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'The giant on the second floor' truly was a spiritual titan

'The giant on the second floor' truly was a spiritual titan   The new school year started in 1958 at St. Joseph School in Evansville with news spreading that on the second floor a giant nun had taken up residence teaching the sixth graders!  She was “tall, lean and mean!”  Luckily, I was a “first floor” third-grader, s...
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Monday, September 01, 2014

Exploring more misunderstandings about the RCIA

Exploring more misunderstandings about the RCIA   This week, we continue our look at the RCIA.   Another misunderstanding is that the goal of the RCIA is baptism.  A high school student once approached me, after his younger sister was baptized, confirmed, and celebrated Eucharist on Holy Saturday, asking if he could be baptized.&#...
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Monday, August 11, 2014

Exploring parishioners roles in RCIA initiation

Exploring parishioners roles in RCIA initiation   Many Catholics have the misunderstanding that initiating new members is the RCIA Team’s responsibility.     The very first pages of RCIA ritual situate initiating new members squarely “within the community of the faithful;” and, the faithful are to “pro...
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Monday, July 28, 2014

Exploring more misconceptions about RCIA

Exploring more misconceptions about RCIA   Another common misunderstanding (of the Right of Christian Initiation for Adults) is that “Everyone comes to the Church at the same time and is initiated at the same time.”   Nothing is further from the truth!    Although we celebrated Pentecost weeks ago, three ad...
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Monday, July 14, 2014

Some common misunderstandings of RCIA

Some common misunderstandings of RCIA   The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults is not a “program.”   According to Paragraph Nos. 1 and 2 of the ritual, the RCIA is a “sacramental ritual of Christian initiation … which includes not simply the celebration of the sacraments of baptism, confirmation,...
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Monday, June 30, 2014

New members of Church need push to branch out

New members of Church need push to branch out   Some 15 years ago, either the North American Forum on the Catechumenate or the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate conducted a survey on how many Catholics who joined the Church through RCIA remained active members.  The results were a shocking – 50% nationally.  Ho...
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Monday, June 16, 2014

'Parking lot Mystagogy' reveals the touch of God grace

'Parking lot Mystagogy' reveals the touch of God grace As a sacramental church, God’s grace is mediated through the person of Jesus, His Church and the sacraments.  It has been impossible to meet personally with those who joined the Church this Easter to share where God’s grace touched them through the sacraments.  However, we did...
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Tuesday, June 03, 2014

RCIA ritual emphasizes our need to welcome new members

RCIA ritual emphasizes our need to welcome new members   Have you ever attended a new meeting or joined an organization by yourself without being accompanied by a friend or relative?  If you are a gregarious, extroverted person, it’s easy for you to reach out, start conversations, and make new acquaintances and possibly friendships....
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Monday, May 12, 2014

Easter Vigil not the end for RCIA candidates

Easter Vigil not the end for RCIA candidates  Holy Week became the “holiest week” for several new members of our parish this year.  In remembering the historical washing of the disciples’ feet, Jesus’ crucifixion, his Passover from this life to the Father, and the glorious celebration of Easter, we tried to i...
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Monday, April 28, 2014

Learning to look at Lent in a new way

Learning to look at Lent in a new way   Thank God Lent is over!  Now I can get back to eating my three pork chops instead of two; my chocolate cake, which I sacrificed for 40 days; not to mention my Cokes and Pepsis!  I’ve attended enough extra daily masses that, in case I miss Sunday mass this year, I should be ta...
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Sunday, April 13, 2014