By Angela E. Pometto
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 2/17/05)

Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde welcomed more than 600 future Catholics last weekend at two Rite of Election ceremonies held at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington.

"This is the moment when the Church, in the person of the bishop, officially accepts them as the elect," said Father Paul deLadurantaye. "It is the beginning of their period of intense preparation for the sacraments."

The participants, some catechumens (those who are not baptized), some candidates (those already baptized), came from 44 parishes. With additional converts from the remaining 22 parishes, Father deLadurantaye expects a total of more than 1,000 new Catholics this Easter.

During the homily, the bishop began by quoting Robert Frost’s poem, "The Road Not Taken." The "road less traveled" for Catholics is the road labeled Lent. On the first Sunday of Lent, there were representatives from every part of the diocese in the cathedral to take the first step of the Lenten journey. The catechumens and candidates are also on a journey to become "full members if the household of faith," the bishop said.

"This journey involves a process of conversion," he said. "It will involve their going into the desert of struggle, searching and sharing."

The annual ceremony began the converts’ season of final preparation.

"At Easter Vigil, [the catechumens] will die and rise with Christ in the waters of baptism," Bishop Loverde said. "They will become a new creation, sons and daughters … with a responsibility of proclaiming Jesus as Lord and being his presence as Christians in the modern world."

Those who are already united through baptism will be brought into full communion with the Church of Christ through the sacraments of confirmation and the Eucharist.

"They heard the Lord’s call to come closer, come back home," he said.

And those who are already full members of the Church are called to stand beside the converts.

"We, too, must remember we are on the journey of Lent," said Bishop Loverde. "It is a journey to a stronger bond with Christ’s body, His Church. It is a journey to a fuller and more profound conversion. … We journey together with these others down the road less traveled by labeled Lenten conversion.

"This will make all the difference in our families, parishes, in this diocese, in the Church universal and throughout the world," he said.

Gloria Burke, a member of St. Mary Parish in Alexandria, attended the Rite of Election ceremony to support her daughter-in-law who will receive the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and Eucharist at Easter. She felt it is important to help the catechumens on their journey of faith.

Harry Rothman, a candidate, said that his wife, Stephanie, also a member of St. Mary Parish in Alexandria, was one of the strongest factors in his decision to become a Catholic.

"I’m very excited — not nervous at all," he said, adding that he was baptized Catholic, but his family didn’t do much with the Church while growing up. In the six years the couple was dating and their three months of marriage, Stephanie has reintroduced him to the faith.

Kathryn Cheza from St. Raymond of Penafort Parish in Fairfax Station attended the ceremony to support a co-worker who is becoming Catholic.

"It’s wonderful for me to see how radiant she was," Cheza said. "She was glowing."

The bishop compared the event to a family expecting a new child.

"This is a time of new birth," said Bishop Loverde, adding that it is a joyful and hopeful time.