from me, all is nothing'. Paul begins his letter offering grace and peace from God, and encouraging faith in action - 'when we brought the good news to you, it came to you not only as words, but as power and as the Holy Spirit and as utter conviction'. Jesus, caught between a rock and a hard place, says legitimate government has authority and deserves our co-operation. Easy to get bogged down in worries, payment of bills and taxes, and forget to cash in the revealed treasure of God's salvation, freedom, and all the gifts poured out for our lived lives! These wonderful mysteries of our faith and our ordinary lives are not separate realities, but find their full expression in each other. As Seamus O'Connell, Professor of Scripture at Maynooth says, some people in restaurants refuse to put down the menu and do not taste the food - we know the teaching, we know the Gospel - but its useless unless we consume it and allow it to nourish us for every eventually, every worry, every 'crunch', every need. The Communion antiphon from Sunday's Liturgy supplies: 'See how the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those who hope in his love; that he may rescue them from death and feed them in time of famine.' Let's be aware of people whose basic needs are not being met.
Battling with a heavy sea in a headwind!
In the middle of August, we have this well-known Gospel, which echoes powerfully with us as a parish, in the 'holiday season' trying to maintain contact with our candidates - feeling we are battling against the odds..... And He made us get into this wretched boat and go on ahead while he dismissed the crowds (yes, dismissed!) and went up into the hills for a nice quiet time by himself! We quite fancy a nice bit of quiet ourselves.
Well, in this story there is room for both - time for quiet refreshment in the 'sheer silence' on the hillside (Community Bible translation of 'gentle breeze' (in 1 Kngs 19:12) and with the psalmist to 'hear what the Lord has to say, a voice that speaks of peace', and time for battling with our own fears and immaturity as we attempt to move forward with the process of initiation.
On reflection, perhaps rather than highlighting Peter's doubt, it is is his courage and faith that is emphasised when he says in the height of the storm on seeing Jesus walking towards them, 'Order (or 'tell')me to come to you' and Jesus says 'Come' and he climbs out and gives it a go!
So what have we been 'giving a go' this Summer? The 'group' has not been meeting to break the Word, which could be seen as a disapointment. However, the sponsors have been alongside our candidates these last weeks, sitting with them at Mass, bringing them to parish picnics, prayer vigils for Zimbabwe, and pilgrimages to local shrines, as well as continuing to share on the Sunday Gospels over a coffee, and telling stories of their own experience, for example, of reconciliation, as this sacramental opportunity approaches for the one who is to be received into full communion in September (on the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross - most appropriate for him). Our neophyte has got married - so that has been a great joy in the whole parish community. He specifically wanted the recitation of the Creed in the nuptial mass because it has come to mean so much to him. So on reflection, the community and the candidates have been quietly getting on with the business of helping 'those who are searching for Christ in the various circumstances of daily life'. (RCIA9) Perhaps, gradually we are moving towards a more liturgical/mystagogical apprenticeship!
Hearing stories of those who have gone before us!
Today is the feast of St Etheldreda! She was born in AD 636, the daughter of the King of East Anglia, a Christian, who did much for the conversion of his kingdom and neighbouring Wessex. Having been married twice, Etheldreda then built a large monastery at Ely, where she was Abbess for 7 years. Her influence was wide, and many of her friends, relations and courtiers came to her for spiritual guidance. She was a friend of St Wilfrid, and adviser to the young St Cuthbert too. These saints are all part of our rich Christian culture in these islands. It strikes me that over the Summer months, it would be good to introduce our candidates and catechumens to some of our fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers in faith, and it could be fun! We could plan visits and picnics to local convents and monasteries in the town and countryside - ring the guestmaster or pastoral centre in advance to ask - and I'm sure there would be a warm and hospitable welcome, perhaps even a guided tour, and some opportunity to talk about the history of their order or foundation, and their particular charisms. This could be on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, or one weekday in one of these lovely long Summer evenings. How about a pilgrimmage to a not-to-distant shrine? These would be great opportunities for the parish community to participate very actively in initiating candidates into Catholic Christian life, further developing relationships with them, increasing their sense of belonging with us.
As I write, the gardeners amongst the parish are getting the cemetary ready for an outdoor Mass next Sunday - and I notice two of the candidates have come along to help too. The Mass is for everyone who has someone buried in the cemetary - from the parents of the young lad killed in a helicopter accident last month, to the grandparents of grandchildren who live away from the parish now, and all in between. The graves will be blessed, and then we will all drink sangria in the sunshine (we hope) and talk about their lives and how they influenced us! And in the past, several enquirers have been amongst this group too. So we come back to Etheldreda and other saints in our 'story' right up to the present day - and as we tell the stories of those who have 'gone before us marked with the sign of faith', we will be amazed and humbled at the response, not only in the hearers, but in ourselves too. Perhaps we will find ourselves being seen, and found, and grasped and named and knocked breathless by God - again!
All of a sudden, this year-round catechumenate doesnt seem so hard after all!
Having met together, they asked ‘Has the time come?’
Last night we held our last session for two candidates who are being received into full communion on Pentecost Sunday. Reflecting together on the readings for the Ascension, 'has the time come', we talked together about the last few months, and our attempt as a team guiding the RCIA to be true to the spirit of the ritual text, based on Acts 15:28, that ' no greater burden than necessary is required for the establishment of communion and unity', recognising that Peter and Jane have been on the road for a long time before they knocked at our door.
We are a small rural parish, with consequent limited resources. Jane and Peter have joined our weekly catechumenal sessions fairly regularly over the last 6 months - from the start, we explained the difference between them and our catechumen - the quantum leap, Baptism! In the group they have been encouraged to raise anything they wanted, and have entered fully into gospel-based sharing and the doctrinal and spiritual content that has emerged, adding great richness to our gathering. Each one has had separate opportunities to meet with our PP, their sponsors and catechist, for any personal issues to be raised. Every Sunday they have been coming to Mass, getting to know people, and growing in their experience of Catholic liturgy and life, including our justice and peace projects. We reflected long and hard on the appropriate moment for reception, and decided against using any form of combined rite at the Easter Vigil - 'anything that would equate candidates for reception with those who are catechumens is to be absolutely avoided'. (RCIA 391 UK) - choosing rather to go with the very simple ceremony of the Rite of Reception within Mass. After the homily the candidate joins the gathered faithful in reciting the Creed, demonstrating their existing baptismal faith, and adding a straightforward and profound statement at the end: I believe all that the Catholic church believes, teaches and proclaims to be revealed by God.' The words of the celebrant are warm 'The Lord receives you into the Catholic Church. His loving kindness led you here.... and after anointing with the oil of chrism, eh takes their hands into his own as a sign of friendship and welcome, and the whole community are invited to greet them in a friendly manner. The mass continues and they will come to be one with us at the table for the first time.
Given their personal circumstances, their baptism!, their journies on the Christian path so far, we felt that this length of catechetical formation was appropriate. It has been gradual, non-pressurised, and in the process, we as a community have also become more self-aware, hopefully demonstrating a little more humility, appreciating in Peter and Jane the spiritual gifts they bring to us. Aren't we all on the road of continuing conversion to Christ! Our journey with these candidates has opened us to fresh promptings of the Spirit. For Jane and Peter, 'the time has come'. We prayed for one another last night ' for the 'spirit of wisdom and perception of what is revealed... may he enlighted the eyes of our minds so that we can see what hope his call holds for us.' May next Sunday, in our simple ritual of Reception, express the joy of finding one another on the way.
Taking God’s love seriously
Yesterday in our parish Sunday Mass many will have experienced the first scrutiny - and allowed that gospel encounter of the woman with Jesus at the well to interpret our own lives and inner longings. As we walk with Christ, our way, our truth, our life, along the lenten pathway towards Easter, we too meet the people he meets - through wilderness, up and down mountains, thirsty woman, blind man, dead man, welcoming crowd, angry mob - we too enter into that sense of being 'handed over', and having to trust God that this is the right path. And the scrutinies are moments of self-searching, repentance, enlightenment. They are described in RCIA 141 as having a spiritual purpose - to uncover and heal all that is weak, and to bring out and strengthen all that is good and strong. Their aim is to 'complete' conversion and deepen our resolve to hold on to Christ. Their focus is towards salvation and the resulting new life and freedom that brings. As individuals and community, in reflecting on the experience of the scrutinies, may we become more and more consciously aware of being filled with Christ - living water, light of the world, resurrection and life. We are not diminished by the experience.. we are set free.
So, what was the experience like for you? In what ways are you 'thirsty'? What does the encounter tell you about Christ?
Catechesis in Advent: Christ past, present and future
Most parish enquiry groups are a mixed bag, so I don't think ours is unique in that we have two unbaptised teenagers and their uncatechised but baptised Mum; a person who was 'received' elsewhere two years ago through one-to-one instruction but has never felt she 'belongs' to the Catholic church, and although fully initiated, she comes along to share in the catechesis; then we have a man whose first marriage has just been annulled, now engaged to a young widow parishioner; another is married to a Catholic whose children are now being prepared for Holy Communion and he wants to think about becoming a Catholic himself; a woman from a Protestant background with a strong personal relationship with God, but no experience of 'church practice'; and finally, a woman who met one of our neophytes in a cycling club and is interested in finding out more (about the Church, not cycling!)
When we first started using the Rites of Initiation of Adults we were worried about this sort of mix, and how to meet each person's needs. Now we have stopped worrying! We see it as real 'treasure' for the parish. Using the liturgical year, and the lectionary, as mainstays for our catechesis, we have found that over a period of between 1 and 3 years our catechumens come to a deep understanding and experience of the mysteries at the heart of our faith. We are no longer 'driven' by the time constraints of a more programmatic approach - and we would call this more of an 'apprenticeship' into the Catholic Christian way of life - the sort envisaged in the Rite itself.
All these people have knocked at our door at odd intervals since last January, and we have trained ourselves (!) to say 'Come in' rather than 'Come back in September'. We are muddling our way towards an all-year round 'Come and See' enquiry. By about Advent most people have been with us for several months, and we offer the first opportunity for the Rite of Welcome (or Acceptance). In looking at the Rite together, seeing what is required, it has been discerned (by us and them) that 3 of our 7 enquirers are ready for this step. And that hasn't been difficult - people know when they are reay, and we can see the change in them over the months - there is an infectious enthusiasm, an openness to the Gospel, eagerness to learn to pray, to be part of community life. Others are still a little cautious about what this commitment might mean, and want to carry on asking questions.
With the limited resources in our small rural community, the team decided to have the enquiry and catechumenal sessions on the same night. This means a welcoming drink and chat, followed by prayer time and gospel sharing together, and then split into the two groups for the deepening catechesis, with two members of the team guiding the process in each group, with sponsors there to support. 
The main 'pillar' of our catechesis in Advent for both groups continues to be the Sunday gathering, with opportunity to reflect afterwards on the experience of the Liturgy - the heady mix of signs and symbols, gestures and vestures, words and silence, is rich enough fayre for any apprentice to feast on! Leading up to Christmas we have some parish activities planned, and the enquirers and catechumens are actively encouraged to take part in community life - special advent liturgies, an outreach to the elderly housebound, a presentation on our Zimbabwe project - all of this is part of the apprenticeship in the Christian way of life, deepening the awareness of Christ in the season of Advent. Yes, Christ in history, and Christ who will come again, but most importantly, the Christ who comes and is present is so many ways in our every-day C21 lives.
Resources:
- Have a look at RCIA Network website [www.rcia.org.uk] for Tool Box for discernment among other things;
- The Liturgy Office for info on lectionary based catechesis and lectio divina.
- www.cliftondiocese.com produce some resources for year-round lectionary based catechesis
- Shrewsbury (Paddy Rylands) and Brentwood (Nuala Gannon) produce weekly 'lectio divina' leaflets.