In the Margins: A Journey of Conversion

Over my many years as Catechist, I've often been amazed at the diversity of our participants in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) program and gratified by the reasons why they made the decision to fully embrace the Catholic faith. At St. Ignatius, the RCIA program is informed and shaped by Ignatian Spirituality and its concrete practices of finding God in all things, listening with a discerning heart, meeting people where they are, and becoming contemplatives in action.
 
In that context, whatever the topic - prayer, Scripture, Church history, morality, the sacraments - we do our best to be attentive to the "signs of the times" both ad intra (inside the institutional Church) and ad extra (outside the institutional Church) as Pope John XXIII modeled for us. Moreover, while discussing such doctrines as the hierarchy of truths, religious freedom, and primacy of conscience, we try to be attuned to the personal concerns our members might have about certain Church teachings such as divorce and remarriage, artificial birth control, addictions, everyday temptations and struggles.
 
We are not without our challenges. Each year we pray we are able to ease the transition from being a small, trusting and trustworthy group of individuals into the larger parish community, its people, its ministries, its opportunities, its life. Most recently, having to "attend" Mass on YouTube and hold class on Zoom, was quite honestly, difficult.  Although we were able to present the material, we lacked the warmth and energy of the in-person classroom. Nor were we fully able to determine the pulse beat of our participants on a flat screen, despite the intriguing backdrops and the occasional sudden appearance of a child or a pet. This year, despite a few weeks of classes via Zoom, it is such a blessing to be in-person and make our way together to the table of Our Lord.
 
Though often defined as a program, RCIA is primarily a process, one that through prayer, reflection, and active participation in the parish and larger community is on-going, ever evolving, demanding, rewarding. While the program provides structure and guidance on the rites and rituals each participant will move through, the process is unique to each catechumen and candidate. As we journey through both program and process, we place our trust in the guidance and movement of the omnipresent Spirit in and among us as pilgrim People of God.
 
As for me in my role as Catechist? St. Ignatius puts it best: "The laborers in the Lord's vineyard should have one foot on the ground and the other raised to proceed on the journey."
 
(Dr. Mary Romo, Ph.D. has been a catechist with St. Ignatius Parish for over two decades.  Together with Deacon Eddy Gutierrez, Dr. Romo directs the RCIA program for St. Ignatius Parish.)