Becoming Catholic: Recources for Catechumens

There are a number of resources to be used by catechumens, those who have been accepted by the Church into the Order of Catechumens and will, in the fullness of time, be initiated into the full sacramental life of the Church.

For the Sunday sessions, the readings to be used are found in your Living the Word book. The full text of the readings for each day of the week may also be found online at the . You are encouraged to read and medidate on the readings, as well as reading the reflections given in Living the Word, for the upcoming Sunday before hearing the reading proclaimed at the Mass. We will also be using the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults for our extended catechesis. You can find the schedule of topics as a . In addition, keeping a journal of your development, growth, questions, doubts, and all aspects of your faith life is crucial to developing the reflexivity needed for continued conversion. . In addition, keeping a journal of your development, growth, questions, doubts, and all aspects of your faith life is crucial to developing the reflexivity needed for continued conversion.

The focus of the catechumenate is four-fold, of which study and development of a love for the scriptures is but one part. As a catechumen, you are to become familiar with the Christian way of life, to turn to God in prayer, to bear witness to the faith, to keep your hopes set in Christ, to follow the inspiration of the Spirit in your deeds, and to practice love of neighbor (, 75). This transformation of your life must be complete and necessitates discipleship, by living out your faith in service to one another. At St. Thomas More there are many ways to serve our neigbor.

The primary resource for you as a catechumen, however, is the Church—the assembly of the faithful. Your sponsor serves as a bridge to the community and will guide you in coming to know the community of St. Thomas More in all its aspects. The liturgical life of the Church provides enormous riches whose depths are to be explored each time you enter into the liturgy with full, conscious, and active partcipation. You should learn the rhythm of the liturgy and begin to feel the way in which the work of the Church brings us all into communion with God and with one another. You are, of course, encouraged to continue to use the resources for inquirers and should always feel welcome to contact Andrew Casad, the Director of the Catechumenate, as you continue this special journey of conversion.