Through the workshops, Ms Hart said participants were able to identify areas that worked well, as well as issues faced in the ministry. Photo: Josh Low.
By Josh Low
With the 2017 RCIA State Conference held at Morley Parish on Saturday 21 October, RCIA State Director Karen Hart spoke with The eRecord about her talk at the conference exploring the Mystagogia and her hopes for the future of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).
Ms Hart explained that the final stage of the RCIA process is Mystagogia, the post-baptismal catechesis or experience of new Catholics (neophytes) as they become full members of the Church.
“Mystagogia applies to the ongoing formation of all Catholics and how we live our Christian discipleship in our everyday life, while continuing to explore the mysteries of our faith and deepen our relationship with Christ and our understanding of the Paschal Mystery.
“If we are complacent then how do we set an example and inspire the new Catholics (neophytes) in our midst?
“The purpose of the talk was to share with the attendees, the findings of the Mystagogia working party, ‘Mystagogia Living Discipleship Framework’ as well as the Universal Prayer resource for parishes, used to pray for converts throughout their conversion journey at Mass and in all Parish ministries,” she said.
Attendees at the conference were able to break into group discussion through the workshops during the conference about the practical application of the framework of the RCIA in parish life.
Attendees at the conference were able to break into group discussion through the workshops during the conference about the practical application of the framework of the RCIA in parish life. Photo: Josh Low.
Ms Hart explained that the workshops were aimed at reminding parish communities to reflect and discuss the impact of the Easter Season on the life of the whole parish.
Through the workshops, Ms Hart said participants were able to identify areas that worked well, as well as issues faced in the ministry.
“We found that parishes offer a rich Lenten and Easter Vigil experience, but have not really celebrated the Easter Season in its own Liturgical theology for a variety of reasons, such as the school holidays and parishioners being away.
“Parishes were also found to generally not have as much focus on celebrating Easter as our focus has always tended to be directed to Lent.
“During the Easter Season, parishes need a cultural shift to embrace the celebration of the great season of Easter.
Ms Hart referenced the words of Pope Francis in his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, that stated, “There are Christians whose lives seem like Lent without Easter”, and hopes to begin the conversation in the parishes on how they reflect and celebrate the Risen Christ in their midst.
“Do parish Liturgy Committees need to prepare Easter Liturgies with the same enthusiasm as they do Lent and the Easter Vigil?
“Is the parish atmosphere joyful, animated and celebratory? If not, we need to start focusing on how we can better reflect our faith of being Easter people,” she concluded.