Dismissal Training

Dismissal Training for Catechists

1. Opening Prayer


Lord, according to Thy promise that the Gospel should be preached throughout the whole world, raise up men fit for such work. The Apostles were but soft and yielding clay till they were baked hard by the fire of the Holy Ghost. So, good Lord, do now in like manner with Thy Church militant. Change and make the soft and slippery earth into hard stones. Set in Thy Church strong and mighty pillars that may suffer and endure great labors – watching, poverty, thirst, hunger, cold and heat – which also shall not fear the threatenings of princes, persecution, neither death, but always persuade and think with themselves to suffer with a good will, slanders, shame, and all kinds of torments, for the glory and laud of Thy holy Name. By this manner, good Lord, the truth of Thy Gospel shall be preached throughout the world. Therefore, merciful Lord, exercise Thy mercy, show it indeed upon Thy Church.
-St. John Fisher

2. Contact Information


Director of Catechetical Ministries

Marcial Lopez
Office:760-789-6151
Email: mlopez@parishmail.com

RCIA Coordinator

Dave Campbell
Home: 760-788-5887
Cell: 619-838-7318
Work: 858-592-4249
Email: campbells.way@cox.net

Parish Office
760-789-0583

3. Introduction

This training material is intended to give basic instruction on leading an RCIA Sunday Dismissal (also referred to as Breaking Open the Word) at Immaculate Heart of Mary.

The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) is the process by which the Catholic Church receives into full membership those people who seek to follow Christ and be Catholic Christians.

The RCIA process is a walk of faith with God. As such it is a natural process and not a regimented program. The RCIA process takes an individual as long as it takes them.

The RCIA Team at Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) Parish of Ramona is a group of Catholics who minister to those individuals seeking to become Catholic.

The mission of the RCIA Team at IHM is to make disciples of all of Ramona, teaching them and baptizing them in the Name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

The RCIA Team is flexible, adaptable, and humble, recognizing that each person coming through our doors is a unique soul that has never happened before and will never happen again. We are humbled by our responsibility and constantly seek Christ to help us.

The RCIA Team ministers to these individuals as long as there are people interested in discovering the Catholic Faith. The RCIA Team at IHM does not take breaks to accommodate the academic calendar, because Christ does not take such breaks in calling people to His Church. It is the goal of the RCIA team to build up to a Catechumenate which lasts a full year, allowing the Catechumens to experience the full liturgical year before being baptized.

At IHM the RCIA Team is also responsible for the formation of those adult Catholics seeking the Sacrament of Confirmation and to deepen their Faith in God.

Lastly, the RCIA Team recognizes that if we are perfectly prepared, know everything in the Bible, the Catechism, and Church History, have an abundance of expertly trained catechists and sponsors, but do not have Christ, we will fail. Even if we are poorly prepared, overworked, undermanned, under trained, but Christ is with us, He will succeed. Our responsibility is to be well prepared, well organized, well trained, and rooted in prayer; so that we may best cooperate with the Lord in His ministry of RCIA.

4. Dismissal Leader Job Description

The “Guide on the Side”

Time Commitment: 1 hour on a Sunday.

Gifts Needed:

Willingness to share your own Faith story
Listening
Small Group Facilitation
Love of Scripture
Ability to answer some basic questions on the readings:

What did this reading mean to the writer?

What does this reading mean to me when I heard it?

How am I going to apply it to my life tomorrow?

Activity Description: Lead the Catechumens and Candidates from the blessing to the place of the meeting. Open with prayer. Review the readings seeking their input and motivating their conversation. Once the conversation is in full swing, listen and gently guide. After 30 minutes close with a prayer, and return to the Church.

5. Listening

The Art of Listening

Show interest in the person

Focus on what they say, but also on why they say it.

Focus on Emotional Attitudes

Be aware of your own feelings and attitudes

Avoid talking too much about yourself

Avoid judgmental comments

Avoid controlling the conversation

Be sensitive to body language


6. CheckList

Breaking Open the Word and RCIA Mass Dismissal Check List

Get the key for the Ministry Center or other scheduled location ahead of time.

Read the Sunday’s readings ahead of time so you are prepared.

Bring the readings and the Dismissal Prayers with you.
Arrive to Mass 15 min. early.
Make sure the Priest knows there is an RCIA Dismissal after the Homily.
Get a spare copy of Lectionary from the Sacristy.
After the Homily, go to the front of the Church holding up the Lectionary. (Do this before the Priest stands up, it will remind him about the dismissal)

The Priest will call the Catechumens and the Candidates forward and bless them.
After the blessing lead them out of the Church holding up the Lectionary.
Lead them to the session location.
Begin with a Prayer.
Take Attendance and return to the RCIA Coordinator.
Have volunteers read the readings.
Discuss them, give everyone a chance to share, but do not let any one person dominate.
The session should take about 30 minutes.
Close with a prayer.
Close up any doors that were opened.


7. Dismissal Prayer

Most Priests will not ask for the dismissal prayer but some will (Fr. Lou will). If so give them this:

Dismissal Prayer

Priest:
Would the Catechumens and Candidates in the RCIA please come forward.

My dear friends, this community now sends you forth to reflect more deeply upon the word of God which you have shared with us today. Be assured of our loving support and prayers for you. We look forward to the day when you will share fully in the Lord’s Table

8. Closing Reflection

It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view.
The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,it is even beyond our vision.
We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work. Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying that the kingdom always lies beyond us. No statement says all that could be said. No prayer fully expresses our faith. No confession brings perfection. No pastoral visit brings wholeness. No program accomplishes the church's mission. No set of goals and objectives includes everything.
This is what we are about. We plant the seeds that one day will grow. We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development. We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities. We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that. This enables us to do something,and to do it very well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker.
We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs. We are prophets of a future not our own.-Archbishop. Oscar Romero