Learn to confess the faith with God’s Church through the ancient Catechumenate.
The Catechumenate is a sacred period of preparation for those being formed in the Christian faith at All Saints. It is the next step for those who have completed the Time of Inquiry and now desire to be baptized or confirmed into full communion with the evangelical catholic (i.e. Lutheran) Church.
Enrollment into the Catechumenate
Enrollment takes place each year on All Saints Sunday (the Sunday nearest November 1). In the context of the Divine Service, those entering the Catechumenate are publicly received, prayed for, and welcomed into this season of deeper formation.
During this rite, the Church acknowledges those whom the Holy Spirit has drawn to hear the Word of God and to learn the faith once delivered to the saints. The congregation promises to walk with them, pray for them, and support them as they are catechized in the way of Christ.
“We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering… your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
— 1 Thessalonians 1:2–3
What to Expect
The Catechumenate involves weekly classes and participation in the liturgical life of the parish. In these gatherings, we explore the core teachings of the Christian faith, as confessed in the Small Catechism and the Book of Concord.
Topics include:
- God and Creation
- Sin and the Human Condition
- Law and Gospel
- The Person and Work of Christ
- Justification by Grace through Faith
- Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
- The Church and the Communion of Saints
- The Christian Life and Prayer
- The Office of the Keys and Holy Absolution
This time of formation is not merely academic. It is personal and spiritual. Catechumens are encouraged to ask questions, wrestle with the truths of the faith, and grow in their understanding of what it means to live as a baptized member of Christ’s Body.
“As the Church is the mother of all the faithful, she nourishes and instructs those she has begotten through Baptism.”
— Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures
Culmination at the Vigil of Easter
The Catechumenate reaches its culmination at the Great Vigil of Easter. On this most holy night of the Church’s year, those who are prepared and desire it may be:
- Baptized (if not previously baptized)
- Confirmed in the Evangelical Lutheran faith
- Received into full communion with All Saints parish
This ancient pattern of catechesis—rooted in the early Church and renewed in our time—guides seekers and disciples alike into a deeper knowledge of the Triune God and a fuller participation in the life of His Church.
“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? … If we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”
— Romans 6:3, 5
Who Should Join the Catechumenate?
- Those who desire to be baptized into Christ.
- Those who have been baptized in another Christian tradition and now seek to be received into the Lutheran Church.
- Baptized Lutherans who desire to be confirmed or renew their understanding of the faith.
- Any adult who wants a thorough grounding in Lutheran doctrine and life.
Interested in the Catechumenate?
If you are ready to take this next step in your journey of faith—or if you simply want to know more—we invite you to reach out. We’d love to talk with you.
All Saints Lutheran Church and School 