Well-known priest and scholar facilitates

By David Eck

DAYTON DEANERY - Well over 110 priests, deacons and Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) directors and team members from throughout the archdiocese were recently re-energized at a daylong workshop at Ascension Parish in Kettering.

CT/DAVID ECK

Father Paul Turner leads a recent workshop on RCIA at Ascension Parish in Kettering.

"It takes people like you who have a vision of things and the will to carry it all out," Father Turner said. "Baptism is what justifies us."

The program was designed to reinvigorate those who administer RCIA in archdiocese parishes.

"We wanted to bring in a well-known speaker to give parish RICA directors and pastors a little shot in the arm, a little reenergizing for their work with initiation in the parish," said Karen Kane, director of the archdiocesan Worship Office. "It was meant to be a day of formation and to give people the benefit of Paul Turner's insights because he's so gifted in this (subject) area. He's a highly respected priest and speaker in our country."

In order to better understand the RCIA, participants reflected on baptism, confirmation and the Eucharist. Father Turner had the participants form into small groups and discuss each element of initiation and what it means to them and to their ministry in initiation.

Participants also spent time discussing the role of discernment in the RCIA process. In determining a candidate or catechumen's readiness for acceptance into the church, RCIA leaders should consider their sense of church and their willingness to change their lives, Father Turner said. He also encouraged them to evaluate their current practices in determining readiness.

In an afternoon discussion, Father Turner discussed ministering to baptized candidates and envisioning the Easter Vigil.

"You never fully exhaust understanding the rite," said Carolyn Stucke, assistant director of the Archdiocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, "You need to go over it. You need to see it in another light."

Father Turner's goal was to inform and empower RCIA leaders.

"I want them to feel reenergized in their work of initiation," Father Turner said. "I want them to be informed . . . of the church's vision of initiation."

During the workshop, people shared ideas and interacted with each other, which was one of the goals, Stucke said.

"I think one of the things that I realized as I watched those folks was this is a critical ministry in the church at this time," she said. "As I saw those folks interact, I saw comments shared in a learning style. I saw a spirit of camaraderie and just an affirmation that we are all in this together."

Those attending the workshop were able to obtain information and insights that can be incorporated into RCIA programs across the archdiocese.

"They certainly take away the ability to better minister to people who are seeking initiation into the church," Kane said. "Many people said this was a very instructive and informative day."