Rite of Election brings catechumens closer to full initiation in the Church

Ninety catechumens representing 30 parishes across the Diocese of Metuchen gathered in the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi in Metuchen on the First Sunday of Lent, Feb. 18, for the Rite of Election, celebrated by Bishop James F. Checchio and marking their last major step to full initiation into the Catholic Church.

Catechumens are non-baptized individuals who wish to become members of the Church, a rite that generally takes place during the Easter Vigil. This stage in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, previously known as the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), marks the beginning of a period of final, more intense preparation for the Sacraments of Initiation, Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.

Before the service began, Adam Carlisle, Secretary for Evangelization and Communication, reminded catechumens that this was the most important journey of their lives. “The process of conversion is just that, a process and it is an ongoing process in which Jesus calls everyday,” Carlisle said. He then thanked the sponsors for supporting the catechumens throughout their journey.

In his homily Bishop Checchio recalled that readings for the First Sunday of Lent, “always bring us the temptations of Jesus Christ in the desert.” He reminded the congregation “That if even Jesus is tempted in the desert, we must be too.”

Bishop Checchio suggested that one way of dealing with temptations is to be disciplined in our faith. “It is not easy to be a disciple of Jesus, it takes discipline.” The Bishop said that the disciplines and practices of Lent help disciples to deal with the challenges they face. He asked the candidates to use this holy season to prepare for their next steps.

As Father Jonathan S. Toborowsky, diocesan vicar general, read out the names of the catechumens, each one stood with his or her sponsor. After Bishop Checchio received assurances from their sponsors that the catechumens were prepared and ready to go forward and that the assembly was prepared to support and pray for them, the Bishop addressed the catechumens, asking them, “Do you wish to enter fully in the life of the Church through the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist?”  With their collective response, “We do,” Bishop Checchio invited them to come forward and sign the Book of the Elect.

After all had signed their names, the book was presented to the Bishop who announced, “I now declare you to be members of the elect, to be initiated into the sacred mysteries at the next Easter Vigil.”

Adam Cohen from Our Lady of the Mount, Middlesex, is a convert from Judaism.  He has been attending both the Spanish and English Masses at his parish for years, along with his wife, Elizabeth, and their two children, who are Catholic. But he said he felt a sense of emptiness.  Cohen describes his decision to join the Catholic Church this year as a St. Paul-like “Road to Damascus” experience.  He was at work one evening and he knew that the OCIA program was beginning that night. “I was trying to decide whether to remain at work or attend the session. Suddenly, I knew the right answer. I left work and went to the meeting, and I know it was the right decision.”

Shannon Montulet and her 15-year-old daughter, Alexis, are going through the OCIA process together in their parish of St. Augustine of Canterbury, Kendall Park. Both had been considering converting for a while, but, “When Alexis transferred from public school last year to Immaculata High School, Somerville, we both decided that this was the right time.”