Despite COVID-19, hundreds will enter Catholic Church at Easter

Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rite of Election for the Archdiocese of New Orleans will be held Feb. 21 and 22. The rite shines a spotlight on the hundreds of people who will enter the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. Can you explain what the rite is all about?

Sure. The Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion is one of those special moments each year in the life of the local church. Hundreds of men and women who have been in formation throughout this past year at our parishes come to a celebration. We will have one on the afternoon of Feb. 21 at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Metairie and another service on the evening of Feb. 22 at Most Holy Trinity Church in Covington. The people coming forward have declared their intention to enter the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. Technically, those coming forward are known either as “catechumens” or as “candidates.” Catechumens are those who have not yet been baptized. Candidates are those who already have been baptized, with most of them coming into the Catholic Church from other Christian traditions, although it's also possible that some could be Catholics who were baptized but never catechized and fully initiated in the faith. We celebrate the Rite of Election each year at the start of Lent because this season marks the final period of preparation for these individuals, culminating in their celebration of the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil, which this year is April 3.

Of course, the last 11 months have been so challenging for parishes who are preparing the catechumens and candidates through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). How many will be entering the church this year?

That’s an incredible story! In the midst of the pandemic, our financial reorganization, political tensions and unrest in our country, the important mission of the Church continues. We can’t pause and put on hold the ministry of Christ because of things going on in the world. The faith of people is being awakened in our parishes, schools and pastoral ministries. We are evangelizing, and people are coming forth. In recent years, we’ve been averaging a little more than 300 individuals being welcomed into the church. Last year, we had 308. Because of COVID-19, I really expected a large decrease in that number. But I’m happy to report that this year we will have 241 people entering the church. That’s an incredible testament to people’s faith and also to the RCIA teams in our parishes for reaching out to these individuals and preparing them under very challenging circumstances. Obviously, without COVID, the numbers would be higher, but the fact is there are so many people who have heard the call of God in their lives with such strength that something like COVID and other distractions have not prevented them from joining the Catholic Church. This year, we will have 105 catechumens and 136 candidates.

What have parishes done to overcome the challenges and restrictions of COVID in order to engage individuals in RCIA?

All of our parishes are doing the preparations by having people wear face coverings and maintain social distance. They’re also providing opportunities to form people in the faith through Zoom sessions. I’ve heard of some parishes who have offered one-on-one instruction to people who might be concerned about attending any kind of group gathering. In a very real way, our parishes are living out the vision of RCIA, which takes into account each individual and his or her concerns and faith journey when providing this ministry. So, even though COVID has presented an oddity, it isn’t odd in the sense that we're called to adapt. That's what RCIA has always called us to do in reaching out to the people who come to us. Another point of information about the “numbers” is this: RCIA establishes as the norm, unless there is a special circumstance, that all catechumens are to be baptized and fully initiated into the Church at Easter. However, if somebody is already a baptized Christian, he or she doesn’t have to be received into the church only at Easter. Those individuals can be received into the Church at any time. They can complete their other two sacraments of initiation (confirmation and Eucharist) whenever they are ready. So, our parishes are beginning to receive more and more Christians into the Church throughout the year, which is a wonderful sign for all the people that will see this at Sunday Masses. That number of “new” Catholics is not reflected in the Rite of Election numbers, so we actually have many more people entering the church each year.

You also offer the sacrament of confirmation to many adults each year at the cathedral on Pentecost Sunday. Can you explain that separate sacrament?

Yes. Some individuals, who have been baptized Catholic and celebrated their first Communion, for one reason or another, never were confirmed, and now are in their 20s, 30s, 40s, etc. The Church is not going to have those adults taking confirmation classes with 11th graders. So, each parish has its own formation process for these individuals, and they are typically confirmed by me on Pentecost Sunday. That’s another wonderful liturgy that highlights the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. I would ask all the faithful to pray during Lent in a particular way for our catechumens, candidates and others who are entering into full communion with the Catholic Church. Their faith inspires me, and I thank God for the growth of his church.

Questions for Archbishop Aymond may be sent to clarionherald@clarionherald.org.