This past weekend, I traversed the diocese — Saturday morning at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Salem; Saturday afternoon at St. Mary, Richmond; and Sunday afternoon at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Norfolk — to celebrate the Rite of Election with more than 200 catechumens from more than 60 parishes. This rite marks their entry into the final phase of preparation to receive the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil.
Larger dioceses have the practice of bringing together in a convention center or large church all who will be entering the Church at Easter. Our diocese is too geographically extended to allow for that. Thus, we celebrate this occasion in each vicariate region on the First Sunday of Lent.
One of the beauties of the Rite of Election, and something which is a hallmark of how we, as a Church, celebrate, is that we do it as a community. When our catechumens, their sponsors and others associated with the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults gather as the Body of Christ, there is excitement.
Something we have learned through youth ministry activities, and something which is evident in the impact of our annual Diocesan Youth Conference, is that our young people are energized in the practice of their faith when they recognize that they are not alone. It is not only in small groups that they experience and share the faith, but also in the context of a larger number of their peers who are experiencing and expressing the same thing they are. From that larger community comes encouragement, strength and a willingness to give witness to their faith, to live it and to grow in it.
In essence that is why the Church asks us to gather at times like the Rite of Election — a time when the bishop calls multiple communities together in order that in this larger body, we experience communio, i.e., the communion of the faithful that extends beyond one’s parish. It is important that we see, in a tangible way, that we are part of something much greater. We are part of our diocesan Church and our universal Church.
As catechumens respond to God while on their path of faith and discernment toward joining the Church, it is not uncommon that they might feel alone or isolated. They should know that there are many — be they in another part of the diocese, country or world — who are praying for them, supporting them and walking with them.
That is why when the priest sends catechumens from Mass after the homily to further study Scripture, he does so with words that assure them of the worshiping community’s prayers and support.
During the Rite of Election, I asked the clergy, catechists and sponsors if the catechumens have listened to the Word of God and if they have participated in the prayer of the Church. The response was an overwhelming, “Yes!”
I then asked the catechumens if it is their will to become part of the Body of Christ — the Church. Again, an overwhelming, “Yes!” This was followed by presenting their names written in their parish’s Book of the Elect.
Be they at in-person celebrations of Mass, the administration of the sacraments or the Rite of Election, our Church needs tangible experiences of the larger community of faith. The Holy Spirit supports and encourages us — as a faith community — to be together, to walk with each other and to grow closer to God.
Let us take time this Lent to pray for the catechumens — now known as the elect — who will join us in Eucharist this Easter. Pray that they remain steadfast in their commitment during the final steps of this faith journey.