The Church exists for nothing else than to proclaim the Good News, baptise and then teach. The order is important.

The eleven disciples set out for Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had arranged to meet them. When they saw him they fell down before him, though some hesitated. Jesus came up and spoke to them. He said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.’ [Mt 28: 16-20]

According to the vision of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), the ministry of Evangelisation and Initiation are two sides of the one coin: the central hinge of the life and mission of the parish. Indeed, there can be no initiation without, in the first place, our communities being centres of evangelisation and mission.

According to the vision of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), the ministry of Evangelisation and Initiation are two sides of the one coin: the central hinge of the life and mission of the parish. Indeed, there can be no initiation without, in the first place, our communities being centres of evangelisation and mission.

Anyone who has been listening to Bishop Michael Kennedy for the past eighteen months knows that his clarion call is that we be and become communities of ‘Mission and Evangelisation’.

While both evangelisation and initiation are our core business, both are at the heart of our greatest challenges. This has become particularly obvious since the beginning of Lent this year. The Diocesan Liturgy Council and its Christian Initiation Forum have been engaging in significant conversation, including with Bishop Michael, about how we can support parishes in this space and grow a culture of evangelisation and initiation.  

Across the diocese there is diverse pastoral practice regarding these ministries. This is how it should be as our parish communities are all different.

At the same time, we share a unity of purpose and commitment that comes from the Gospel and the rites, specifically in the case the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. There is a diocesan dimension to these ministries. All those to be baptised at Easter – adults and children of a catechetical age – are required to participate in the Rite of Election in the Cathedral with the Bishop on the First Sunday of Lent. Ideally, the Bishop initiates at least some of the Elect at the Easter Vigil in the Cathedral and, as specified in the RCIA, the Bishop gathers with the Neophytes – the newly baptised – at some time during their first year of baptised life. The imperative therefore is that we work together, supporting each other, sharing our insights and questions, our successes and challenges.

Currently, some parishes and regions have a long and strong story of the ministry of Christian Initiation. Other parishes rarely have enquirers and have not used the RCIA for many years. All parishes are suffering from a loss of ministers which was exacerbated by COVID. All parishes share the challenge of helping the whole community to appreciate that both these ministries are the responsibility of all the baptised NOT the respective parish team.

To add to the complexity, there is some confusion about: the necessity of participating in the Rite of Election; the different requirements and journeys for those who come to us seeking baptism, those who are baptised Catholics seeking to complete their initiation and those baptised in other Christian Churches who seek full communion with the Catholic Church; and how to engage with children of a catechetical age. 

When the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults was reestablished at Vatican Council II, it was envisaged that this rite would stand at the centre of parish life and mission. There was so much excitement and hope. Bishop Michael, the Diocesan Liturgy Council and the Christian Initiation Forum hold firm to this hope and seek to join with and accompany parishes who are ready to grow this essential ministry. The Jubilee Year 2025 with its catchcry of ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ is an ideal time for us to work together in this space.

To that end, the Christian Initiation Forum is hosting a spring Formation Day for all parishioners and Christian Initiation Ministers: those ministering with children and their families in the Sacraments of Initiation process, those ministering with children of a catechetical age, and those ministering with adults.

What: Tilling the Soil of Christian Initiation - I call your friends

  A Formation Day for all members of the faithful, especially ministers of Christian Initiation

Purpose: Participants will be invited to step outside the busyness of ministry to:

• • Till the soil that forms the foundation of the RCIA and the ministries of Evangelisation and Initiation.
  • reflect together on ministry and emerging questions.

When: Saturday 14 September 2024

Time: 9.30am – 3.30pm.

Where: Toohey Room, Cathedral House, 841 Hunter Street, Newcastle West.   

Facilitators: The Christian Initiation Forum     

Details: After registering, just come along, bring a pen and all else will be provided.

Over recent years the Christian initiation Forum has hosted a retreat day on the second Saturday in September. Titled ‘Come Rest a While’ the focus of these days has been to provide a space for ministers of Christian Initiation to come away and rest in the presence of God.

This year we have sensed a different need and have shifted the focus from retreat to formation under the title ‘Tilling the Soil of Christian Initiation’. We hope to develop these formation days over time, complementing ‘Come Rest a While’. Our focus this year highlights God’s call to friendship as the essential element of the ministry of evangelisation and initiation.

We hope to see a huge crowd gather so that our reflection is enriched by the diverse experience and needs of our parish communities. We are at our best when we not only lean into our God who calls us friend, but also lean into each other – our friends in ministry.

For further information and to register for ‘Tilling the Soil of Christian Initiation – I call you friends’ Click here to access the flyer. Registration is important for catering and resources.  

Diocesan Liturgy Council Update

To keep abreast of the work of the Diocesan Liturgy Council click on the link and then the ‘Council News’ drop-down menu where you will find the latest meeting Report.

Acknowledgements

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