Firstly, a huge welcome to our newest Catholics who were recently Baptised, Confirmed, and received their First Communion at St Luke and St Timothy (or luktim!) church.
Receiving these sacraments at Easter is a huge blessing. The churches are packed, everyone is buzzing and the new members of the church are in the middle of the action.
The challenge can be to maintain this buzz- the Fire of the Holy Spirit– from the high point of the Easter liturgy, as we move back to everyday life.
Here are some tips from our RCIA team and sponsors on how to get the most out of your spiritual life and keep the flame alive!
0.❓ Join Alpha! ❓
Alpha is starting soon! Join us.
1. Prayer
The number one suggestion that came up when we polled our team was praying the Lectio Divina (or Divine Reading). This simply means diligently reading Scripture, praying to God for a deeper understanding, and listening for His word.
You can do this with any piece of Scripture, but the easiest way to make it a habit is to use the daily readings from Mass. Thanks to technology, we no longer have to buy and carry a massive Breviary to get the readings.
The most popular way to get the daily readings is through the Universalis website (free) or app (paid). We’ll talk a bit more about Catholic apps later. The USCCB has another popular website.
Personally, I would recommend getting acquainted with our Blessed Mother Mary, and the best way to do this is to pray the Rosary. I’ve even made a blog post about it!
2. Ministry
“God dwells in the hearts of those who love Him. God dwells wherever there is love, shown especially by courageous and compassionate care for the weak and the poor. How much we need this!
We need Christians who do not allow themselves to be overcome by weariness or discouraged by adversity, but instead are available, open and ready to serve.”
-Pope Francis, Homily in Gyumri, Armenia
How can you help? Well, we need readers, collectors, child ministry, welcomers, choir singers, altar servers, tea and coffee, social media, web admin, outreach: Alpha ,Young Adult ministry, RCIA! There is ministry suited to your personal talents (or even better, challenge yourself to one that isn’t).
3. Reflection
We are blessed to have a rich Catholic media to help us reflect, learn and meditate with the Lord. You have already seen Formed, a platform for Catholics with series such as daily readings, The Heart of Prayer, Mysteries of the Rosary, all of the sacraments and so much more.
Best of all, our parish gives all members free access to Formed. You can watch videos on the web, portable devices or from your Android TV.
Another app that came up frequently from our team is Hallow, a Catholic prayer and meditation app. The basic app is free but some features require a subscription.
4. Knowledge
Do you have questions about matters of doctrine, scholarship, theology or ethics? A good place to start is the Magisterium AI, a Catholic AI that is trained on the Bible, early church Fathers and offical church documents.
Speaking of early church Fathers, Catena Bible links Bible verses to the commentary of the Fathers, so you can easily access their immense wisdom. It also comes as an app.
Conclusion
The sacraments of initiation are just that- the way to enter the life of Christ. Keep the flame of faith alive by praying, serving, reflecting, and learning. Your parish family is here to support you through your journey. Welcome to the Church, and may the Lord bless you as you grow in your spiritual life! 🕊️
