Choreographing the Catechumenate

Last month I reclaimed Catechetical Sunday as an opportunity to reestablish the centrality of the catechumenate and catechesis as the “evangelizing” focus for the parish year and for our lives. In this column I resume working with this “lost rite” at the point following the gathering rites celebrated outdoors. In procession and song, the community enters the church and goes to the baptismal font.

We began outdoors at the place of the Easter fire. We start the year there and will end there in eight months at the Vigil. We ask the entire parish to enter into the period of evangelization and pre-catechumenate again. The trip to the baptismal font is a trip to the beginning of our lives in Christ. Singing the processional and the “parish song” of the year, the community stops at the font. The rite of blessing and sprinkling is then completed at the font (using the sacramentary’s Option A). All are invited to come to the water and to bless themselves. They then sing their way to their seats using a Gloria of the parish’s choice. (The Taize Gloria would be one obvious choice to maximize participation.) The opening prayer is crafted to include images of evangelization, evangelizing others and being evangelized ourselves this year. All are seated.

The holy oils are carried in procession to the ambo from the same table that holds the bread and wine used for the preparation of gifts. As the three oil bearers process forward, the lector of the first reading joins them, and all proceed to the ambo. The three containers of oil are placed (almost like candles) around the ambo on different-leveled pedestals. (Perhaps a candle sits next to each oil spot.) Three matches are struck, three candles are lit and three proclamations are given by the lector: “This is the oil of the catechumenate.” “This is the oil of the sick.” “This is the sacred chrism.” The lector, lifting up the lectionary, then says: “This is the storybook of our faith. We will gather in this place to tell stories and do great healing using these oils this year. We invite you to join us again in this mission of evangelization.” The three oil bearers then return to their seats. The Mass continues through the homily. The homily leads into the prayers of the faithful because the Creed was professed outside during the gathering rites.

The bread, wine and offerings are brought forward next. All three are placed on the table. The presider says (lifting up each as speaking), “This is bread of life. This is the cup of salvation. This is gift of our hearts for the poorest among us. We will gather at this table to recognize ourselves and others in the brokenness of our lives this year. It is at this table we will recognize the wholeness of our lives and our parish this year. We invite you to join us again in this mission of reconciliation.” The liturgy continues through to the Our Father, which is introduced with the explanation that the call of evangelization and reconciliation is to stand holding hands with our brothers and sisters each week and to see the Body of Christ. 

The final blessing is expanded to become a commissioning of all the assembled as catechists and catechumens for this coming year: “May Almighty God bless us all. May God make us disciples who sit at the feet of one another to learn from one another. May God evangelize our hearts and parish this year. May God reconcile our hearts and parish this year. May God give us the courage to learn together as the people of God this year. May God fill us with a sense of welcome this year that will allow our parish to grow deep and wide. May God gather us at the Easter Vigil where we may all see the fruits of our learning and loving. And may God bless us, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”

After the dismissal, the sending song is again the “parish song.” The banner and Gospel book lead everyone to their mission, their lives and the world, beginning with the parish reception. This rite should be performed at all Masses during the weekend. The entire parish is thereby missioned to do the evangelizing and reconciling work of catechesis and the catechumenate. Fire, water, oil, story, bread, wine, reconciliation, evangelization, catechumenate, catechesis and community are recovered and put to the service of all. The work of the people is recognized and reclaimed for the year. Another “lost rite” is recovered.