GARY – Family and friends filled every seat in the Cathedral of the Holy Angels on Feb. 22 as 94 catechumens were accepted as “the Elect” by God at Rite of Election services conducted by Bishop Robert J. McClory for the Diocese of Gary.
“This is truly one of the most joyous days of the year in the cathedral … a sign of the Holy Spirit alive and moving in you as you make the most important decision of your life,” the bishop told the catechumens in his homily as they prepared to approach the altar to proclaim their names aloud and be chosen for initiation into the Elect.
Most of those coming forward with their godparents have been preparing for months through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults and will receive the sacraments of baptism, Holy Communion and confirmation at Easter Vigil services in their parish on Saturday, April 4.
“I am looking forward to receiving the full grace of the Eucharist and the ability to give back through my parish, St. Patrick in Chesterton,” said adult catechumen John Patterson, who attended Southern Baptist churches while growing up but was never baptized. His journey to Catholicism began while he was studying for a master’s in history.
“I came to see the truth of the Catholic Church and found it to be historically accurate,” he said, leading him to seek full participation in the Catholic Church and pursue a master’s in pastoral studies.
His sponsor, Katie Perham, is a friend taking on the role of godparent for the first time. “It feels like a great responsibility,” she said. “I enjoy hearing John talk about his faith (during OCIA classes).”
Father Peter Muha, who assisted at the Rite of Election, called the large number of catechumens “a great sign of hope to see all of these people joining the Church.” Pastor at St. Mary in Crown Point, Father Muha will welcome five new parishioners, noting that “all of the newly baptized will be encouraged to get involved in ministry, which will be a great blessing.”
“My heart is full of joy, on the parish level, to see these Elect gathered with the larger Church community today,” said Father Gregory Bim-Merle, pastor at St James the Less in Highland, who will baptize three new parishioners and administer sacraments to five others this year. “On a Church level, it is a joy to see so many people preparing to join the Catholic Church. The Lord is good, and he’s calling people.”
Many of the catechumens are children supported by parents, grandparents and OCIA ministry members. Dodie Mark, a parishioner at Queen of All Saints in Michigan City, is sponsoring siblings Dallas and Phoenix LaFontaine, ages 13 and 8, respectively. “I am helping them with their studies, praying for them and being their advocate,” Mark said.
“I want to be baptized to grow closer to God,” said Dallas LaFontaine, who looks forward to joining his parents as a Catholic.
Kaitlin Avila, of Valparaiso, admitted she was negligent in not having her sons baptized as infants, but is thankful that Silas, 10, and Benjamin, 7, are now preparing to formally enter the Catholic Church at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs South Campus in Merrillville, where she received the sacraments as a child. “It was a lot of work to get all the documents for myself and my husband, who was baptized in Chicago, but I’m so glad we are here,” she said.
Benjamin Avila said he most enjoys “watching videos about God” in OCIA classes, while Silas Avila said he is grateful “to learn more about Jesus.”
Gilbert and Kimberly Soto, parishioners at Nativity of Our Savior in Portage, expressed pride in being godparents for their young niece, Tatiana Williams, as they placed their hands on her shoulder during the Affirmation by the Godparents and the Assembly.
“You are being baptized into a new way of living, a new way of believing,” Bishop McClory told the catechumens as he accepted them into the Elect. Even after Adam and Eve rejected God’s perfect plan for humanity and committed original sin, “God never stopped loving us,” he said.
God’s solution to the humans’ rejection, explained the bishop, was to send his son “to repair that break with God. Are any of us going to live a perfect life? No, we won’t. But did Jesus live a perfect life (on Earth)? Yes, he did, (so) I will hold on to Jesus.
Forgiveness is poured out in Jesus, he added, “and we can feel forgiven. This is the adventure, and it is not boring. You are not alone; you have your sponsors and the full Church supporting you.
“Baptism will change your lives; you are entering the best adventure you could have imagined.”
Caption: Catechumen Michael Shea (center), of Merrillville, a student at Aquinas Catholic Community School, states his name for Bishop Robert J. McClory and the congregation at the Rite of Election service on Feb. 22 at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary. At left is Father Peter Muha, who held the microphone for the catechumens, and at right is Marie Wilson, Michael’s sponsor and the office manager at the Merrillville school. (Marlene A. Zloza photo)
