Alternative Practices of Long-Term Catechization in Roman Catholic Church and their Problems in Light of Decisions of Second Vatican Council

The revival of catechumenate and “new evangelization” in the Roman Catholic Church, based on the decisions of the Second Vatican Council, have resulted in a whole series of long-term catechization practices that were alternative to the “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults”. Leaving out Neocatechumenate, with foreign materials and research being used, five practices that are less well known in Russian research are analyzed: Alpha course, lectio divina groups, “schools of evangelization”, catechization of married couples, societies of “anonymous Catholics”. The article provides a brief description of each practice: a) its focus (discussing the foundations of the Christian faith, growth of faith through reading the Holy Scriptures, Christian marriage, etc.); b) content (the essence of the classes, their number, content, regularity, etc.); c) composition of active participants (clergy; laity; both); d) addressees (unbaptized; baptized; baptized, but not enchurched). The conclusion states advantages of each practice (e. g., the opportunity to bring young people to the Church, bring back those who have fallen away, create a stronger community, etc.) and its problems and disadvantages (lack of simplicity of the course, charisma, the problem of parish involvement, etc.).