It takes a community to nurture a disciple
Opinion
In the darkest days of grief and loss when the risen Lord was no longer physically present to his disciples, they struggled to understand and make sense of all that had happened.
Their faith was shaken; they were fearful and at a loss as to how to move forward.
It was not until they experienced the release of the Spirit at Pentecost that they could actually go out and do what Jesus did: spread the good news that Jesus lived on and called them forth.
In the Acts of the Apostles, we read that the disciples gathered together, in unity of purpose, to remember all that Jesus had shared with them. They broke the bread and prayed together and then went out to minister to the poor and needy.
The example of their faith and way of living in community to do what Jesus did attracted many to their community. Their darkest days still yielded a glimmer of hope and their faith in the Lord was sustained.
At the present time, our Catholic community is being buffeted with trials and tribulations that leave many wondering how we move forward and proclaim the good news as the early disciples did. We are challenged to come together in unity of purpose, to be missionary disciples to our broken world and Church and to provide a beacon of hope and light to those who are searching for deeper meaning and to those whose spirits are flagging. The RCIA is a process that provides enquirers with a way to ‘Come and See’ what life is like in the Catholic community.
The RCIA Conference this year will focus on theme of ‘It takes a community to nurture a disciple’.
It is the work of the whole community to welcome newcomers, to mentor and accompany them, and to share their faith with them. The theme of discipleship will be explored via the Scriptures, and Becoming Catholic will be explored via the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Conference facilitators will be Sr Bernadette Kiley O.P and Fr Elio Capra, SDB. Sue Rivett (Marriage Tribunal) will provide a brief introduction to pastoral issues informed by Canon Law. The conference will be held at The Monastery at Glen Osmond from October 11-13.
Kathy Horan is liturgy educator with the Office for Worship.
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