RCIA Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Catechist's Journey

Catechists in Action – RCIA Participant Shares Moving Insight

In this segment of Catechists in Action, Marge Garbacz prepares to move on to the next segment of the RCIA discussion on Human Dignity but pauses to invite a participant to share a thought. Watch for the following: Marge notices that one of the participants looks like he wanted to say something so she interrupts herself and invites him to do so. Mauricio, one of the RCIA candidates, shares his thoughts on the idea of […]

Catechists in Action – Marge Continues RCIA Discussion on Human Dignity

Joe Paprocki

In this segment of Catechists in Action, we see Marge Garbacz continue to lead discussion with her RCIA group on the topic of Human Dignity. Watch for the following: Marge asks who some of the people are in our lives who tend to be “invisible” participants offer various examples of people who are too often ignored and forgotten by society examples include quieter people, children, the elderly, the disabled Marge offers affirmation and feedback on […]

Catechists in Action – Marge Leads Discussion

Joe Paprocki

In this segment of Catechists in Action, Marge Garbacz leads her RCIA group in discussion about the Catholic approach to human dignity. Watch for the following: Marge offers comments on the “Mr. Cellophane” song that the group just viewed. The group offers their reactions and experiences of feeling “invisible” or treating others as though they were invisible. Notice how Marge pulls back and allows discussion to flow and how she asks if anyone else has […]

Catechists in Action – Marge Introduces the Theme for the Session

Joe Paprocki

In this segment of Catechists in Action, Marge Garbacz introduces the theme for the evening’s RCIA session (Human Dignity), drawn from Practice Makes Catholic. Watch for the following: Marge nicely ties in the theme for the evening, human dignity, with the Gospel reading just reflected on (the Man Born Blind). Marge describes how I introduce the theme of human dignity in Practice Makes Catholic by talking about a song from the musical Chicago: Mr. Cellophane to emphasize […]

Catechists in Action – Marge Invites RCIA Team Member to Discuss the Gospel

Joe Paprocki

In this segment of Catechists in Action, Marge Garbacz invites Bernie, one of her RCIA team members to read aloud the Gospel for the upcoming Sunday and then to share some thoughts on it. Watch for the following: Marge clearly announces what is to take place next, the proclamation and discussion of the Gospel for the upcoming Sunday, and then turns it over to Bernie…a nice sharing of responsibility and utilization of the gifts of […]

Catechists in Action – Marge Invites the RCIA Participants to Introduce Themselves

Joe Paprocki

In this segment of Catechists In Action, we see Marge Garbacz, DRE at St. Symphorosa parish in Chicago, IL, inviting the RCIA participants (catechists, sponsors, catechumens, candidates) to introduce themselves to us as we prepare to watch segments showing their learning experience. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jg9XhmE4gs

Catechists in Action – Marge Leads Opening Prayer

Joe Paprocki

In this segment of Catechists in Action, Marge Garbacz welcomes her RCIA participants and invites them to prayer. Watch for the following: Marge greets the participants with great enthusiasm, letting them know how welcome they are and how enthusiastic she is to be spending time with them Marge gives instructions for the prayer and invites the group to pray a prayer written for the parish RCIA process and used over many years at the parish. […]

Catechists In Action – Meet Marge Garbacz, Catechist of Adults

Joe Paprocki

Welcome to the final installment of Catechists in Action, a feature that has enabled us to be a “fly on the wall” of a number of catechists in this past year. In this final installment, we meet Marge Garbacz, Director of Religious Education at St. Symphorosa Parish in Chicago, IL. Among the many hats that Marge wears (including “parish carnival coordinator”!) is the coordinator of the parish RCIA process. Marge has assembled an impressive team […]

5th Anniversary Celebration – Guest Blogger #4: Marc Cardaronella

Joe Paprocki

As we continue to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of my blog, The Catechist’s Journey, here is another guest blogger. Marc Cardaronella is the Director of Religious Education for Holy Cross Church in Champaign, IL. In a former life, he was a Naval Aviator but gave that up for a less thrilling and infinitely more satisfying career working for the Church. He has a Master’s Degree in Theology and Christian Ministry with a specialization in Catechetics […]

Learning the Hard Way – Stories on the Journey

Joe Paprocki

Wonderful story from Christian! A long time ago my wife & I were put in charge of teaching RCIA. We’d run the adult class for a couple of years, had a lot of informed, motivated Catholics. Anyway, I would teach the first RCIA class, and figured we’d start with some basics: Faith & Reason/ Fides et Ratio by JP2. We’d studied it in the adult class, no sweat. But with the RCIAers, what a disaster! […]