Have questions or want to know more? --->
Formation and ongoing formation are necessary for any healthy ministry. Each helper for RCIA, whether they are presenting, acting as a parish representative, or coordinating different activities should start with the first two or three workshops from the Catechetical Institute Catechumenal Ministry Track (listed below).
Other additional workshops and other resources will be listed below, as well. Make sure that if you are lost, to check out the video links below for making a CI account and on how to maneuver the site.
Apart from this page, check out the "Resources for Everyone" page.
If possible, please do the first three workshops mentioned below for the 2022-2023 year.
Steps to make your free account (or watch the video link HERE)
Go to franciscanathome.com
Scroll down to "To Get Started"
Among the options, select "Individual subscription
Select "Free Sign Up"
Click the blue "create a new account"
Fill out the information. When you get to "What parish do you attend," the information you will need to enter is: St. John Vianney, Orchard Park, NY 14127. If you enter a different parish, you will not be able to make an account.
Log in! (Search workshop titles to start. See list above.)
Video Introduction to CI Workshops HERE
When you log in to your Catechetical Institute Account, in the "Start Learning" section, type in the following (the bullet points) into the search bar for workshops:
A Vision for Christian Initiation, Workshops (Start with these):
The Catechumenal Process: A Modern Restoration of an Ancient Practice
Three Approaches to the RCIA Process
Entrance into Christ and Participation in God's Life
*NEW* Catechesis in the Precatechumenate: Delivering the Gospel
(the Precatechumenate is the first stage of the RCIA, which makes this a good 2nd or 3rd workshop to consider.)
Liturgical Aspects of Christian Initiation Workshops:
Essential Link Between Liturgy and Catechesis
Liturgical Components of the Christian Initiation Process: Gateways and Sources of Grace for Conversion
Catechetical Aspects of Christian Initiation Workshops:
Catechesis: Echoing what God has Revealed
Catechetical Components of the Christian Initiation Process: Illuminating and Securing the Path of Faith
Scripture: The Heart of Catechesis
Pastoral Aspects of Christian Initiation Workshops:
The Challenge of Charity: Life in the Family of God
Pastoral Components of the Christian Initiation Process: From Initial Motivation to Firm Conviction to a Catholic Worldview
If you are presenting, or preparing to Present, the following are suggested resources for you to start getting familiar with:
Catechism in a Year w/Father Mike Schmitz - CLICK HERE
RCIA Catechist Manual - CLICK HERE
This is our primary tool for how we arranged our teachings, and corresponds to the titles in italics in the schedule. Each lesson has a left page (with resources for learning and praying through the content for the session) and a right hand side (with a bullet-point presentation to be used as a guide through the topics.) This book also contains a wealth of information about both the content and the approach to the RCIA that are good to come back to again and again. The Appendix offers several more resources to help develop understanding or aide the presentations themselves.
RCIA Rite Book (Study Edition) CLICK HERE
Especially if you intend to get the most out of the Catechetical Institute workshops on the RCIA, this book is a must. It is a deep well of practical spiritual knowledge of how the RCIA should be approached, as well as the many optional rites and practices that we can incorporate into the process.
Catechetical Institute - Catechumenal Ministry Track Workshops (as described above)
Either become more formed in Catechumenal ministry, or search for topics you are going to present and gain a deeper knowledge and appreciation for the topic.
FORMED.org - CLICK HERE
Many resources for personal use or to take a of something for a session. You can encourage others to go fill out their knowledge and experience of a topic by suggesting a video, series, or book from their large database of material.
Catechism of the Catholic Church - Online Version - CLICK HERE, Print version - CLICK HERE
For any catechist in any ministry, the Catechism of the Catholic Church is an essential resource. Many of our other resources reference the CCC and reading and praying with the content there is a fount of catechetical wisdom. Please get yourself a catechism. Brady has some extras to give out if you want, or you can go to the link above.
(P.S. There is a wonderful series of workshops on the Catechism in the Catechetical Institute platform. Just search "Catechism" in the workshop search and you'll find some great introductory workshops.)
Pathways in Faith Webinar Series - CLICK HERE
Pathways in Faith is a Paulist Press resource for RCIA. On their main page they have a webinar series which was recently recorded and led by Fr. Frank DeSiano. This series is an in-depth overview of the whole RCIA process. This is another good overview of the Catechumenate and can give any helper a solid foundation for whichever role they are engaged in. Scroll down the page to see the "Webinar Series."
Team RCIA - CLICK HERE
Many topics, videos, and helpful resources to search through.
Adult Catechumenal Ministries (ACM) - CLICK HERE
Great articles and blogs as well as resources for gaining a more complete knowledge of the Pastoral, Catechetical, and Liturgical aspects of the RCIA.
Pathways in Faith is a Paulist Press resource for RCIA. On their main page they have a webinar series which was recently recorded and led by Fr. Frank DeSiano. This series is an in-depth overview of the whole RCIA process. This is another good overview of the Catechumenate and can give any helper a solid foundation for whichever role they are engaged in.
Go to the link HERE
Scroll down the page to the "Webinar Series"