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CATECHUMENATE BASICS–A NEW ON-LINE COURSE!

JBL has developed a new on-line course, “Catechumenate Basics: Methods, Rites and Reflections on the Way.”  The course includes 4 interactive classes:

  • Presentation 1
    • Part 1:  Introduction and Overview of the catechumenal process
    • Part 2:  Inquiry: Evangelization, Exploration and Discernment of one’s search
      • Recognizing and meeting inquirers
      • Structure and content of an inquiry meeting
      • Sponsors
      • Discernment for moving to the catechumenate
  • Presentation 2
    • Part 1:  Forming a Hearer/Catechumen as a Christian
      • Video of the Rite of Receiving/Welcoming Catechumens
      • Review of your denomination’s Rite of Welcoming
      • Overview of the Catechumenate Period
    • Part 2:  Catechesis and Discernment of the desire for Baptism
      • Structure and content of a catechumenate meeting
      • How to lead a catechumenate meeting
      • Discernment to enter the Period of Intense Formation
  • Presentation 3
    • Part 1:  Intensive Formation of Baptismal Candidates
      • Video of the Rite of Calling to Baptism
      • Review of your denomination’s Rite of Calling/Enrollment
      • Overview of this period
    • Part 2:  Catechesis and Readiness for Baptism
      • Structure and content of a meeting during this time of intense preparation for Baptism
      • Methods for reflection on Lenten Gospel readings
      • Rites during this period
  • Presentation 4
    • Part 1:  Integration:  Christian Formation of the Newly-baptized
      • Video of the baptismal rites
      • Overview of this period
    • Reflective Catechesis and Discernment
      • How to lead reflection on the Sacraments
      • How to lead discernment and reflection meetings

Each class is 1-2 hours in length, including a break.  The Zoom course includes viewing and discussion of the major transitional rites of the catechumenate process.  The trainer covers methods, scripture study and suggested prayers.  There is ample time for discussion of the methods and content of catechumenate ministry.

The course cost $200.00/person.  Each group will include 6-9 students and a trainer.  JBL limits the number of participants to 10 in order to allow for better interaction among participants. The trainer is a JBL member with years of pastoral experience in catechumenate ministry.  The trainers will also be available for consultation as you start this ministry in your congregation.

If you want to start the catechumenate in your congregation, this course is a good place to start for you and your team.  If you want to review your catechumenate ministry, this course will provide an overview to help that review.

For more information, please send inquiries to: info@journeytobaptism.org

Discernment and the Adult Catechumenate

It is always a joy when new things emerge that you did not anticipate. One might call these experiences synchronicity, others might refer to them as graced moments.

Recently, I was able to experience a week long training for Listening Hearts.The focus of this week is to practically learn how to ‘discern call in community”.This model and process for group spiritual discernment is a unique blending of Quaker, Ignatian and Benedictine spiritualities. While the background and process of communal discernment is clearly outlined in the book of the same name, the experience of practicing and experiencing it in a cohort of fellow pilgrims is beyond what can be expressed in the printed word. This is especially true in that each participant is asked to bring a real issue for discernment from their life to the training experience. Somethings cannot be role played – communal discernment needs to be experienced to be integrated into one’s heart and life. At the end of the time together, not only do you experience the reality of a genuine community of faith but you also have a sense of empowerment to train others in this pastoral skill. This is the first element of a coming together of two elements into a surprising third.

The second element is the Adult Catechumenate, the process of conversion and initiation into the Christian community that is rooted in the early church of the first three centuries. One valuable resource for this ancient yet ever new process is Go Make Disciples: A Handbook to the Catechumenate. One of the elements explored in this wonderful resource is the stages of the catechumenate that are experienced over time. Discernment is relevant to the catechumenate journey on a number of occasions: readiness to move from inquiry to enrollment, from enrollment to Baptism / Confirmation / Reception and after that to living one’s Baptism out in one’s vocation and daily life. While discernment is referred to in a variety of resources for the catechumenate, exactly “how to” go about discernment is not usually spelled out in the vast majority of resources offered for the catechumenate. This is where the Listening Hearts process is a real gift. It provides a practical pastoral way for discernment to occur in a small group setting within the catechumenate process.

A number of important things have been discovered by accident: X – Rays, Velcro, the Microwave Oven, and Play-Doh to name just a few. One of my most recent accidental discoveries is the integration of the Listening Hearts communal discernment process and the Adult Catechumenate process. Eureka!

Larry Ehren

Episcopal Priest, Catechist for Baptized for Life, VP Journey to Baptismal Living

Team Grows with Creative Faith Timeline

By Lance Georgeson, JBL Board Member

Certainly one of the most impactful exercises in early sessions of the catechumenate is the “faith timeline”.  We have consistently found that this fosters a sense of intimacy in the small group and sets the tone for the entire process:  both Candidates and Sponsors begin to see that their stories are connected with God’s story of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

However, it became clear before a Team retreat that we had never shared our faith timelines with each other as a group.  We may have heard bits and pieces, but we’d never sat and listened to one another.

Enter two Team members using a different approach:  Donna, an art therapist for over 30 years and Tina, a college education professor for roughly the same duration.  These two women used their gifts to approach this exercise in a new and creative way.

Tina began by reading and showing the picture book, “How Sweet the Sound:  The Story of Amazing Grace”.  The book was appropriately chosen, and at the conclusion we were asked to reflect in writing on the theme.  It felt like we were children again gathered in a circle . . . perhaps the best introduction to the next activity.

Donna had brought an incredible amount of materials used in her art therapy:  construction paper, glue, beads and ribbon.  We were tasked to tell our story in symbol or picture any way we could, using the materials at hand.  For those of us who are “artistically challenged” this would normally be almost threatening, but Donna’s words about “anything goes” helped us to begin cutting and pasting.

The results were wonderful!  The diversity in pictures was inspiring – from very simple to complex and sophisticated.  The explanations behind the graphics were heartfelt and moving.  It became apparent that just the use of different medium allowed many of us to express both struggles and joys beyond the use of words and text.

One of the great gifts of the catechumenate is that it’s a process that is adaptable, centered around a few key principles and beliefs.   A critical aspect is to allow the Spirit to move in creativity, such as it did that day with Donna and Tina in a new approach to a familiar activity.

Lance Georgeson is on the mission team for the catechumenate at Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church and serves on the JBL Board.

Forming Lay Leaders

By Martha Maier

How do you lift up and train leaders for the catechumenate? After becoming Associate Pastor at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, I spent some time educating the congregation about the catechumenate. When a training was scheduled in our state, I loaded up my van with interested lay leaders plus Danette, who just went along for the ride. Her husband was interested in the training, and she was newly retired. She made it clear she wasn’t making any volunteer commitments for a year.

Of course, the Holy Spirit works in surprising ways and it was Danette who came back most enthused about the catechumenate. She soon agreed to be head catechist and team leader for our process.

During the first year of our catechumenate, I was heavily involved with it. I attended all the team meetings, most of the catechetical sessions and met nearly weekly with Danette for training, coaching and support. However, knowing that the catechumenate works best as a lay-lead process, I gradually decreased my involvement as Danette and the team gained confidence and skills.

Danette served as the head of our catechumenal process for eight years. By the time she retired from her leadership role, she and her team were doing most of the planning, recruiting of sponsors, and leadership of the catechetical sessions. I was primarily cheerleader.  My role was to invite prospective catechumens into the process, attend team meetings when I could, coordinate the rites, do an occasional educational piece at the catechumenate sessions, and affirm the team for all the great ministry they were doing.

Our catechumenate team was initially made up of those who attended the training. After that, we drew our leadership from those who had served as sponsors for one or more years. We trained them on the job, giving them increasing responsibilities as they gained familiarity with the process. When trainings were offered nearby, I would take or send those able to go.

By the time Danette retired as leader, she had mentored new leadership who could take over from her. She did her job well – I only needed to offer the new leaders a bit of extra support.

How have you developed leadership for your catechumenal process? Share your responses on our website.

Martha Maier is an ELCA pastor and member for the JBL:NAAC Board of Directors.

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