By EMMALEE ITALIA
Contributing Editor
A foundational course in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults will be presented in Spanish during a day-long workshop for those involved in the Christian initiation ministry.
“Una introducción al RICA: La visión de la iniciación Cristiana” – An Introduction to RCIA: The Vision of Christian Initiation – is planned for Nov. 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Holy Family Church – worship site of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish – 1139 E. County Line Rd., Lakewood.
Click HERE to read the Spanish version / En Español
Sponsored by diocesan Department of Catechesis, the workshop is a foundation class for Spanish-speaking RCIA leaders and team members and will offer an in-person basic training to help them understand the entire RCIA process. The course will include an overview of the four stages of initiation and the rituals that accompany them. In addition, the course will examine the pastoral principles associated with this ministry, as well as the role of the baptized faithful.
The Diocese has partnered with Liturgy Training Publications to offer this day, co-sponsored by the Annual Catholic Appeal and a grant from the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions through The Forum Legacy Grant Fund.
Presenters include Oscar Cruz, director of the Catechumenate in the Archdiocese of New York, and Lia Garcia, director of Hispanic ministries in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
Cruz previously served as Archdiocesan director of catechesis for families and adults; a parish religious education director, a youth minister and as a RCIA coordinator in a parish for more than 11 years. Additional experience includes faculty member and head of the department of religion at Cardinal Hayes High School, the Bronx, and later as the school’s assistant principal. Cruz has a master’s degree in religion from St. Joseph Seminary, Yonkers. He received his bachelor’s degree in education and theology from Manhattan College, N.Y. Married with two adult children, Cruz was born in Puerto Rico but grew up in the Bronx County. He is currently a member of the Office of Faith Formation for Adults in the Archdiocese of New York. He is a frequent presenter of workshops on RCIA, family catechesis and adult formation in the Archdiocese of New York and in other dioceses across the country, and a member of family, adult and youth retreat teams.
Garcia’s experience includes adjunct faculty member at Loyola University, Chicago; vice president of National Catholic Association of Diocesan Directors of Hispanic Ministry, and coordinator of adult faith formation for the Archdiocese of Washington. She holds master’s degree in theology/theological studies from St. Joseph College, Standish, Maine, and is a candidate for Doctor in Ministry at Fordham University, N.Y.
Cost is $25 per person, or $100 for a parish group of five people. To register, visit https://dioceseoftrenton.org/una-introduccion-al-rica.
For more information, contact Jossie Ramos, 609-403-7151, jramos@dioceseoftrenton.org