March 30, 2022

By Darcy Fargo
Editor

WATERTOWN – Midge Fraser has been accompanying “seekers” on the journey into the Catholic Church since 1988, but the ministry still feels like home to her.

“I love it,” she said. “I can’t see myself stopping.”

Fraser said Blessed Sacrament Parish in Watertown has eight individuals – four male and four female – going through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) this year.

“It’s a beautiful group,” she said. “They’re such a faithful group – possibly the most faithful group we’ve ever had. They participate in everything they can. A couple of our seekers – that’s what we call them – have been going to daily Mass throughout Lent.”

Fraser said working with seekers – adults and older children – has been a joyful experience.

“Working with kids can be a challenge,” she said. “You don’t always get to se ethe fruits of your labor until maybe they’re grown, and you see them come back and bring their children to Mass. With RCIA, you see the fruits of the labor, so to speak, when they come into the Church. We’re always looking to see what we can do better and how we can challenge the seekers more and help them to grow in their spiritual lives. While we’re trying to teach them a lot, the most important thing is building their relationship with Jesus Christ.”

With adults, there can also be some challenges, though, Fraser said.

“There have been times in the past when someone has challenged us on something, and we may need to get to a point where we say ‘we have to stop here,’” she said. “That doesn’t mean we can’t keep looking at that topic with that individual, or maybe their sponsor or the pastor can look at it with them, but we have to be mindful of the entire group and making sure they’re not uncomfortable. We’re very fortunate to have Father (John M.) Mickey Demo as pastor here. He’s been very supportive and helpful.”

While she noted the position is a ministry to which she feels a strong call, Fraser said her work with the RCIA program has benefited her, as well.

“I always say that we learn right along with them,” she said. “And it helps us a lot with our own prayer lives, since we’re always encouraging them to spend time in prayer.”

Fraser said she was previously able to attend multiple certifications, workshops and training programs related to her RCIA ministry.

“We still make mistakes,” she said, “But we’ve spent a lot of time figuring out what works and what doesn’t, and we continue to make changes to the program. I don’t think we’ll ever be done.”

Fraser noted, though, that she and her colleagues in Watertown, including program Director Kathy Allen, are available to share their experiences with other instructors and programs.

“We’ve helped other programs by explaining our process,” she said. “We refer to it as a ‘process’ not a ‘program.’ A program has an end. This is something they’ll be living their entire lives. We’re open to helping any parish or group that would like to talk about what we’ve found that works and what we’ve found that doesn’t.”

Afterall, the ministry is all about giving back and following God’s call.

“We love helping,” Fraser said. “We’re just trying to do what God wants us to do.”