By Ann M. Augherton
Herald Managing Editor
(From the issue of 3/4/04)

Despite the bad press that the Catholic Church has been getting recently, more than 600 people went to the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington last weekend for the Rite of Election, a major step in their conversion to Catholicism. Some 833 people in the Diocese or Arlington are to become Catholics this Easter.

"Now, some people might question why these men and women desire to enter the Catholic Church, especially in light of recent circumstances, which have cast a dark cloud over the Church," Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde said during his homily. "The two reports released this past Friday certainly portray a sobering and painful chapter in the history of the Catholic Church in the United States. So, some people would expect a decision to be made — away from the Church, not towards the Church."

The bishop said the decision of the converts to become Catholic "is rooted in God’s call to each of them to belong fully and completely to the people with whom He has made an everlasting Covenant.

"Yes, our catechumens and candidates are here in response to God’s invitation to belong to Him in the community of the Church, founded by Jesus Christ, in the household of Faith, which is the home for saints and sinners," he said.

At the Rite of Election, held during ceremonies this past Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, the bishop welcomed the catechumens and candidates, accompanied by their sponsors, families and friends, as they made their first public declaration of their intention and commitment to become Catholics.

"This annual liturgical celebration is the most significant evangelization event of the liturgical year in any diocese," said Father Paul deLadurantaye, diocesan secretary for Religious Education.

"They come to experience for the first time a sense of belonging to a larger, universal Church and to celebrate with others on the journey that they will meet for the first time," he said.

Catechumens have never been baptized in any faith. The process for them usually begins with an initial inquiry at their local parish, followed by general weekly classes or meetings to learn about the faith. At some point the person believes that God is calling him to become Catholic.

The Rite of Acceptance, usually held on the parish level, accepts the person into the order of catechumen, indicating the person is "sincerely desirous of baptism and the sacrament of initiation to be fully initiated into the church," Father deLadurantaye said.

At the Rite of Election, the catechumens are chosen by the bishop, who represents the entire Church, and are called to the Easter sacraments. During the 40 days of Lent, these catechumens deepen their preparation for baptism, confirmation and holy Eucharist. Most will receive those sacraments at the Easter Vigil, often followed by post-baptismal catechesis.

The candidates have already been baptized into another Christian denomination. During the Rite of Election, they are invited to manifest their desire to full communion with the Church and are accepted as candidates for confirmation and Eucharist, according to Fr. deLadurantaye. Most parishes do this at the Easter Vigil.

Last weekend, representatives from 41 parishes presented the bishop with a Book of the Elect, which lists the names of the catechumens and symbolically declares them to be counted among the elect.

The bishop reminded the congregation that "we too are on a journey — a journey to deeper union with Christ; a journey to stronger bond with the Church, Christ’s Body; a journey to fuller and more profound conversion."