 I'm Gloria Zapien. I'm the Director for the Secretariat for Catechesis and Formation for the Archdiocese of San Antonio. The initial stages of discipleship in my experience and having worked with people through the RCIA and in other kinds of ministries, they begin with very often a curiosity. They see people living a life of faith that they have questions about, or they've been moved by an amazing liturgy or a tremendous homily. They come not knowing exactly what they're looking for, but they're looking, they're hungry, they want something. It's a wonderful time to be in a ministerial relationship with folks like this because you can open the smorgasbord of the faith, the scriptures, the Gospel, the life of faith, the liturgy. People are so open at this stage. They drink it all in. Very often they're like a small child who is like a sponge and is just taking everything in. There's very few obstacles. Sometimes there's a few questions, a few things that you're curious about, but mostly it's this great openness. This is really one of my favorite parts of the process of conversion because there's so many different things that you can do. I'm a catechist, so I love opening the whole treasury of catechesis to folks who are in this stage of conversion. Of course, to love Christ more, we get to know him more. That's what we do during this stage in catechesis. It is enriched by great liturgical experiences, by wonderful, in the RCIA, with wonderful minor rites, which are blessings and anointings that are really quite moving and very beautiful. In this way, I really believe that the renewal of the catechumenate in the church, since the Second Vatican Council, really serves the need for conversion. When people first fall in love with Christ, we can take them through this journey catechetically, liturgically, and through our witness of the Catholic faith, and carry people to a deeper knowledge and love of Jesus Christ.