Archdiocese of N.O. to welcome nearly 300 faithful into the church this Easter

(Photos by Beth Donze, Clarion Herald, and courtesy of Betty-Ann Hickey, Archdiocese of New Orleans.)

By BETH DONZE
Clarion Herald

Remembering the love and kindness exuded by the Catholics he had met in college some four decades earlier, 59-year-old Bobby Sanson found himself drawn to Sunday Mass as an observer, receiving explanations of the liturgy from the two Catholic friends who accompanied him.

That moving experience snowballed into a discussion with Father Tim Hedrick, pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Church in Metairie, about how Sanson – a lifelong Baptist – might one day convert to Catholicism.

"He gave me the bulletin and I signed up for RCIA classes,” said Sanson, one of nearly 170 future Catholics present at St. Ann Church in Metairie for the March 6 “Rite of Election of Catechumens and the Call to Continuing Conversion of Candidates,” a special prayer service of welcome.

This year, 99 southshore-based “catechumens” (individuals who are not yet baptized) and 70 “candidates” (already-baptized Christians preparing for confirmation and First Eucharist) have publicly announced their decision to come into full communion with the Catholic Church – a journey that will culminate at the April 16 Easter Vigil Mass in their respective parishes.

The catechumens will receive the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and First Eucharist, while the candidates will receive confirmation and First Eucharist.

As a sign of their wish to become Catholic, each catechumen and candidate was called by name, presented by their sponsor or godparent and welcomed individually by Archbishop Gregory Aymond at the foot of the altar.

“This is always a very joyous day for us,” said the archbishop, noting that each person’s faith journey was as individual as their fingerprint and had been guided by numerous family members, friends, catechists, clergy and religious.

Looking ahead to their reception of baptism, confirmation and First Eucharist at the Easter Vigil, Archbishop Aymond said the catechumens – who would be known as "The Elect" after the prayer service – had actively responded to Jesus’ invitation to “come follow me” as disciples.

“The waters of baptism (to be) poured over you by the priest will clothe you as a beloved daughter, a beloved son of God – all your sins forgiven,” he said, noting that their subsequent confirmation would imbue them with “the fullness of the Holy Spirit,” and their reception of the Eucharist would be “at the family table.”

Turning to the candidates – those already-baptized individuals who are seeking full reception into the Catholic Church – Archbishop Aymond offered his continuing prayers for their decision to become part of the Catholic Body of Christ.

“In this chapter of your story, you’re preparing to make a profession of faith to the Catholic Church at the Easter vigil," he told them, encouraging catechumens and candidates alike to continue to pray, study and familiarize themselves with church teachings during the Lenten time of “retreat” leading up to Easter.

“As you move forward to the Easter Vigil, stay close to the Lord," Archbishop Aymond said, echoing the words of the Gospel proclaimed minutes earlier. "He is the vine and you are the branches. Without him you can do nothing. Without him, you cannot really prepare to enter the church for baptism or a profession of faith.”

The archbishop traveled to the northshore March 7 to formally welcome  an additional 40 catechumens and 40 candidates at Most Holy Trinity Church in Covington.

This year’s total of nearly 300 men, women and children entering the church – an increase from last year – includes dozens of catechumens and candidates not present at the recent prayer services.

“It is important to note that the church continues to grow," he said. “The church continues to be more alive and more vibrant because of (you).”

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