An unusual thing happened at our RCIA session last week. Our facilitator began the evening by talking about our "new class" and proceeded to pass out a book we would be reading! I winced at both CLASS and BOOK: RCIA is not a class, nor is a book the first item the candidate should receive. I feared we were beginning on a note of "school-study-information-doctrine" rather than one of welcome and sharing. We hadn't even had introductions yet! All changed, however, when we began to meet one another. The third woman who introduced herself seemed a bit hesitant. She told us that her kindergarten son died suddenly six months earlier. Through tears she explained that this child was the reason she was joining RCIA, then continued to tell us how spiritual her son was and how much he loved learning about Jesus and going to church. She concluded by sharing her own sense of joy and deep peace, even as she continues to mourn the loss of this, her only child. The personal, honest, difficult yet moving story completely changed us. Books were no longer the focus; a person, a child, a death put us on a different plain. I was relieved and grateful. Doctrine and instruction are important to the RCIA process, but never are they to usurp personal, meaningful stories and experiences of the people whom we gather with. I learned a lesson. I hope this is helpful to you...
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Diocesan Council For Catechesis
Mentoring Subcommittee Archives
May 2019
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