A landmark study invites you on a deep dive into one of the Church’s most transformative journeys. Born from years of curiosity and countless conversations at kitchen tables and parish halls, Journey Through Time: The Catholic Church and Christian Initiation is not your typical academic tome—it’s a vibrant exploration of how individuals from all walks of life come to faith, rooted in both history and hard data. Laurence F. Aucella combines rigorous research with a genuine passion for understanding the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), offering readers an insider’s view of what drives conversion and completion in modern Catholic life.
Through interviews with catechumens from diverse backgrounds—students, retirees, career-changers—Aucella uncovers the universal threads of hope, fear, and anticipation that define the journey toward faith. His narrative paints a tapestry of real voices, showing how communal rituals, mentorship, and personal breakthroughs converge to transform seekers into active members of the Church.
Why This Book Matters
✔ Sheds light on the demographic and motivational factors that predict success in completing RCIA.
✔ Bridges historical, biblical, and theological perspectives with contemporary statistical analysis.
✔ Provides church leaders and catechists with actionable insights to strengthen their initiation programs.
✔ Highlights the often-overlooked stories of real people navigating faith, community, and identity.
✔ Acts as both a scholarly resource and a practical guide—ideal for academics, parish teams, and anyone curious about faith formation.
Learn More About the Book
Journey Through Time: The Catholic Church and Christian Initiation takes you from the earliest days of the Church—where the catechumenate first flourished in Antioch and Rome—through to a groundbreaking double-blind study of adult converts across Connecticut. Drawing on a survey with a reliability coefficient of .984 and sophisticated Chi-Square and Phi analyses, Aucella uncovers which social, economic, and personal influences most impact who stays the course in RCIA. Along the way, he weaves in rich historical context—think the first Easter Vigil baptisms, the revival of the catechumenate after Vatican II, and the legacy of converts like Elizabeth Ann Seton—to show how age-old practices still shape modern discipleship.
Learn More About the Author
Laurence F. Aucella is a seasoned theologian and researcher specializing in sacramental theology and Church history. With decades of fieldwork—attending RCIA retreats, weekly formation sessions, and Easter Vigil celebrations—he brings both lived experience and academic rigor to this study. Aucella has published widely on Catholic initiation rites and is a sought-after speaker for diocesan conferences on evangelization and lay formation.
Why You Should Read This Book
If you lead an RCIA team, teach in a parish setting, or simply love tracing the threads between Church tradition and today’s faithful, this book is a game-changer. You’ll come away with clear data on what works (and what doesn’t) in formation, fresh historical anecdotes to enrich your preaching, and practical recommendations for nurturing lifelong disciples. Whether you’re a scholar, a catechist, or someone seeking to understand your own faith journey, Journey Through Time offers inspiration, clarity, and the tools to make faith formation truly transformational.
Featured Links
Discover more about Journey Through Time: The Catholic Church and Christian Initiation at these outlets:
Business Times Australia: https://www.businesstimesaustralia.com/article/813428753-journey-through-time-is-an-enlightening-exploration-of-rcia-by-laurence-f-aucella
North Carolina Daily Dispatch: https://www.northcarolinadailydispatch.com/article/813428753-journey-through-time-is-an-enlightening-exploration-of-rcia-by-laurence-f-aucella
Italy News Journal: https://www.italynewsjournal.com/article/813428753-journey-through-time-is-an-enlightening-exploration-of-rcia-by-laurence-f-aucella
France Daily Times: https://www.francedailytimes.com/article/813428753-journey-through-time-is-an-enlightening-exploration-of-rcia-by-laurence-f-aucella
World Education News Network: https://www.worldeducationnewsnetwork.com/article/813428753-journey-through-time-is-an-enlightening-exploration-of-rcia-by-laurence-f-aucella
Get your copy today at Kravitz and Sons Bookstore and start charting the course of faith through the ages—and into your own community.