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The birth of the catechumenate in early Christianity, and its revival in the contemporary era, are closely linked to the missionary context of the life of the Church, and have served as sources of inspiration for its actions in both periods of history. The contemporary period also recognises in the catechumenate a pastoral and catechetical model that is capable of reaching people far and wide. However, this does not minimise the challenges for Christian initiation today, if we are to believe the sociologist Zygmunt Bauman, who speaks of ours as a “liquid society”. Only an initiation that is understood from the perspective of apprenticeship would seem to be suited to postmodern individuals in the process of becoming Christian. The process remains, however, a fragile one, reflecting the fragile nature of faith itself - a fragility that must be accepted.