Lent: A Believer's Journey

At Sunday liturgies during Lent you may have encountered the catechumenal community here at Christ the Redeemer. Who are these people? What are they about? Why are these rites celebrated during this Lenten season?

We are aware of the words catechism and catechesis. Catechesis is the process or experience of sharing the faith. The catechism is the book which is sometimes used in preparing to teach and to learn by the catechumens, or students in religious learning. Thus,, in a larger sense, the catechumenal community is the group of people within the parish, whether adults or children, engaged in the journey to faith. In a more restrictive sense, it is thus inquirers, catechists, sponsors, and other believers involved in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.

The catechumenal community here at Christ the Redeemer can be found in many lived dimensions. In our parish we have several groups whose members are seeking to be in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. There are unbaptized adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. These are usually individuals looking to grow in their knowledge of God and how he is experienced in the Catholic community. This group is divided between English speakers and Spanish speakers.

On another faith journey are children of catechetical age, usually above seven years of age, joined with their parents and siblings in coming to the Church together. This again is in language communities: English and Spanish.

Officially these unbaptized adults and children are catechumens. Others join them on the journey. Some are baptized non-Catholics who, in seeking membership in the Church, are called “candidates” for full communion. These people seek to make a profession of faith within the Church and then to celebrate, at the same time, Confirmation and, literally, first “communion” at the Lord’s Table with the Roman Catholic community.

A Still Large Community
Added to these catechumens and candidates are people looking to grow in their faith; these are baptized Catholics who have not been confirmed, nor have they received their First Communion.

What joins this faith-seeking people is their journey of faith? The official ritual of the church calls this journey “initiation.” Since Vatican II the process of initiating newcomers to the faith community is in a ritual book called the “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.” The rites make provision for children and for already baptized Christians to become Catholics.

The steps which mark the Initiation process come to fruition in the Lent Season, highlighted by Christian Initiation at the Easter Vigil. The worshipping community witnesses to the journey and accompanies the newcomers as they come to faith. The community at the same time is enriched in the process.

Rituals and Life
The name of the process is the Rite of Initiation, which is what we see in our worshipping community. The rites culminate various stages of coming to faith. Each rite is preceded and followed by experiences in learning, praying, and discernment. The people you see during these Lenten rituals mark their progress in faith by public rites within the community. At the same time the parish community supports them on the same journey. The Rite described the faith journey which newcomers and believers alike make as they move through conversion to Easter. Little by little they die in Christ and come to new life in him.

The steps of Christian Initiation are described as follows:

• Evangelization and Precatechumenate: The gospel is brought to the hearers and gospel values are discerned for the first time.
• Catechumenate: Here the people express their desire to follow more seriously God’s call to discipleship.
• Election and Enrollment: Usually on the First Sunday of Lent, names are placed in the Book of the Elect and catechumens are chosen for the Easter Sacraments.
• Purification and Enlightenment: The elect come to holiness and walk in that light which is Christ. This is immediately prior to the Initiatory Sacraments. The Scrutinies or prayers within the community affirm the faith of the elect in this time of prayer and conversion.
• Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist are celebrated at the Great Vigil of Easter. Having walked through death to life in Christ, now enlightened by the Holy Spirit, the new believers come to the Lord’s Table for the first time. They are welcomed into the Body of Christ, the Church.
• Mystagogy: This step is a time of exploring the mystery of Christ which they have just received in the sacraments. It is a time to grow more deeply in the faith. This continues through the Easter Season.

In sharing in the conversion of these newcomers to the faith, we have the opportunity to continue in our ongoing, constant conversion in Christ. Together we are blessed in the embrace of Christ’s mystery in our lives.

CDH