Have courage: Enter into the Mystery

Monday, March 15, 2010

Cheryl Whapham

English Spanish

During the first weekend of Lent each year, I have the privilege of attending a liturgy held at the cathedral called the Rite of Election and the Call to Continuing Conversion. This ceremony is part of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) which is the process by which the Catholic Church welcomes new members at Easter.

Some of the people we will welcome this Easter into our Catholic community have never been baptized. During the Rite of Election, the archbishop officially recognizes the work that God has begun in the lives of the unbaptized. The archbishop declares these people to be members of ‘the elect’ (God’s chosen) and invites them to receive the sacraments of initiation at Easter.

There are other people whom we will welcome into our Catholic community this Easter who have been baptized in other Christian denominations and who ask the Catholic Church for the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist. All of the baptized are members of the Elect. Therefore, at the aforementioned ceremony, the archbishop does not declare them as the elect, but instead Calls the Baptized to Continuing Conversion, to continue building on the relationship that already exists between them and the Lord.

The Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion corresponds with the beginning of Lent because Lent is a time when the whole Christian community is called to deepen their relationship with the Lord. It’s a privilege to attend this ceremony because I’m humbled by the power of the Holy Spirit. This power is so strong that it calls people from unbelief to belief. If this Spirit can do that, where might 40 days of prayer, fasting and almsgiving take my journey with the Lord? Am I willing to change my life as radically as those who have gone from unbelief to belief?

I want to conclude by acknowledging one other group that we will be welcoming into our community this Easter. We will be welcoming many baptized Catholics whom we never see in our pews except on Christmas and Easter. These brothers and sisters of ours are members of God’s elect. God has called them to himself, and they will come and celebrate the Eucharist with us this Easter. Our parishes will be filled to overflowing with people who are answering God’s call to conversion, who are bravely taking the next step in their faith journey.

I challenge all of us, who fill the pews each Sunday, to be the arms that welcome God’s children home this Easter. Let us be filled with gratitude for the grace of the newly baptized, for the faithfulness of those who come to their first Eucharist, and for the courage of those who have been away and return to participate in this great mystery of our faith!

Cheryl Whapham
Director, Lay Ministry and Adult Faith Formation

Comments from readers

Deacon Luis A. Rivero - 03/20/2010 10:32 AM

Cheryl,

Thank you for this beautiful recount. It was truly inspiring and moving to see how many people have found Christ in our faith community. We often hear of those who have "lost the faith" but rarely do we hear about the literally hundreds, if not thousands, that come home every year! Thank you for your work and zeal in this most beautiful ministry!

Many Blessings to you and your work.

Mary Sherman - 03/18/2010 08:40 AM

Kudos on a well done article. As I, myself, entered into communion with the Catholic church through RCIA-part of the Call of Continuing Conversion group-your piece brings back the warm memories of my own spiritual journey. Sometimes we forget that the first steps back into the church are difficult for some. The challenge you offer brings home how important it is for us to extend our hand and welcome those folks who for one reason or another have been away. The refrain from the hymn "Change Our Hearts" seems to me to capture the essence of your message. I accept the challenge that you present. Truly, in God's House, "all are welcome"-how awesome is that!

Cheryl Whapham - 03/17/2010 04:15 PM

Thanks to all who've voiced their support of this blog to me either on the blog, in personal emails to me (apparently there are some technical glitches today) or to me at the Pastoral Center or at Publix! I'm happy that we all seem to agree, we want to be a welcoming community of believers for new believers. Now we just have to do it and I know that we can!

Fr. Roberto Garza - 03/17/2010 12:12 PM

Your blog brings back many memories of R.C.I.A. of my time in the parish. Your message is inspiring and I accept the challenge. God bless you in your ministry!

Peace,
Fr. Roberto

Teresa Martinez - 03/17/2010 11:33 AM

You are an inspiration, thank you!

Michele MacEachern - 03/16/2010 05:48 PM

Powerfully true, Gospel statements, Cheryl! As a music director for a parish (and the one who introduces each Liturgy) I consider it a privilege to extend the greeting of 'Alleluia!' to EVERYONE. In fact, the Easter Vigil Rites invariably bring tears to the eyes and resounding joy to the hearts of so many. It is never the place for any member of the laity or clergy to slight anyone in the assembly, ever. It is always about the welcome, as you so wonderfully stated. ...The old expression, "What would Jesus do?" does, indeed apply.

Cheryl Whapham - 03/16/2010 01:03 PM

They have come to be known to us as "Christmas and Easter Catholics". I don't like the term but it does communicate effectively that these are people that come to Mass approximately twice a year.

Kathy, I think the mere fact that these brothers and sisters of ours are making the effort and taking the initiative to come twice a year says that they are interested in building a relationship with God. They keep coming back, the Lord keeps calling and they keep responding...so what happens next?? I think we need to be extra warm and welcoming during Triduum this year. We need to have everyone out there smiling and shaking hands and introducing people to one another and saying, "Can I help you find a seat?" I think we need to be willing to squish together to make more room in every pew and to stand up and give our seat away to someone who hasn't been to our parish before...that's hospitality! Think about it...Kathy, if I invited you to my home and I was sitting down and there weren't anymore chairs left, what should I as the hostess do? I should stand up and give you my chair.

Let me make my agenda clear...I want people to know the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. I think there are LOTs of people who will be coming to our parishes on April 4th who want to know Jesus more personally and I think there are lots of you out there who can help make that happen...let's do it.

Kathy Kwok - 03/16/2010 11:59 AM

Cheryl: I applaud you for acknowledging the "one other group". I hope these sisters and brothers will take the initiative to continue building their relationship with the Lord. Let us pray for this intention.

Douglas Hattier - 03/16/2010 07:04 AM

The only way that we can navigate thru the morass that is the modern world is with the strength and wisdom of our Lord Jesus Christ

Richard DeMaria - 03/15/2010 02:57 PM

Cheryl, Your report on the Rite of Election and the suggestion to all of us to imitate our new brothers and sisters in changing our lifves as bravely as they are is truly challenging.
I think that your blog does not make clear that in many cases the persons in the third group have never received First Communion or Confirmation.
Thank you for the work of your office in facilitating these new members entrance into our Church. Richard

Deacon Luis A. Rivero - 03/20/2010 10:32 AM: Cheryl,

Thank you for this beautiful recount. It was truly inspiring and moving to see how many people have found Christ in our faith community. We often hear of those who have "lost the faith" but rarely do we hear about the literally hundreds, if not thousands, that come home every year! Thank you for your work and zeal in this most beautiful ministry!

Many Blessings to you and your work.

Mary Sherman - 03/18/2010 08:40 AM: Kudos on a well done article. As I, myself, entered into communion with the Catholic church through RCIA-part of the Call of Continuing Conversion group-your piece brings back the warm memories of my own spiritual journey. Sometimes we forget that the first steps back into the church are difficult for some. The challenge you offer brings home how important it is for us to extend our hand and welcome those folks who for one reason or another have been away. The refrain from the hymn "Change Our Hearts" seems to me to capture the essence of your message. I accept the challenge that you present. Truly, in God's House, "all are welcome"-how awesome is that!

Cheryl Whapham - 03/17/2010 04:15 PM: Thanks to all who've voiced their support of this blog to me either on the blog, in personal emails to me (apparently there are some technical glitches today) or to me at the Pastoral Center or at Publix! I'm happy that we all seem to agree, we want to be a welcoming community of believers for new believers. Now we just have to do it and I know that we can!

Fr. Roberto Garza - 03/17/2010 12:12 PM: Your blog brings back many memories of R.C.I.A. of my time in the parish. Your message is inspiring and I accept the challenge. God bless you in your ministry!

Peace,
Fr. Roberto

Teresa Martinez - 03/17/2010 11:33 AM: You are an inspiration, thank you!

Michele MacEachern - 03/16/2010 05:48 PM: Powerfully true, Gospel statements, Cheryl! As a music director for a parish (and the one who introduces each Liturgy) I consider it a privilege to extend the greeting of 'Alleluia!' to EVERYONE. In fact, the Easter Vigil Rites invariably bring tears to the eyes and resounding joy to the hearts of so many. It is never the place for any member of the laity or clergy to slight anyone in the assembly, ever. It is always about the welcome, as you so wonderfully stated. ...The old expression, "What would Jesus do?" does, indeed apply.

Cheryl Whapham - 03/16/2010 01:03 PM: They have come to be known to us as "Christmas and Easter Catholics". I don't like the term but it does communicate effectively that these are people that come to Mass approximately twice a year.

Kathy, I think the mere fact that these brothers and sisters of ours are making the effort and taking the initiative to come twice a year says that they are interested in building a relationship with God. They keep coming back, the Lord keeps calling and they keep responding...so what happens next?? I think we need to be extra warm and welcoming during Triduum this year. We need to have everyone out there smiling and shaking hands and introducing people to one another and saying, "Can I help you find a seat?" I think we need to be willing to squish together to make more room in every pew and to stand up and give our seat away to someone who hasn't been to our parish before...that's hospitality! Think about it...Kathy, if I invited you to my home and I was sitting down and there weren't anymore chairs left, what should I as the hostess do? I should stand up and give you my chair.

Let me make my agenda clear...I want people to know the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. I think there are LOTs of people who will be coming to our parishes on April 4th who want to know Jesus more personally and I think there are lots of you out there who can help make that happen...let's do it.

Kathy Kwok - 03/16/2010 11:59 AM: Cheryl: I applaud you for acknowledging the "one other group". I hope these sisters and brothers will take the initiative to continue building their relationship with the Lord. Let us pray for this intention.

Douglas Hattier - 03/16/2010 07:04 AM: The only way that we can navigate thru the morass that is the modern world is with the strength and wisdom of our Lord Jesus Christ

Richard DeMaria - 03/15/2010 02:57 PM: Cheryl, Your report on the Rite of Election and the suggestion to all of us to imitate our new brothers and sisters in changing our lifves as bravely as they are is truly challenging.
I think that your blog does not make clear that in many cases the persons in the third group have never received First Communion or Confirmation.
Thank you for the work of your office in facilitating these new members entrance into our Church. Richard