More than 50 people from different parishes in the archdiocese came to the Catholic Center Sept. 22 to learn from the experience of others about implementing the church's Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.

Those attending the first "Forum on the Catechumenate" included representatives from parishes already using the RCIA, such as St. Mark's in Clarkesville, Our Lady of Assumption, Sacred Heart and St. Anthony's in Atlanta, and others interested in starting to work with the model in their parishes. The Rite presents a model for receiving new members into the church which is based on the catechumenate of the early Church. Unlike private instruction for converts and inquiry classes, the Rite involves the parish as a whole in the process of receiving those interested in joining the Church, using sponsors from the parish and liturgical celebrations to mark the progression toward full membership in the community. Despite the church's directive to use this approach, the Rite has not been implemented nationally, said Father Chris Starr, who was instrumental in organizing the forum. The Archdiocese of Atlanta is comparatively far ahead in implementing the Rite, he said, noting that special liturgies are celebrated at the Cathedral of Christ the King to mark the election of new candidates at the beginning of Lent and their reception in to the church at Easter.

The first session of the "Forum on the Catechumenate" included talks by Father Gerald Peterson, pastor of St. Mark's and Anita Willoughby, former coordinator of religious education at Our Lady of Assumption. The hope was "to establish a forum for people interested in implementing the Rite and those already implementing it," Father Starr said, and to exchange ideas and strengthen the resolve of those involved in introducing it at the parish level. Future sessions of the forum will be announced as scheduled and are expected to be held twice a year.