Archbishop Calls RCIA A 'Gift' to the Church

By JULIANN DosSANTOS

Addressing participants at an institute by the North American Forum on the Catechumenate, Archbishop Dolan stressed the importance of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults in the life of the Church. Welcoming the participants in the forum, he said, "It is one of the singular blessings and gifts to the Church after the Second Vatican Council."

Some 90 people from around the country gathered for the July 10-12 institute held at the Passionist Spiritual Center in Riverdale, including pastors, deacons, coordinators and directors of religious education, catechists, and others interested in the process.

The archbishop, in a welcome filled with both laughter and gratitude, expressed his deep admiration for those involved in RCIA. He discussed four aspects of RCIA in particular: Its promotion of a personal relationship with Christ, its stress on the quest for holiness, its emphasis on interior conversion and its ecclesial dimension.

He said that RCIA shows that people are "part of a family."

He said, "We meet Jesus and sense him in and through his Church."

The institute combined workshops and learning with reflective experiences, faith sharing and retreat elements.

Institute Coordinator Rita Ferrone, an author and speaker on liturgy, catechesis and Church renewal, told CNY that an important aspect of the institute was to have participants walk through all the steps and stages of the RCIA process and to learn by doing. She hoped they would "grasp the importance of ongoing conversion for the whole community, and develop their skills for their ministry to people who are searching and looking for a community of faith."

One participant, Robert Fitkin of St. John the Evangelist parish in White Plains, said that he thought it was important to attend to learn from others involved in RCIA. At St. John's, the RCIA program is in its first year and already some 15 or 20 people have shown an interest.

"I have a desire to know the correct way to approach the ministry," he said. "It's an amazing ministry, and I want to be there to welcome people who come to church with an inkling about their faith as a good servant." He said that since all inquirers into the faith are different, he wanted to learn as much as he could to "see what everybody else does."

Christopher Castagnoli of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan, knows firsthand how RCIA can change someone's life—he was baptized in 1999 at the cathedral. He said that being on the other side of the program has been a great experience for him. He said he tries to approach those in RCIA with "enthusiasm and knowledge," adding, "I want them to say, 'this is incredible.' "

Oscar Cruz, director of adult catechesis for the archdiocese, told CNY that he hopes "participants gain a better sense of the importance of the catechumenate and how to fully implement it in their parish."

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