Making Disciples conference set for Auburn July 7, 8

AUBURN — A Making Disciples conference is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, July 7 and 8, at Saint Dominic Academy, 121 Gracelawn Road.

The gathering will be hosted by Prince of Peace Parish and TeamRCIA, which has connected thousands of parish and diocesan leaders around the globe to help and support them in their mission.

While many of the ministries and initiatives have returned to their pre-pandemic levels, one area in particular need of reconstruction is the parish’s Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) program, a parish-based process through which individuals can grow in understanding of the Catholic faith and become part of a parish community, according to a news release from Dave Guthro, communications director, Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland.

“We need to reform our RCIA team, show parishioners the way the church makes disciples and welcomes people into its community, and we want to invite all Maine parishes to join us,” said Fr. Daniel Greenleaf, pastor of Prince of Peace Parish in Lewiston, Lisbon Falls, and Sabattus.

All are welcome at the conference, which will be led by Nick Wagner and Diana Macalintal, co-founders and co-directors of TeamRCIA.

The conference aims to offer confidence for participants to engage seekers, ways for parishes to make their catechumenate ministry a source of joy and not stress, proven pillars of creating “intentional disciples,” and practical actions parishes can take to make themselves “communities of calling forth disciples.”

The first evening of the conference runs from 7-9:30 p.m. July 7 and covers how to tell others about Jesus, the six core principles of the catechumenate, the four pillars of catechumenate catechesis that grow a community of intentional disciples, and the changes the come to a parish committed to a catechumenate-based conversion mission.

From 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 8, participants can learn how to catechize from a rite in such a way that matters to real people’s lives, the ritual and catechetical paths of the catechumenate and how they work together, three levels of evangelization, a process for discerning each person’s particular needs and path of formation, how to use one’s parish as the catechetical curriculum for making disciples, and more.

“To help build relationships and community, we are offering host families for adults who would like to stay with parishioners, or you can reserve rooms at an area hotel for the one night,” said Greenleaf.

For more information, including how to register, visit princeofpeace.me. Those who have any unanswered questions can contact Tyler Nadeau, the director of evangelization and catechesis at Prince of Peace Parish, at 207-777-1200 or tyler.nadeau@portlanddiocese.org.