Forum’s PASTORAL TRAINING INSTITUTES provide ministers—volunteer and paid, full and part-time, lay and clergy—with deeper understanding of the vision of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and the fundamental and advanced skills to implement all aspects of the Rite and its implications for reconciliation.  Institute leaders are among North America’s most experienced pastoral ministers, liturgists, catechists, and theologians.

 

 

The Initiation Experience Institutes

present the compelling vision and pastoral skills to implement the initiation process and emphasize the relationship of good liturgy to good catechesis.

 

  Beginnings and Beyond

        ·     Five-day foundational institute (Sunday to Friday)

·         For all skill and experience levels

·         Deepened understanding of the conversion journey

·         Experience the flow of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

·         Some sessions grouped by particular interest or experience level

 

 Beginnings Plus 

·        Four-day, “compressed” version of Beginnings & Beyond (Thursday to Sunday)

·        For all skill and experience levels

·       Deepened understanding of the conversion journey

·       Experience the flow of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

  

Beginnings 

·         Intensive, three-day introduction to the initiation process

·         The vision of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

·         Local implementation

·         May have specialized focus for African American, Hispanic, campus ministry, or rural communities

  

FOCUS ON INITIATION INSTITUTES

concentrate on specific aspects of initiation using presentations, celebrations of the rites, and small group discussions.  It is preferable that they follow the Initiation Experience Institutes.

 

 Concerning the Baptized 

·         Theological and pastoral realities of working with baptized adults completing their initiation and/or being received into full communion

·         Suitable paths to Eucharist for both baptized-catechized adults and baptized-uncatechized adults

 

Children and Christian Initiation 

·         Initiation of children of catechetical age

·         Their place in the parish initiation process

·         Particular needs in celebration and catechesis

·         Principles and examples for adaptation

  

Precatechumenate 

·         Highlights evangelization

·         Skills for leading inquirers

·         Discerning their initial conversion to Christ

  

Catechumenate 

·         Elements of formation that mark the period: catechesis grounded in liturgical celebrations, the Liturgy of the Word, discernment of the Christian way of life, participation in Church’s apostolic mission

  

Purification and Enlightenment 

·         The intense spiritual preparation envisioned in the Rite

·         Scrutinies

·         Presentations

·         Holy Saturday

        ·         Preparation Rites

 

Mystagogy

 

·         Central features of the period: word, Eucharist, apostolic mission

·         What it means to be a mystagogue 

 

 The Initiating Community Institutes

explore advanced issues of implementation for experienced ministers as they broaden the initiation experience to include the entire community.  Small groups discuss, share, and critique models. 

 

Imaging the Initiation Process in Small Church Communities  

• Explores the vision of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and Small Church Communities through presentations and group discussions
• Invites participants into liturgical celebration, reflection, faith sharing, and discernment
• Provides a process for participants to dialogue about the possibilities and the challenges of the initiation process in the SCC context
• Deepens an understanding of evangelization, conversion, and discipleship in Word, Worship, Community and Mission

 

 Echoing God’s Word 

·         Relationship between faith, theology, and doctrine

·         Method and skills for catechesis

·         Preaching based on the Liturgy of the Word

 

 Developing the Ministries 

·         Shared responsibility

·         Team approach for initiation

·         Ministry-based sessions: catechists for adults or children, presbyters, parish coordinators, liturgists, musicians, or sponsors  

 

 Praying the Rites 

·         Transitional rites: Acceptance, Sending, celebrating the Sacraments of Initiation

·         Principles for adapting the rites

·         symbol, gesture, music, and environment

  

Furthering the Initiation Experience 

·         The parish as initiation community

·         Critique present praxis

·         Models and skills for discernment

·         Differentiated catechesis and liturgy when both catechumens and candidates are present

  

 

The Reconciliation Experience Institute

 

Ambassadors of Christ: Building Reconciling Communities

 

• Explores the mystery of reconciliation
• Invites participants to reflect on the vision and process of conversion and reconciliation
• Explores an understanding of a reconciling community rooted in initiation
• Examines present processes and future possibilities for reconciling ministry in the parish

 

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