Question by Fr. Joseph Aduse Poku, Rome:
My Lord, nobody ever questions the value in teaching and educating our Catholic faithful. For that reason, it is good that once a while, after the post-Communion Prayer, a particularly important burning issue is handled and taught. But the trend these days is that some parishioners want this to be a permanent programme after the post-Communion prayer on Sundays. In my view, this slowly shifts the faithful’s attention and expectation from the central Word from the Old and New Testaments of the Sunday and indeed from Christ’s Word that was addressed to us in the Gospel. Many of the faithful demand this because they do not come for the teaching and catechetical sessions drawn up for the community. My Lord, is the above trend to be encouraged? Does it synchronise well with CCC 1324/LG 11… “the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life”?
Answer:
The importance of catechizing the people of God cannot be overemphasized. The Church has different methods for achieving this objective. These methods take into account the age of the people concerned, their religious background, etc. I am glad that you mention that you have “teaching and catechetical sessions drawn up for the community”. Catholics should be encouraged to take part in these teachings and catechetical sessions that take place at designated times on weekdays in their various parishes. The time after Mass will not be the ideal time for such sessions. Once a while, maybe once a month, one could devote some twenty to thirty minutes after Mass to explain certain burning issues, but this cannot replace the “teaching and catechetical sessions drawn up for the community”.
Fr. Joseph, I am sure that these “teaching and catechetical sessions” that you have drawn up for your community will include the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and Coming Into Full Communion With The Church. If the members of your Church take advantage of these sessions, it will not be necessary for them to have sessions after Sunday Mass to be catechized. I would like to say something about these methods.
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is a process that assists people in becoming members of the Roman Catholic Church. This Rite is a process of conversion and is modelled on the process that historical documents tell us was the practice of the Church for its first five centuries. The process focuses on the spiritual formation of the person through the handing on the rich faith tradition of the Catholic Church.
Who is RCIA for?
- People who are already Christians from other traditions attracted by the teaching of the Catholic Church and by the example of individual Catholics they know.
- People from another faith or no faith at all who have heard about Jesus, his claim to forgive sin and his promise of eternal life.
- Non-Catholics who have been coming regularly to Mass for years with their Catholic relatives and wish now to become full members of the Church.
- People who have had no previous contact with the Church at all but have this inner calling to discover the truth about the most important questions of life.
- Catholics who missed out on the sacraments as children.
Prior to beginning the RCIA process, an individual comes to some knowledge of Jesus Christ, considers his or her relationship with Jesus Christ and is usually attracted in some way to the Catholic Church. This period is known as the Period of Evangelization and Pre-catechumenate. For some, this process involves a long period of searching; for others, a shorter time. Often, contact with people of faith and a personal faith experience lead people to inquire about the Catholic Church. After a conversation with a priest, or RCIA director, the person, known as an “inquirer” may seek acceptance into the Order of Catechumens, through the Rite of Acceptance. During this Rite, the inquirer stands amidst the parish community and states that he or she wants to become a baptized member of the Catholic Church. The parish assembly affirms this desire and the inquirer becomes a Catechumen.
The Period of the Catechumenate can last for as long as several years or for a shorter time. It depends on how the person is growing in faith, what questions they encounter along the way, and how God leads them on this journey. During this time, the Catechumens consider what God is saying to them in the Scriptures, what changes in their life they need to make to respond to God’s inspiration, and what Baptism in the Catholic Church means. When a Catechumen and the priest and the parish team working with him or her believes the person is ready to make a faith commitment to Jesus in the Catholic Church, the next step is the request for baptism and the celebration of the Rite of Election. Even before the Catechumens are baptized, they have a special relationship to the Church.
The Rite of Election includes the enrolment of names of all the Catechumens seeking baptism at the coming Easter Vigil. Typically, on the first Sunday of Lent, the Catechumens, their sponsors and families gather at the cathedral church. The Catechumens publicly express their desire for baptism to the diocesan bishop. Their names are recorded in a book and they are called the Elect.
The days of Lent are the final Period of Purification and Enlightenment leading up to the Easter Vigil. Lent is a period of preparation marked by prayer, study, and spiritual direction for the Elect, and prayers for them by the parish communities. The Celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation takes place during the Easter Vigil Liturgy on Holy Saturday when the Elect receives the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist. Now the person is fully initiated into the Catholic Church.
As newly initiated Catholics, they continue their formation and education in the Period of the Post-Baptismal Catechesis, which is also called Mystagogy. This period continues at least until Pentecost. During the period the newly baptized members reflect on their experiences at the Easter Vigil and continue to learn more about the Scriptures, the Sacraments, and the teachings of the Catholic Church. In addition, they reflect on how they will serve Christ and help in the Church’s mission and outreach activities.
Coming Into Full Communion With The Church
Coming into full communion with the Catholic Church describes the process for entrance into the Catholic Church for already baptized Christians (e.g. Anglicans, Methodists, Presbyterians, etc). In most cases, these individuals make a profession of faith but are not baptized again. To prepare for this reception, the people, who are called Candidates, usually participate in a formation programme to help them to understand and experience the teachings and practices of the Catholic Church. Although some preparation may be with Catechumens preparing for baptism, the preparation for Candidates is different since they have already been baptized and committed to Jesus Christ, and many have also been active members of other Christian communities. The Candidates may be received into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil or at another Sunday during the year depending on pastoral circumstances and readiness of the Candidate.
Is There A Ceremony Or Preparation For Catholics Who Never Or Seldom Practised The Faith?
For Catholics who have been Baptized, Confirmed and made First Communion but then drifted from the faith, the way they return is through the Sacrament of Penance. Catholics who were baptized but never received Confirmation and/or Eucharist also participate in a period of formation. This process of formation is completed with the reception of the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Communion, often at the Easter Vigil or during the Easter Season.
In conclusion, I would say that the members of most Ghanaian Catholic Communities will include people who need the RCIA, Coming Into Full Communion With The Church and those who have seldom practised their faith and need to return to the Church. The way for them is to follow the different methods mentioned above which involve a detailed programme of catechesis. This cannot be replaced by catechesis after Mass on Sundays. However, the occasional session after Mass dealing with one or the other topic will be useful.