Forming Threshold Companions
The tables are cleared, the taxis have come and gone, another Conference has come and gone. This page is an opportunity for some immediate reflections. If you would like to add something please contact Martin Foster.
Some photos from the Conference have been added to the website.
Martin writes:
The Conference has given me much to think about. Sheila remind us of the fundamentals and brought us back to what the Rite actually says. In particular the relationship of the catechumenate to the Liturgical Year. Not only that this was a key to the catechumens entry into, and conversion into, the mystery of Christ, but also that it is the celebration of the liturgical year. When we start to probe we discover that the rite has an integrity.
As ever it also the mixture of Conference sessions, informal time and prayer that make up a rich experience.
Sue writes:
What an excellent conference we have just had. I found it really beneficial to learn from the expertise of such an experienced RCIA practitioner as Sheila O’Dea, for whom weekly dismissal of catechumens within all-year catechumenate is the norm.
Participating in the scriptural reflection process within the liturgy was a deeply profound experience, as we feasted on the Word of God. It made the Liturgy of the Word integral and inseparable from the eucharist, when during mass the first reading Ephesians 2:19-22 was proclaimed twice, with time for reflection, and this was repeated with the Gospel. It illustrated how it could be accomplished during Mass: certainly with smaller gatherings, although it would need some preparation.
Sheila offered us a vision – for the Church to honour the Word of God and the Eucaristic mystery with the same reverence.
I see the challenge is to move to all-year round catechumenate with weekly dismissals.
I think this needs to be directed at diocesan level:-
- set a timeframe that all parishes will work towards,
- within the next year there should be a consultation process, in which the perceived difficulties and challenges are explored,
- certain key parishes should be encouraged to practice dismissal during this period, so living examples can be considered,
- the result of consultation should be diocesan guidelines for Forming Threshold Companions.
On a practical basis, I liked Sheila’s suggestion of encouraging readers to attain the additional skill to form part of a rota to lead the weekly dismissal.
Paula writes
What an amazing conference! Input, reflection, liturgy, eating together – and of course raising the occasional glass at the end of the day.
For me personally, the mystagogical reflections were perhaps the most powerful moments – carefully woven together strands of words and music which brought to life again the experiences of liturgy and conference.
Sheila’s input around the themes of apprenticeship, community, liturgy and catechesis reminded us anew of the pillars of our ministry in RCIA and the need to keep them in balance.
I experienced a great sense of community among those gathered, and an openness and attentiveness to each other.
The ‘conference hymn’ has certainly been running around inside my head since Friday:
Stand firm, oh stand firm
Stand firm, oh stand firm
Stand firm, oh stand firm and see what the Lord can do!
Veronica writes:
‘Forming Threshold Companions’ was an excellent three day opportunity to deeply reflect once more on the rich vision of the RCIA in its wholeness. I was particularly struck by the importance of the community and how we modelled a small community, within a larger community as central to the process of the conference. Much thought had obviously gone into enabling these small fellowship table groups to function as reflective, listening, learning and worshipping communities. I felt bereft when, on the last day, we said goodbye and formed a new group focussed on geography and charged with the mission of taking it all home. What remains for me is a renewed conviction of the importance of the RCIA for the Church of today in initiating people into the radical way of life that prioritises as Jesus did.
Ken writes
Forming Threshold Companions did what it says on the title. It was a good place to be. It touched into the heart of the Rite Of Christian Initiation of Adults by emphasing once again the role of the community as the prime influence in the formation of all inquirers, inviting us to take seriously the power of the liturgy . To see the Liturgical Year as key to formation and helping us to feast at the table of the Word. For me the rite that holds all these aspects together is the rite of dismissal. A rite sadly more observed in the breach than the observance. Sheila was uncompromising in stressing the importance of this dimension of the RCIA and hopefully those of us who were privileged to be at the conference will re-think our practice and take the dismissal more seriously. The way in which we were led to reflect on the experience of celebrating the liturgies by journeying deeper into the Word which was certainly made flesh touched the hearts and minds of all present. For these things and for the table companionship I give thanks. It was as a blessing.
Martin writes again:
A number of people commented positively on the music and the liturgy - thanks to Paul, Philip, the instrumentalists and cantors for their help. I have added a list of the music and where it can be found on to the website.
The road that leads to the glory of Easter
Reflection on the liturgy can be seen as the third stage of liturgical catechesis:
- Preparation to participate in the liturgy
- Participation in the liturgy
- Reflection on our participation in the liturgy.
It can be a key catechetical moment but like all such moments we do not ask others that which we have not asked of ourselves. So before we can ask the elect to reflect on their experience we must first reflect for ourselves. This is not to provide a stock of right answers but so we know what it means to answer the question.
This week's posting is a reflection on celebrating the Rite of Election by network members. Reflecting on what we do is a key part of the guidelines of the Network and so it seems appropriate to offer this space. What follows is not the story of one Rite of Election but a snapshot from around the country which will grow over the coming week.
I am always struck by that moment when Catechumens and Godparents and then Candidates and Sponsors stand up. In part because at these moments you see the people the liturgy is about. They are not isolated people but nor do they have the solidarity of standing in a large group. The answers of Godparents and Sponsors this year to those questions which go to the heart of the Rite were clear and certain. And then the sign of friendship and support seems to have a warmth and depth that speaks of a journey walked together.
The numbers of people is what makes the most stirring impression. Assuming that people are truly meaning what the Rite would have them mean – or even that they are attempting this – it is amazing and encouraging and challenging to see so many people coming to make a public profession of ‘new’ faith.
In the case of this diocese it is sad that the response to the numbers has been to abandon a principal symbolic action (the calling out or their names and the signing of their names by the elect) and to obscure the significance of the presentation of their names by combining it with the welcome of candidates for reception/completion of initiation and obscuring the presentation of (both sets of) names with a handshake with auxiliary bishops. The gesture of welcome is a genuine one, and well received by the elect and candidates, but it lacks the personal punch and commitment of the symbol of the declaration and handing over of the name
When I saw primroses flowering in the woods on Saturday, I thought of the wonder of creation and how these tiny flowers were being propelled into our world much earlier than usual. But don't we always have primroses in Lent and isn't creation just adapting and keeping in time, so all the concerns about it being an early Rite of Election this year melted into the sunlight.
Creation cropped up again when proclaimed in the Scriptures, a story that reflects a disastrous choice, and so I turned to the Rite and saw just how many choices have to be made, that enable the Godparents, Catechists, Sponsors, clergy, local community and the catechumens to be able to affirm that these in our midst are ready to go forward and become the 'elect'.
It's worth having a renewed look at the rite: being able to remember 'the lengthy period of formation ... of minds and hearts'#118, the 'conversion in mind and action and to have developed a sufficient acquaintance with Christian teaching as well as a spirit of faith and charity' #120, for that will need to sustain the elect during the period of purification and enlightenment.
They also have the experience of having shared the rite with their fellow catechumens, and candidates from throughout the diocese in a ceremony whose symbolism tells of the worldwide Church. I thought what a wonderful liturgical gesture: to have the elect (and candidates) walk down the side aisles of the cathedral, and when called, walk forward towards the Bishop, who in turn walked to greet each one. So there was a continual flow of movement as the Bishop greeted first on the right and then crossed to the other side; the person then turned and walked up the central aisle with their Godparent (Sponsor), through the womb (or heart) of the church. Whether by design or accident, it was rich in symbolism. Congratulations also to our Bishop who individually greeted around 37 catechumens and 130 candidates.
And finally I return to primroses: for as I saw the radiance on some of the faces of those presented to the Bishop, I fleetingly thought of the primroses radiant in the Lenten sunshine.
At St Barnabas' Cathedral in Nottingham, Bishop Malcolm welcomed the 125 candidates and catechumens who gathered for election. Our theme this year was 'Give as a gift - receive as a gift', based on Matthew 10:8. The sight of the candidates, catechumens and their sponsors processing into the cathedral behind the Book of the Elect was an awesome sight and profoundly moving. In advance, candidates and catechumens had been sent a scroll and invited to write down a passage from scripture which had touched them in some way. These were gathered in as they entered the Cathedral and after signing the Book of the Elect they were invited to take away a scroll as a gift. The word of God alive and active and a gift received and shared. We're only aware of one person who received their own scroll back!
In his homily, Bishop Malcolm spoke of the temptations around us, highlighting the temptation to individualism and the commitment of the candidates and catechumens to life as community. He spoke of the way faith was shared and spread in this part of the world, referring to St Bede and reminding us that our faith is received as a gift and is a gift to be given and shared. Each of the elect received a prayer card with the prayer the Diocese of Nottingham is using to focus on how we hand on our faith, and the front of the card showed an image of The English Cross, a cross carved from a dead tree by local artist, Rev Jean Lamb.
At the Rite of Election this year one young woman arrived on her own to be presented to the Bishop as a candidate. She was very nervous and did not have her request for admission form with her. We were able to provide her with a new form and she was befriended by a member of another parish who sat with her and accompanied her to meet the Bishop. How she had been sent forth from her parish on her own I do not know but thank God for the kind stranger who is now a friend. Both women were very moved by the experience and saw God very much at work in their meeting and participation in the Rite of Election.