3. Make sure that your place proper emphasis on preparing them for Evangelization (a faith you're not prepared to give away will be a faith that will begin to unravel).
It is ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL that people realize, from the very first day, that yours is not a "CLASS" where people graduate upon receiving the sacraments on Easter Vigil. Many RCIA courses stress this, sometimes involuntarily, and it leads to a large drop-out rate after the classes are done. You MUST stress, in EVERY class, the concept that Karl Rahner said (I'll paraphrase) "The Christian of the modern day will either learn to experience Christ, or he will fail by falling into mediocrity or legalism". People MUST see, in every class, that they can experience Christ in their own daily lives, and that the doctrines help to define their experiences to the objective reality of Revelation - since experiences are subjective, we need a firm basis - thus, the doctrines of the Church.
I just finished Mystagogy, where we concentrate on experiencing Christ. However, the whole course must touch on it so that people "are prepared to give away their faith", as the deacon says. During my research, I came across a study that showed that up to 70% of RCIA neophytes fall away from active participation after the first two years...Incredible. The main reason is that people are not experiencing Christ in their lives - especially through some sort of ministry - a use of the gifts God has given them for the sake of the Body, the Church.
Thus, I strongly advice that a person in RCIA learns to begin to experience Christ through sacrament, prayer, the Scriptures, everyday life, and ministry. Making the faith real (rather than a bunch of esoteric philosophical question/answers) is instrumental in making the neophytes (new Catholics) active in their faith. When people experience Christ, they will share their faith.
Regards
**Thus, I strongly advice that a person in RCIA learns to begin to experience Christ through sacrament, prayer, the Scriptures, everyday life, and ministry. Making the faith real (rather than a bunch of esoteric philosophical question/answers) is instrumental in making the neophytes (new Catholics) active in their faith. When people experience Christ, they will share their faith.**
Add to this mix, one hour a week in Perpetual Adoration!!!!
It wasn't a big stretch for us since we came from an Anglo-Catholic background. So most of the liturgical issues were very familiar. But we needed that full year before being received into the Church to really live into the Sacramental life. There were a lot of habits that we had to give up, especially private judgment. Obedience was and continues to be a learned behavior. I've come to see that it isn't a burden but rather freedom. It's hard to describe. Coming from the ravages of ECUSA madness, there's a sense of peace in being under the Church's authority. I hope I'm making sense.