Comments for Walking the Rite way http://www.rcia.org.uk/blog sharing thoughts, ideas and resources for the journey Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:03:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Rejoicing in the untidiness of Advent by Caroline http://www.rcia.org.uk/blog/uncategorized/rejoicing-in-the-untidiness-of-advent/comment-page-1/#comment-955 Caroline Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:03:27 +0000 http://www.rcia.org.uk/blog/?p=1127#comment-955 thanks for this. What the Holy Spirit creatively brings out of chaos is very helpful, in my own life, but also as I look up and down the highstreet, people dashing about shopping in a sort of chaotic last-ditch-stand-for-the bargain in the pre-Christmas sales (!) - but with the carol singers and the bands, and the nativity tableaux in a surprising number of shops, and an excuse for good will and cheerfulness and letting bygones be bygones... thanks for this. What the Holy Spirit creatively brings out of chaos is very helpful, in my own life, but also as I look up and down the highstreet, people dashing about shopping in a sort of chaotic last-ditch-stand-for-the bargain in the pre-Christmas sales (!) – but with the carol singers and the bands, and the nativity tableaux in a surprising number of shops, and an excuse for good will and cheerfulness and letting bygones be bygones…

]]> Comment on ‘Times and seasons’ for people returning to the practice of their faith by Carlos Lozano http://www.rcia.org.uk/blog/rite/times-and-seasons-for-people-returning-to-the-practice-of-their-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-940 Carlos Lozano Thu, 17 Nov 2011 22:53:21 +0000 http://www.rcia.org.uk/blog/?p=1085#comment-940 It is a Wonderful comparison. I have lived (and I am living) this experience of seasons of faith and I would like to bring along with me others that I know are willing to start this journey back home. Carlos It is a Wonderful comparison. I have lived (and I am living) this experience of seasons of faith and I would like to bring along with me others that I know are willing to start this journey back home.
Carlos

]]> Comment on Welcoming the Newcomer by Caroline D http://www.rcia.org.uk/blog/uncategorized/welcoming-the-newcomer/comment-page-1/#comment-914 Caroline D Fri, 07 Oct 2011 13:29:03 +0000 http://www.rcia.org.uk/blog/?p=1015#comment-914 I have often been to parishes where there is absolutely no welcome of me/may family as strangers, and to others where there has been - for example, the welcomers asking our names and where we came from, and then as if by a small miracle, the priest welcoming us by name just before the start of Mass from the altar and a parishioner taking us to coffee afterwards. Where parishes have really looked at their welcome, in the light of the gospel demands as you highlight in the blog here, it has made a huge difference. There are a whole raft of strategies, including a 'parish audit' or mapping of the current welcome at www.everybodyswelcome.org.uk Real community welcome has an effect on the RCIA process too - if those coming are made welcome in the first instance, and experience a warm 'team' throughout, and then after initiation, the support disappears and they feel isolated in the 'community' and eventually drift away. So I think it has implications for us as existing members of the community to truly welcome one another - into our lives even?! I have often been to parishes where there is absolutely no welcome of me/may family as strangers, and to others where there has been – for example, the welcomers asking our names and where we came from, and then as if by a small miracle, the priest welcoming us by name just before the start of Mass from the altar and a parishioner taking us to coffee afterwards. Where parishes have really looked at their welcome, in the light of the gospel demands as you highlight in the blog here, it has made a huge difference. There are a whole raft of strategies, including a ‘parish audit’ or mapping of the current welcome at http://www.everybodyswelcome.org.uk Real community welcome has an effect on the RCIA process too – if those coming are made welcome in the first instance, and experience a warm ‘team’ throughout, and then after initiation, the support disappears and they feel isolated in the ‘community’ and eventually drift away. So I think it has implications for us as existing members of the community to truly welcome one another – into our lives even?!

]]> Comment on The ‘Benedict Bounce’ by cAROLINE Dollard http://www.rcia.org.uk/blog/rite/pre-catechumenate/the-benedict-bounce/comment-page-1/#comment-574 cAROLINE Dollard Tue, 19 Oct 2010 11:32:37 +0000 http://www.rcia.org.uk/blog/?p=818#comment-574 Yes, interestingly in the last month since Pope Benedict's visit I have had encounter with two enquirers - one a muslim wishing to explore Christianity, and another a divorced and remarried person from another Christian denomination who now wished to take steps towards becoming a Catholic Christian, but first wondered what the church's view of them would be. And there lies the struggle we must engage in - as Martin says above, we are witness to a person, Jesus - and the struggle is to hold the coin in my hand, recognise both sides of it - CHrist on the one, the Church on the other - and offer my response, hopefully inspired by the Spirit at work in each of us, to be as wise, diserning and compassionate as the Person I know, the One we follow. Yes, interestingly in the last month since Pope Benedict’s visit I have had encounter with two enquirers – one a muslim wishing to explore Christianity, and another a divorced and remarried person from another Christian denomination who now wished to take steps towards becoming a Catholic Christian, but first wondered what the church’s view of them would be. And there lies the struggle we must engage in – as Martin says above, we are witness to a person, Jesus – and the struggle is to hold the coin in my hand, recognise both sides of it – CHrist on the one, the Church on the other – and offer my response, hopefully inspired by the Spirit at work in each of us, to be as wise, diserning and compassionate as the Person I know, the One we follow.

]]> Comment on “Take up you Cross and Follow me” by Caroline D http://www.rcia.org.uk/blog/uncategorized/take-up-you-cross-and-follow-me/comment-page-1/#comment-539 Caroline D Sat, 26 Jun 2010 11:55:54 +0000 http://www.rcia.org.uk/blog/?p=775#comment-539 thanks for this Ken. Really helpful. In our group at the moment - as ever - it has emerged that there is a pain in each of their lives, and this pain has been the key in their seeking God, and each gave testimony in response to this particular Gospel 'Who do you say I am'... One said that in the wake of the death of her child, she wanted to hold on to that word 'happy man' (Jesus speaking to Peter) - and as you said of your friend John, her eyes too sparkled, through her tears, a smile broke, saying she knew this wasnt the end of the story. Another spoke of the 'Rock' that had held him during his struggles was the love of his partner. I could go on. We are in sacred territory here. And then the following night I was privileged to watch a group of Catholic Primary School children from across the area joining forces with the musicians from a local college, performing Brundibar by the Czech composerHans Krasa - Krasa was deported to the Nazi concentration campt at Terezin... which became the temporary home to a large number of musicians, composers, writers and artists awaiting transportation to the gas chambers. In this cramped, disease-ridden place, they created a rich cultural life - above all music - and they performed this opera in the camp with all the children there.... it didnt save their lives, but it did help them bear the horrors of their incarceration, and one survivor said 'the beauty of music and art bloomed in that real life hell..'. On the face of it a simple children's tale, they sing about freedom and defeating bullies,....with huge symbolism... ending with a little trumph of resistance and affirmation of mutuality. I suppose what I am trying to say is that often people who come knocking on the door have pain as part of their journey, and they seek, and hopefully find in our messiness in the CHurch a mutuality, and an expression of the will to live, to rise again! thanks for this Ken. Really helpful. In our group at the moment – as ever – it has emerged that there is a pain in each of their lives, and this pain has been the key in their seeking God, and each gave testimony in response to this particular Gospel ‘Who do you say I am’… One said that in the wake of the death of her child, she wanted to hold on to that word ‘happy man’ (Jesus speaking to Peter) – and as you said of your friend John, her eyes too sparkled, through her tears, a smile broke, saying she knew this wasnt the end of the story. Another spoke of the ‘Rock’ that had held him during his struggles was the love of his partner. I could go on. We are in sacred territory here. And then the following night I was privileged to watch a group of Catholic Primary School children from across the area joining forces with the musicians from a local college, performing Brundibar by the Czech composerHans Krasa – Krasa was deported to the Nazi concentration campt at Terezin… which became the temporary home to a large number of musicians, composers, writers and artists awaiting transportation to the gas chambers. In this cramped, disease-ridden place, they created a rich cultural life – above all music – and they performed this opera in the camp with all the children there…. it didnt save their lives, but it did help them bear the horrors of their incarceration, and one survivor said ‘the beauty of music and art bloomed in that real life hell..’. On the face of it a simple children’s tale, they sing about freedom and defeating bullies,….with huge symbolism… ending with a little trumph of resistance and affirmation of mutuality. I suppose what I am trying to say is that often people who come knocking on the door have pain as part of their journey, and they seek, and hopefully find in our messiness in the CHurch a mutuality, and an expression of the will to live, to rise again!

]]> Comment on Greetings from Helsinki! Eurocat Bureau Meeting by Martin F http://www.rcia.org.uk/blog/network/greetings-from-helsinki-eurocat-bureau-meeting/comment-page-1/#comment-510 Martin F Wed, 12 May 2010 21:03:42 +0000 http://www.rcia.org.uk/blog/?p=735#comment-510 One aspect of the meeting which was interesting was the contribution of the Finnish Orthodox Church. In their welcome it rejoiced that those worked in the catechumenate were carrying on the work of the Apostles. One aspect of the meeting which was interesting was the contribution of the Finnish Orthodox Church. In their welcome it rejoiced that those worked in the catechumenate were carrying on the work of the Apostles.

]]> Comment on Gaps by Caroline D http://www.rcia.org.uk/blog/ministry/gaps/comment-page-1/#comment-472 Caroline D Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:51:21 +0000 http://www.rcia.org.uk/blog/ministry/gaps/#comment-472 Thanks for this Martin. I'm looking forward to this conference and getting into the theme of 'bridging the gap' in depth. Having just returned from Leuven, engaged in some 'knitting in the clouds' theological thought on what the term 'domestic church' might mean, I hope that we can include in our conference some reflection on the domestic units, of every variety, that make up our parish communities, and what these domestic units can richly contribute - about believing, belonging, and living out faith, and being a significant part of that 'sponsoring' community too. Thanks for this Martin. I’m looking forward to this conference and getting into the theme of ‘bridging the gap’ in depth. Having just returned from Leuven, engaged in some ‘knitting in the clouds’ theological thought on what the term ‘domestic church’ might mean, I hope that we can include in our conference some reflection on the domestic units, of every variety, that make up our parish communities, and what these domestic units can richly contribute – about believing, belonging, and living out faith, and being a significant part of that ‘sponsoring’ community too.

]]> Comment on What’s Cooking? by Patricia C. http://www.rcia.org.uk/blog/rite/election/whats-cooking/comment-page-1/#comment-448 Patricia C. Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:26:34 +0000 http://www.rcia.org.uk/blog/?p=674#comment-448 Dear Sue P, I think there is a case for a combined Rite but I would be a bit concerned that sometimes, using your recipe metaphor, that some essential elements of the recipe get left out. For example, here in the Archdiocese of St. Andrews and Edinburgh it was very unclear who were the elect to be baptised. When we miss this we have missed everything! How can you make bread without water and flour! Dear Sue P,
I think there is a case for a combined Rite but I would be a bit concerned that sometimes, using your recipe metaphor, that some essential elements of the recipe get left out. For example, here in the Archdiocese of St. Andrews and Edinburgh it was very unclear who were the elect to be baptised. When we miss this we have missed everything!
How can you make bread without water and flour!

]]> Comment on Setting souls free… by cAROLINE Dollard http://www.rcia.org.uk/blog/rite/catechumenate/setting-souls-free%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-425 cAROLINE Dollard Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:36:17 +0000 http://www.rcia.org.uk/blog/?p=661#comment-425 Yes I remember that too. And have actually experience using this prayer of exorcism in a small RCIA group setting - ie not in the SUnday Assembly. It was preceded by a group session, when it came out about tarot cards, medium consultation etc, and then sharing in the group about what people knew of church teaching and different people's 'wisdom', a look at 'spiritual barriers' or habits, and then one-to-one session talking through the issues on a personal level. The prayer of exorcism was then gently, carefully, yet powerfully engaged in at the next small group - with everyone laying on hands too. Follow up? Just the regular group meetings, and sponsor 'how are things going'. Real sense of 'being set free' as Martin says. Yes I remember that too. And have actually experience using this prayer of exorcism in a small RCIA group setting – ie not in the SUnday Assembly. It was preceded by a group session, when it came out about tarot cards, medium consultation etc, and then sharing in the group about what people knew of church teaching and different people’s ‘wisdom’, a look at ‘spiritual barriers’ or habits, and then one-to-one session talking through the issues on a personal level. The prayer of exorcism was then gently, carefully, yet powerfully engaged in at the next small group – with everyone laying on hands too. Follow up? Just the regular group meetings, and sponsor ‘how are things going’. Real sense of ‘being set free’ as Martin says.

]]> Comment on Rite of Welcome/Acceptance in the West Country by cAROLINE Dollard http://www.rcia.org.uk/blog/rite/rite-of-welcomeacceptance-in-the-west-country/comment-page-1/#comment-424 cAROLINE Dollard Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:27:12 +0000 http://www.rcia.org.uk/blog/?p=666#comment-424 Wow, this is amazing. You must be doing something right (rite) down there in the West Country! And to use the logistics expert for planning is shere genius! We had our Rite of Welcome last Sunday morning - in our village church, 2 adults and one teenager - again, all of whom had thought carefully about how they wanted to respond to the question ' What do you ask' or 'Why have you come'. Jo, the teenager said 'eternal life' (and then he said, he thought that sounded really cool), John said 'I want to really belong after 10 years of coming to Mass with my wife', and Clare said ' I want to get to know God better and his family'. And similarly, very moving. And spontaneous gathering afterwards, encouraging the candidates, but also saying how much they had made others in the community think - about their role in initiation, and the quality of their own following of Christ. Wouldnt miss this Rite out for the world. And then in a huge Middlesbrough town centre parish yesterday, with a parish welcoming children preparing for 1st Holy Communion, with their parents - a similar ritual process, affirming the children's baptisms, signing with the cross, opening to the Word - and the parents response to the question - what were their hopes for their children? Most said they wanted their children to belong, and one bravely said 'I want my child to understand what's going on here more than I do' - many of these families are non-practicing, and come through the Catholic School. The parish are really taking on this challenge - their responsibility to welcome and support them. Thanks Joanna! Wow, this is amazing. You must be doing something right (rite) down there in the West Country! And to use the logistics expert for planning is shere genius!

We had our Rite of Welcome last Sunday morning – in our village church, 2 adults and one teenager – again, all of whom had thought carefully about how they wanted to respond to the question ‘ What do you ask’ or ‘Why have you come’. Jo, the teenager said ‘eternal life’ (and then he said, he thought that sounded really cool), John said ‘I want to really belong after 10 years of coming to Mass with my wife’, and Clare said ‘ I want to get to know God better and his family’. And similarly, very moving. And spontaneous gathering afterwards, encouraging the candidates, but also saying how much they had made others in the community think – about their role in initiation, and the quality of their own following of Christ. Wouldnt miss this Rite out for the world.
And then in a huge Middlesbrough town centre parish yesterday, with a parish welcoming children preparing for 1st Holy Communion, with their parents – a similar ritual process, affirming the children’s baptisms, signing with the cross, opening to the Word – and the parents response to the question – what were their hopes for their children? Most said they wanted their children to belong, and one bravely said ‘I want my child to understand what’s going on here more than I do’ – many of these families are non-practicing, and come through the Catholic School. The parish are really taking on this challenge – their responsibility to welcome and support them.
Thanks Joanna!

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