Why is mystagogical catechesis important in the RCIA?

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2 thoughts on “Why is mystagogical catechesis important in the RCIA?”

  1. Nick, thanks for another great blog. My method of implementing mystagogical catechesis has changed since participating in your webinar on dismissals. That particular webinar has greatly influenced my thinking and subsequent methods.

    If we are to have mystagogical catechesis that infers it will be led/coordinated/facilitated by a mystagogue – someone who leads you into the mystery. In this case it is the mystery of the joy of the encounter with Jesus, the experience of God and the sense of salvation.

    Since participating in that webinar I now use the 3 simple questions from that webinar to guide the catechumens to a more profound experience and getting them to express how it affects them now and helping them discern how they will want to do things in the future as a result of this experience. Those three questions that featured in that webinar are (1) What do you see? (2) What do you hear? (3) So what – what difference is this going to make in my life?

    The advantage of using these questions is that they encourage faith storytelling of our experiences rather than just imparting knowledge/information.

    Although that webinar was specifically on dismissals, I use those 3 questions in both dismissal and catechetical sessions. It helps me move the focus away from the leader to one that focuses on the personal experiences and discoveries of the catechumens.

    It requires some preparation work, mainly reflecting on and researching starter questions to develop the deeper level discussion experience around the readings in dismissal sessions and around the scriptures and content of a catechetical session.

  2. Just became the Leader of Adult Education at my parish… I may have the duties of putting the RCIA program together next year.

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