Responding to God’s Call:

During last Sunday’s 10:45 AM liturgy, four adults participating in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) publicly declared their intention to seek baptism, or full communion with the Catholic Church. Karen Sebbins, received as a catechumen, is preparing for Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist at Easter. Leslie Messagie is looking to be received in the Catholic Church and had already been baptized, as were Michael Hodnett and Mike Koch, who were baptized Catholic. This group was accepted as candidates and are looking to complete their sacraments of initiation. 
 
Their declared intention to seek baptism, or to come to full communion with the Catholic Church, completed the first phase of the initiation process and celebrated one of its rites: The Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens and Welcome of the Baptized as Candidates for Confirmation and Eucharist. 
 
In the Rite of Acceptance and Welcome, Father Mike asked the assembled congregation if, on behalf of the total faith community of St. Hubert, they would welcome these catechumens and candidates in the community, accompanying them in prayer and nurturing their faith. The assembly responded with a hearty, “We will.”
 
Each week, the RCIA members join us at liturgy to be fed at the Table of God’s Word. After the homily, they are sent forth to explore further the meaning of the scriptural readings in their lives. An RCIA team member facilitates their “Breaking Open the Word,” inviting them to share their understandings and to hear the Word as it is addressed to them today.
 
It is in the light of that deepened encounter with Jesus that the candidates and catechumens will celebrate the fullness of their initiation into Christ and His Body, and come to join us at the Eucharistic table. We send them forth to reflect and grow. Their being sent forth can prompt our own reflection on the gift Jesus makes of himself to us in our lives, the gift we celebrate at Eucharist. In addition, they will continue to gather on Tuesday evenings for a catechetical session. These sessions are not about passing on information, but rather they are about enlivening their faith. At these catechetical sessions they will hear a variety of presentations that will energize and challenge their minds, hearts, and spirits.  
 
The public declaration of faith by those seeking admission to our community can be a powerful support to our own faith. They remind us to probe anew, and so welcome and accept more deeply in our own lives, “the immeasurable riches of grace in God’s kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”