Embedded Files
To all OCIA Team members, Thank you for your response to my call.
NOTE: This page is for Catechists Only! (The RCIA Team) So, if you are not a catechist or on the RCIA Team, please respect this policy and exit this page.
This page provides information for the OCIA Team regarding the periods and steps for the RCIA process.
The OCIA presents many aspects involving the life of the church such as evangelizing, witnessing, assistance to the participants, the community, the liturgy of the sacraments, and processes that leverage the intent of OCIA. This intent is to evangelize and serve those who seek to join the Catholic Church not simply as members but take up the call as all Catholics do, to be disciples who respond to Christ's mission for the church to spread the gospel to the world.
For those assisting in OCIA, always remember this is not intended to be simply a scholastic or academic approach. Although, some presentations will render such an appearance for practical reasons. And, often as a team, we can get caught up in simply running the participants through the "hoops" of the RCIA. It is important to remind each other, that the focus is to provide opportunities for the participants to experience an encounter with our Lord.
This page contains items that help the RCIA team focus on the reason and purposes for the OCIA.
Precatechumante Period
Precatechumante Period
Commitment of the Participants
Commitment of the Participants
The OCIA is not a process where newbies come to "Learn how to be Catholic." The impetus of the OCIA is an an encounter with God, a way of life which is not only to journey with a community but journey with Christ Himself towards an ultimate encounter with God. This is to be stressed over and over again. Too often people see the OCIA as a process for joining a church. The OCIA is a process for becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Therefore OCIA participants, regardless of where in the process of OCIA they may be, are required to be consistent with their intent. This in part involves their commitment to be present at all of the scheduled sessions, Mass every Sunday and Holy day, Sunday instructions and all of the Rites involved.
The mundane aspect of this "checking their attendance" is one way of observing their intent and desire to stay the course.
However an even greater part of assessing their commitment involves their overall participation not just in body (physically present only), but are they engaged in the process. Do they participate? Do they ask questions? If, so what type of questions? Do the questions seem to be germane to the topic or session ideals? If not, are the questions pertinent to the whats and whys of the Catholic Faith, the liturgy, or something in scripture?
The
The
Google Sites
Report abuse