A LASTING IMPACT: 20 Years of the RCIA

November 06, 2008 - 11:08 PST

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ADVISORY

By Jerry Galipeau

FRANKLIN PARK, IL (NOVEMBER 6, 2008) - In a recent essay written by Daniel E. Pilarczyk of Cincinnati, the archbishop describes the Rite of Chistian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) as a "gift of major proportions" to the Church in the United States. This year--2008--marks the twentieth anniversary of the official release of the English version of the RCIA in the United States. Over the past twenty years, hundreds of thousands of people have experienced the faith journey that is the RCIA and have been initiated into the Roman Catholic Church. Each parish and diocese has its own story to tell about the way the RCIA has had an impact on liturgy, catechesis, and parish and diocesan life.

Where did the RCIA come from?

In the early centuries of the Church, the catechumenate--a long process of conversion and initiation--developed and flourished. Those who wanted to turn their lives over to Jesus Christ were enrolled in the catechumenate and were supported by the prayers, catechesis, and formation of those early Christian communities. In time, especially with the advent of the practice of infant baptism, as well as a relaxation and eventual disappearance of the practice of officially sanctioned persecution of Christians, the catechumenate fell into dormancy.

Fast-forward fifteen hundred years. Those studying the history of the Church's liturgy in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries rediscovered many of the Church's early liturgical documents that outlined the structures and described the depth and richness of the catechumenate. At the same time, the bishops of the world began to sense the need to address the issues of evangelization and conversion surfacing in missionary areas around the globe. This was coupled with the realization that similar needs were surfacing in Catholic parishes throughout the Christian world. Church leaders began to realize that out-dated modes of formation were not addressing the real needs of those who were coming to Christ for the first time. Private instruction by priests in the rectory or in convert classes simply were not addressing the communal dimension of Christian initiation: that it is in and through a parish community of practicing believers that Christian initiation flourishes. All of these factors came together and the catechumenate was re-awakened by the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council in the early 1960's. The catechumenate, this process of evangelization and conversion, eventually became incarnated in the ritual book now used throughout the world: The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. The RCIA, the official means of initiation into the Church, became mandatory in the United States in 1988.

As the Church in the United States celebrates the twentieth anniversary of the promulgation of the RCIA in English, many of those involved in the ministries of Christian initiation are pausing at this milestone, reflecting on the past and considering a vision for the future. The North American Forum on the Catechumenate (www.naforum.org), a grassroots organization whose mission is the full implementation of the RCIA, marks the anniversary with an international convocation on the RCIA in Cleveland, Ohio in November. A new book of essays, including the essay by Archbishop Pilarczyk cited above, has been published to mark this watershed moment. "The Impact of the RCIA: Stories, Reflections, Challenges," published by World Library Publications (www.wlpmusic.com) contains a series of essays by individuals who have witnessed the impact of the RCIA from many different perspectives. One writer speaks of her experience as a catechumen who made the journey of conversion through the RCIA herself. Other voices speak from pastoral, multi-cultural, catechetical, ecumenical, and liturgical perspectives.

Marguerite Main, an essayist for The Impact of the RCIA, directed the RCIA in her suburban Seattle parish for many years. She notes the connection between the spiritual growth of catechumens and the spiritual growth of the parish. "By walking with catechumens and candidates during their journey to initiation and by hearing and seeing the movement of God in their lives, the members of the community become caught up in and more aware of the call to ongoing conversion in their own lives." Sister Linda Gaupin, Senior Director of Religious Education for the Diocese of Orlando, and a world-renowned catechetical leader reflects on the impact the RCIA has had on catechesis in general. "The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults has made a tremendous impact on the catechetical ministry of the Church," Sister Linda writes. "Because of it we have been given a whole new model for all catechesis in the Church. The baptismal catechumenate challenges our catechetical structures and the way we go about doing faith formation."

The future of the implementation of the RCIA will depend largely on the dedication and involvement of the many lay catechists and initiation ministers who by and large are responsible for the catechumenate in parishes across the country. Archbishop Pilarczyk offers one poignant observation for the future. "The fact remains that we must not take the RCIA for granted and that we have to find ways to remain energetic about it."

ABOUT JERRY GALIPEAU
Jerry Galipeau is Associate Publisher at World Library Publications in Franklin Park, Illinois.

He has presented keynotes and workshops throughout the United States and Canada on the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, liturgical spirituality, ritual music, evangelization and adult spiritual formation. Past chair of the Board of Directors of the North American Forum on the Catechumenate, Jerry has been a frequent team member for Forum's institutes. A popular parish mission presenter and retreat leader, he earned the Doctor of Ministry with a concentration in liturgical studies from Catholic Theological Union at Chicago in 1999, where he is presently an adjunct faculty member.

Jerry's articles have appeared in Catechumenate, Liturgical Singer, Pastoral Music, Today's Parish, Rite, and Church magazines, as well as Sourcebook for Sundays and Seasons. Jerry's books are published by World Library Publications, including recent book, "Apprenticed to Christ: Activities for Practicing the Catholic Way of Life."

This new book compiled and edited by Galipeau;"The Impact of the RCIA: Stories, Reflections, Challenges" is now available through www.wlpmusic.com or by calling 1-800-566-6150.

For media inquiries contact Lisa Bagladi, Public Relations Manager at BagladiL@jspaluch.com.

Contact

World Library Publications
http://www.wlpmusic.com
IL, 60131 US
Lisa Bagladi - Public Relations Manager, 847 233-2749

Keywords

RCIA

Category

Catholic Publications

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