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<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="02c285a1erlcgo.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>Welcome to Project Linkup</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Welcome to Project Linkup"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <div> Current News Article</div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="02ad2c00dkelyh.gif"> <div> <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Prayer for Project Linkup"><U><IMG SRC="03ba0aa0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="170" ALT="A Prayer for Project Linkup" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Us"><U><B>About Us</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Belgrave Story"><U><B>The Belgrave Story</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Belgrave Photo Album"><U><B>Belgrave Photo Album</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>Current News Article</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="News Archive"><U><B>News Archive</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Resources"><U><B>Resources</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links to Friends of Project Linkup"><U><B>Links to Friends</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U><B>Contact Us</B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> <B>Current News Articles</B></div> <div> <I>July 2007</I></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#prenatal_motherhood_language" TITLE="Current News Article"><U><I>Prenatal Motherhood Language</I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#overview" TITLE="Current News Article"><U><I>An overview of SCC/RCIA integration at each stage of the Rite</I></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="prenatal_motherhood_language"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B>PRENATAL MOTHERHOOD LANGUAGE</B></I></div> <div> A Reflection by Jim Cranswick</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>The pregnancy language that is sometimes used to describe the catechumens in modern times has its roots stretching back deeply into the early Church period.</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>     </B></I><I><B>Words</B></I><I><B> used under pressure</B></I></div> <bR> <div> A good example of this appeared in a letter reporting the bitter persecution and the extermination of the leading members in the Christian communities in Lyon and Vienne in the south of France in 177 AD.  There were some interesting words used to express common Christian experiences.  I have underlined these below.</div> <bR> <div> In the middle of the ordeal, when it was known that one "Attalus the Christian" was a Roman citizen, he with others was taken from the arena to a part of the prison where there were some Christians who had recently deflected.</div> <bR> <div> <I>"...the intervening time proven not unfruitful ... [for] ... through their endurance the measureless compassion of Christ was displayed.  For by the living, the dead were quickened, and martyrs forgave those who were not martyrs, and the </I><I><U>Virgin Mother rejoiced gladly to receive alive those whom her womb had brought forth dead</U></I><I>.  For by their means the more part of those who had been denied </I><I><U>were brought again to birth, were conceived again, were rekindled into life</U></I><I>, and learned to confess..."</I> (<A HREF="#footnotes" TITLE="Current News Article"><U>1</U></A>)</div> <bR> <div> During the further examination of the Christians a certain believer, Alexander from Asia Minor, was in the crowd.  He <I>"stood by the tribunal and by signs encouraged them to confess.  To the bystanders there, he appeared to be, as it were, </I><I><U>in travail</U></I><I>."</I> (<A HREF="#footnotes" TITLE="Current News Article"><U>2</U></A>)  But they caught him too and he <I>"experienced every instrument that had been devised for torture in the amphitheater ... neither groaning nor uttering the slightest cry .. [even] ... when he was placed in the iron chair and scorched, so that fumes rose from his body..."</I> (<A HREF="#footnotes" TITLE="Current News Article"><U>3</U></A>) </div> <bR> <div> These passages appear in a letter from Greek Christians in Gaul to their brethren in Asia Minor, their home country.  It concluded with a comment on the martyrs - <I>"in peace they went to God not leaving </I><I><U>grief to their Mother</U></I><I>."</I> (<A HREF="#footnotes" TITLE="Current News Article"><U>4</U></A>)</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>The language of pregnancy</B></I></div> <bR> <div> This letter is important for it contains the earliest known reference to the Church as a personal Mother in her role of making Christians.  This letter is also important for it includes examples of how the first Christians expressed the religious experiences of coming to faith and growth in faith in the imagery of prenatal motherhood (conception, carrying in the womb and birth).  The spontaneous and familiar use of this pregnancy language, obviously understood by Christians in Asia Minor, leads us to assume that this kind of motherhood language was already current among Christians in the East as well as in the West.  There is evidence that trade relations existed between the Rhone Valley and the East in the 2nd century.</div> <bR> <div> (NB. The use of the motherhood concept in this period should not be confused in any way with the later devotion to Mary, Mother of God, seen by herself and outside the 'economy of God' or total scope of revelation, and associated with the emphasis on her personal privileges.  Although references can be found to Mary's motherhood, Marian theology is much later and is something else altogether.)</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>A structure for making adult Christians</B></I></div> <bR> <div> Before the turn of the 3rd century this pregnancy language and the use of the term Mother Church  (Mater Ecclesia) only appeared in material that was about the catechumens and new Christians.  There is clear evidence that during this period the early Church had begun to develop a well-ordered structure for the welcoming care for adults in search of God.  Provision was made for growth in faith by stages, including nourishment by the Word of God and the expression of Christian attitudes - all taking place in a communal milieu and leading towards Baptisma (a word used to express the experience of baptism, confirmation and Eucharist normally at Easter).  Baptisma, although very important, was only the last in a series of sacramental actions.</div> <bR> <div> During the earlier period the main task had been the formation of Christian communities in each place and St. Paul's liberal use of the "Body of Christ" imagery, that we know so well, was relevant to this need.  But St. Paul had also just touched on this pregnancy language, for example, <I>"... my children, I must go through the pain of giving birth to you all over again, until Christ is formed in you."</I> (<A HREF="#footnotes" TITLE="Current News Article"><U>5</U></A>)</div> <bR> <div> During the late 2nd and 3rd centuries, the Early Fathers often referred to this particular passage and the added the mother figure of Eve, the pregnant woman in the Book of Revelation, the parable of the ten virgins, and others.</div> <div>  </div> <div> The problem at this stage was the long term and careful formation of the faith of adults in the Greek world without the pre-evangelism of the Jewish background.  The Christians of this period referred with loving affections to their Mother, the Church, her ability to "conceive" newcomers and her concern for them, in particular her prenatal caring and nourishment to prevent any danger of miscarriage or premature birth.</div> <bR> <div> Take just one example from Methodius of Olympus writing in the late 3rd century and faithful to the theology of this structure handed down to him.  <I>"For just as a woman receives the unformed seed of her husband and after a time brings forth a perfect human being, so too the Church, one might say, does not cease to conceive in her womb those who seek for rest in the Word, and that she forms them and shapes them in the image and likeness of Christ, in order to make them, after the appropriate time, citizens of her eternal happiness."</I> (<A HREF="#footnotes" TITLE="Current News Article"><U>6</U></A>)</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Some important pastoral implications</B></I></div> <bR> <div> It was easy for everyone to understand the implications and assumptions behind this use of the "pregnancy" language.  It was a powerful was of communicating the VIP treatment given to those in search of God and the making of adult Christians in a pre-Nicene Church - sometimes taking two or three years in the 3rd century, <I>"but if a man be earnest and persevere well in the matter, let him be received, because it is not the time that is judged but the conduct."</I> (<A HREF="#footnotes" TITLE="Current News Article"><U>7</U></A>)</div> <bR> <div> We list some of the pastoral implications:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The need to give full attention and mature care to the formation of adults in search of God.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Faith before teaching (as conception before pregnancy)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Provision for progressive states in the faith experience of adults.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The avoidance at all costs of premature births</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The synchronising of faith and sacrament, appropriate and adequate time</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Formation in a communal milieu (the womb of the Church)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Catechumens are members of the Church.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Provision of a milieu conducive to conversion, adjustment and faith development.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The Church seen as an open-ended training community for effective Christian life and action in the world.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Baptisma or ultimate birth is important, but the relevant question is rather, how does an ordinary non-believing or pseudo-believing adult ever get as far as baptism?</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>The job of all Christians</B></I></div> <bR> <div> There is only one pastoral implication that needs emphasising in conclusion.  It was taken for granted in the early Church that the task of caring for those in search of God, those on the way to becoming Christians, was not left to the priests, but was the job of <I>all</I> Christians - priests and laity.</div> <bR> <div> In the letter from Lyon, quoted above, the brethren helped each other, gave encouragement, restored faith and strengthened it to the point of confession at the tribunal - "I am a Christian".  Certainly this was under pressure, but take for example a passage (in the cold) from Methodius revealing this mutual assistance as a natural activity.  <I>"...Those who are more perfect ... collaborate with Christ in preaching the gospel for the salvation of all the rest.  But those who are still imperfect and have only begun their lessons in the way of salvation, are </I><I><U>formed and brought forth by their mothers in labour</U></I><I> by those who are more perfect, until their are born... and then by their progress these too have become the Church, they cooperate in their turn, in the birth and rearing of others..."</I> (<A HREF="#footnotes" TITLE="Current News Article"><U>8</U></A>)</div> <bR> <div> What happened was that out of the whole Christian community a certain number of the faithful, acting on behalf of the whole, undertook this specific and important role of caring for the catechumens.</div> <bR> <div> In conclusion, we can see from the early Church evidence that the prenatal motherhood model is fundamental to the catechumenate and a necessary process in any mission situation.</div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="footnotes"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <B>Footnotes</B></div> <div> (1) Eusebius H.E. 5.1; (2), (3) & (4) ibid.</div> <div> (5) Gal 4:19</div> <div> (6) Methodius, Symposium VIII.6</div> <div> (7) Hippolytus Apos. Trad. XVII.2</div> <div> (8) Methodius Symposium III.8</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id17_m.htm" TITLE="Current News Article"><U>Back to Top</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="overview"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B>AN OVERVIEW OF SCC/RCIA INTEGRATION AT EACH STAGE OF THE RITE</B></I></div> <div> As developed at St. Thomas More Parish, Belgrave, Melbourne Archdiocese</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Four Stages of the RCIA Journey</B></I></div> <div> 1. Enquiry</div> <div> 2. Catechumenate</div> <div> 3. Enlightenment</div> <div> 4. Mystagogia</div> <bR> <div> <B>The RCIA Coordinating Team comprises of</B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Overall Coordinator</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Liturgist</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Catechetical Coordinator</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Ordained Leader</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Spiritual Director</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Two 'Gofers' to address administration tasks</div> <bR> <div> Meetings may only be required at monthly or bimonthly intervals</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>RCIA fits into the life and rhythm of the SCC...</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>Before Enquiry</B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">An interview with the parish priest and the RCIA coordinator</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Individuality of each journey is stressed</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Team confers on the readiness of the enquirer to join a SCC, and the SCC best suited to the enquirer</div> <bR> <div> <B>Enquiry</B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The spiritual director makes a home visit to each enquirer and arranges an initial informal gathering of all enquirers</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The enquirer starts to attend meetings of the SCC</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A prayer partner is discerned for the enquirer</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Over approximately 2 months the SCC and the enquirer work through a parish resource written for their period.  It covers the topics of journey, conversion, the Kingdom, healing and death and resurrection</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The spiritual director organises a prayer day for all enquirers and supporters, the focus being an introduction to prayer</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The SCC leader will organise for someone in the group to liaise with the coordinator and team</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The SCC discerns the readiness of the enquirer to move on to the next stage</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Time to find a sponsor</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Liturgist organises a Rite of Welcome incorporated into the parish eucharist</div> <bR> <div> <B>Catechumenate</B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The rhythm of SCC life continues with the catechumen</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">SCC members plug into the 10 week adult education program organised by the catechetical coordinator, and facilitated by community members or the whole parish</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Catechetical coordinator invites different SCCs to lead "sending forth" at Sunday eucharist every second week</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A prayer day is organised by the spiritual director for all catechumens, candidates and their supporters, the emphasis being on discernment of spirits</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The SCC is assisted by the spiritual director to discern the catechumen's readiness to proceed</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The liturgist suggests ritual anointing and seasonal foci for use at SCC meetings</div> <bR> <div> <B>Enlightenment</B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">SCC goes to the Cathedral for the rite of election</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Spiritual director facilitates a prayer day with the focus on the healing of life's hurts, awareness examen and reconciliation</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Liturgist draws up the rites particular to this period (Scrutinies etc.) to be celebrated in front of the Assembly at Sunday eucharists</div> <bR> <div> <B>Initiation at Vigil or Dawn Service</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mystagogia</B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">SCC have a dinner to celebrate with their neophyte and to reminisce</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Off to Cathedral to celebrate the pascal eucharist with the Archbishop</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">SCCs are provided with session material which explains the meaning and tasks of mystagogia</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Spiritual director facilitates a prayer day around the topics of eucharist and mission</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Liturgist plans a rite of commissioning for Pentecost when neophytes tell their story to the Assembly and are commissioned to their chosen ministry</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I>The new Catholic is now part of an SCC, who continue to gather around the Word, to enquire and to mission!</I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id17_m.htm" TITLE="Current News Article"><U>Back to Top</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>