Basic Initiation Ministry Certificate

The Office for Worship (OFW) present a program to train catechists to minister those adults and children of a catechetical age who are seeking Baptism in the Church.  Our goal is to challenge Initiation team members to explore the connections between good liturgy and good catechesis.  We will do this by presenting a series of workshops that will give an overview of the Initiation process and prayer experiences that will offer participants the opportunity to experience and personally reflect on significant aspects of the ritual. 

OFW will offer a certificate in Basic Initiation Ministry for those who have participated in all 15 sessions and satisfactory completion of one project relative to the parish Initiation ministry of the candidate.   

Please contact the Office for Worship for further information: Leticia Perez

LPerez@la-archdiocese.org or 213 637-7595

 

Session # 1 PREPARING THE INITIATING COMMUNITY

• To conduct a fruitful Initiation, process the parish must know its role and responsibilities to evangelize, pray, set example and
• To participate in liturgical rites with catechumens.

Session # 2 FORMATION OF GODPARENTS

It has been the longstanding tradition of the church to accompany those preparing for Baptism. This session will:

• Address the role and responsibility of the godparents.
• Language of Initiation Rite
• Developing companionship & Listening skills,
• Learning to be comfortable sharing faith with others

Session # 3 FORMING THE TEAM

This session will address the skills and techniques the team members need to effectively minister such as the following:

• Language of Initiation Rite
• Discerning God’s will
• Hospitality
• Evangelization
• Discernment.
• Learning how to Listen

Session # 4 WELCOMING THOSE INTERESTED

The purpose of the first stage is to Respond to questions of those who come seeking information.  

Get to know each other; get to know the community and its apostolic ministries; explore the techniques of: 

• Initial interview
• Informal prayer and group sharing
• Discernment beginning to listen for God’s call in one’s life

Session # 5 CELEBRATING ACCEPTANCE

• Listening to God’s voice 
• Experiencing a call to change
• Conversion of heart
• Celebrate an adapted Rite of Acceptance 
• Reflection on the symbolic and liturgical elements of the ritual and discern it’s meaning for the Christian way.

Session # 6 LITURGICAL CATECHESIS/MYSTAGOGY

Learning the process of:

• Reflection on the symbols of the liturgy
• Uncovering the message and applying to one’s life is the basic task of the Catechumenal process.  This is a task that all Christians must learn and practice throughout life.  

Session # 7 WHY WE DISMISS THOSE, WE JUST WELCOMED

Why we dismiss those, we just welcomed.

Dismissal celebration and follow up reflection. This workshop and the following will discuss the heart of the catechumenal process, Dismissal. 

The four dimensions of the catechetical process include:

• Hearing the Word of God
• Practicing the Christian way of life
• Praying with the community
• Reaching out in Apostolic service

Session # 8 CELEBRATING MINOR RITES

• Listening to God’s voice, Celebrating that call
• Experiencing a call to change
• Conversion of heart
• Celebrate an adapted Rite of Acceptance 
• Reflection on the symbolic and liturgical elements of the ritual and discern it’s meaning for the Christian way.

Session # 9 CELEBRATING & REFLECTING ON RITE OF SENDING

• We will celebrate an adaptation of the rite of sending and explore symbols and liturgical action of celebration.
• Exploring the signs and symbols of the ritual, how liturgical participation catechizes us.
• We will also address the roles of the team, godparents, & assembly in this aspect of the rite.

Session # 10 PRAYING OUR WAY THROUGH LENT

• We will celebrate an adapted rite of the inscription of names
• Reflect on its significance and talk about the most effective ways of preparing the catechumens to take part in the rite. 
• We will also address the role that the godparent assumes at the time of Election.

Session # 11 CELEBRATING PURIFICATION & ENLIGHTENMENT

This session will explore:

• The purpose of Lent in the preparation of the Elect
• Explore the symbols and application of the Rites of Purification (scrutinies) and enlightenment (presentations)
• Celebrate scrutiny reflection

Session # 12 CELEBRATION OF ADAPTED PREPARATION RITES

This session will include: 

• A Reflective journey through the liturgical actions and symbols of the Easter Vigil. 

We will break open the distinct moments of the rite to gain deeper meaning of the celebration.

Session # 13 MINISTRY TO THE BAPTIZED

This session will address questions about what to do next. After the celebration of the sacraments of Initiation

• What do we do with the Neophytes?
• How do we assist them to savor the mysteries of faith especially the Eucharist and Penance?

Session # 14 COMPLETING INITIATION 

This session will address the specific needs and concerns of the Baptized Catholics who lack the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.

• How can we make this celebration meaningful to those already baptized?  

Session # 15 WELCOMING INTO FULL COMMUNION

Although the Baptized candidates may have participated in the catechetical preparation with the catechumens, celebrating the Fullness of Communion with Baptized Christians is a separate rite. We will examine its differences from the Initiation process and discover ways to celebrate this event by celebration of the Profession of Faith, Confirmation, & Eucharist.

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$15 per Session

Sessions during the COVID-19 contingency will be online via zoom and will be notified in timely manner on our social networks.

Please contact to Leticia Perez Program Coordinator for initiation Ministries at 213-637-7595 or LPerez@la-archdiocese.org