Monday, February 14, 2005
Business Session
We had a good 'business' session at RCIA tonight. We didn't talk very much about Lent, though, beyond that it is a time of purification and enlightenment. We talked mostly about our upcoming Rite of Sending, Rite of Election, Reconciliation and the Scrutinies.
After the Rite of Sending (which we're having on the 2nd Sunday of Lent instead of the 1st Sunday because of our Bishop's scheduling conflicts) our teacher said many in our congregation will be praying for us, some by name and some for us as a group. She said we need to focus and quiet ourselves and seek the Spirit over these next few weeks. We need to spend time in prayer and realize we're representing all those people out there in the pews.
The Scrutinies are prayers our priest will say over us in front of the congregation on the 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays of Lent. The prayers will be read out of one of Father's prayer books. Our sponsors will stand behind us, or with their hand on our shoulder, and the priest will read the prayers and perhaps make signs of the cross on our bodies at different points. The readings for the week will match (somewhat) the scrutiny prayers: 1st Scrutiny, the Woman at the Well; 2nd Scrutiny, the Blind man is healed; and 3rd Scrutiny, Lazarus is raised from the dead.
We received a seating chart and name tags to wear to meet the Bishop at the Rite of Election next Sunday. Catechumens (not yet baptised) will sit on the left and Candidates (baptised) will sit on the right and will have their names called and meet the Bishop separately.
After the Rite of Sending (which we're having on the 2nd Sunday of Lent instead of the 1st Sunday because of our Bishop's scheduling conflicts) our teacher said many in our congregation will be praying for us, some by name and some for us as a group. She said we need to focus and quiet ourselves and seek the Spirit over these next few weeks. We need to spend time in prayer and realize we're representing all those people out there in the pews.
The Scrutinies are prayers our priest will say over us in front of the congregation on the 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays of Lent. The prayers will be read out of one of Father's prayer books. Our sponsors will stand behind us, or with their hand on our shoulder, and the priest will read the prayers and perhaps make signs of the cross on our bodies at different points. The readings for the week will match (somewhat) the scrutiny prayers: 1st Scrutiny, the Woman at the Well; 2nd Scrutiny, the Blind man is healed; and 3rd Scrutiny, Lazarus is raised from the dead.
We received a seating chart and name tags to wear to meet the Bishop at the Rite of Election next Sunday. Catechumens (not yet baptised) will sit on the left and Candidates (baptised) will sit on the right and will have their names called and meet the Bishop separately.
