Baptismal Rites of Initiation

 Catechetical programs in the rites of Christian initiation in Korea take different forms and are an important part of the pastoral work of any parish. The catechumens hear the words of the Gospel message, "The Holy Spirit opens their hearts, and they freely and knowingly seek the living God and enter the path of faith and conversion."

The response of the catechumens to this Gospel message, as they prepare for baptism, is important not only to the catechumens but to the whole Church. Without this concern, even if baptized, they will soon lose interest and fall away, which makes it a concern of the whole Church.The community needs to be a welcoming community and this has to begin with the  programs of initiation.
 
A sampling of those participating in the catechetical programs revealed that many found them boring. The cramming method of teaching was not helpful, and many did not find what they were learning connected with their daily lives. The memorizing of the prayers for some was tedious.  After baptism, they forgot everything they learned. One person said he tries to attend Mass weekly but wants to know how to find the motivation and passion for what he has received.

A catechumen who dropped out of the program said he lost hope when he was told he should increase his offering at Mass. He was under the false impression that Catholicism did not put a financial burden on its members. Having his own money problems, he felt he couldn't give any more than he was already giving.

Another person baptized at Christmas said that the Catholicism she knew was different from Protestantism; she was surprised at the lack of warmth within the Catholic community. Even though many congratulated them at baptism, it didn't seem full hearted, she said. The godparents they were given, possibly because of the age difference, seemed inappropriate. She would have liked someone assigned to them during their period of study, and afterward,:someone to be a mentor.

A list was made of what most of them felt about the program: difficult text, the length of the program, the memorizing and cramming method of teaching, the strangeness of the liturgy, and the lack of time for fellowship.

A teacher in the catechetical program said that it was necessary for teachers to be able to teach in a way that would accommodate what they learn to their daily lives. And to teach in a way that  would be easy to understand. Programs are necessary to improve the teaching ability of the catechumens. The teachers have to be  able to give life examples of what it means to be a Christian.In conclusion, the article mentioned that in these programs, it was imperative that they be shown the way to live the Christian life. Every possible means should be used to enable the catechumens to adopt the new way of living they have been taught.