Lead Message
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Rite of Election held in Va. Beach, Richmond
By Steve Neill
Of The Catholic Virginian
 Many who become Catholics as adults have seriously investigated various paths they might take as they continue life’s journey. Recognizing this, Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo likened their study to that of travelers who are seeking the right destination point in the homily he gave in the liturgy for the Rite of Election and of the Call to Continuing Conversion of Candidates March 4 at St. Gregory the Great Church in Virginia Beach.
The bishop pointed out that air travelers must make sure they are on the right flight when they board their plane. If they get on the wrong plane, they will arrive at something other than the destination they wanted. But all the candidates and catechumens publicly affirmed their desire for their destination when they fully enter the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil at two separate celebrations for the Eastern Vicariate and Central Vicariate.
The first liturgy for parishes in Hampton Roads was held March 4 at St. Gregory’s which brought together almost 939 catechumens and candidates. A second celebration for the Central Vicariate held the following night, March 5, drew some 700 candidates and catechumens to the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.
The catechumens — those who had not been baptized previously — were asked to come forward with their godparent and sign the Book of the Elect. The name of each individual and the parish community were announced from the pulpit by Peter McCourt. They will receive the sacraments of initiation — Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, in that order — at the Easter vigil.
The candidates — those who previously had been baptized in another Christian faith tradition — were far more numerous. They were asked to stand when the name of their parish was announced. Candidates, unlike catechumens who have godparents, share their formation with sponsors.
Bishop DiLorenzo spoke of the tremendous enthusiasm those seeking entry into the Church have as he warmly welcomed them in his address at the Cathedral. “But whenever you have all this enthusiasm, you always have the possibility of disappointment,” he said. “Who is included in the Kingdom?” the bishop asked rhetorically. “Everybody is invited to come and belong to the Kingdom of God.” But those who are numbered among the Church are “a mixed bag of wheat and chaff,” he said, “and therein lies a disappointment.”
Catholic Christians don’t always live up to the promises they make and “there are people who simply don’t take off with it,” Bishop DiLorenzo said. He cautioned those who might be disappointed in others not to be judgmental. “It is up to God to do the separating out. People simply don’t live up to the demands of the Kingdom of God,” he said. “It is up to God to do the separating out.” But there is always a second chance because of God’s forgiveness, he asserted.
“We want to pray that in times of darkness that you will always remember you are part of a church which gives us a second chance. “For all of you here, I want to say thank you very much,” Bishop DiLorenzo said. “Welcome to the church of the second chance.”
The catechumens and candidates continue to reflect the multicultural populace of the diocese. In keeping with that, the response for the intercessions for the Elect and Candidates was sung in English, Tagalog (main dialect of the Philippines) and Spanish. “It really gave us a sense of the Church as it reflects the multi-cultural aspect of our diocese,” said Sister Pat McCarthy, pastoral associate and RCIA coordinator of of St. Mary parish, Richmond.
She reported that one comment she heard from one of the candidates from St. Mary’s was that so many people had traveled a long distance from home to attend the liturgy. Those at the Cathedral celebration came from as far away as Buckingham, Emporia and Palmyra. A similar liturgy for the Western Vicariate of the diocese was to be held on Saturday, March 11, at Our Lady of Nazareth Church in Roanoke. 
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