By Paula Day

Over 600 catechumens and candidates preparing to enter the Cathedral Church at the Easter Vigil gathered at the Cathedral of Christ the King on February 12 and 19 for the Rite of Election.

Addressing the overflow assembly Feb. 12, Archbishop Eugene A. Marino, S.S.J. said they were participating in a “unique event,” and that it gave him “great personal joy” to welcome people from all parts of the archdiocese to “this very special moment of communion that we celebrate.” Since 1987 the ceremony has been held on two Sundays to accommodate the increasing number of catechumens and candidates, together with their sponsors, families and friends.

During the rite, more than 130 catechumens from parishes throughout the archdiocese were called by name and acknowledged by Archbishop Marino and those crowding the Cathedral: Sponsors affirmed the worthiness of the catechumens to receive the sacraments of initiation: baptism, confirmation and the Eucharist, and members of the congregation expressed their willing to support them in faith, prayer and example.

Approximately, 500 candidates - those already baptized who are preparing for full communion in the Church through confirmation and the Eucharist - also took part in the ceremonies. Among the candidates were 43 members of the St. Augustine of Canterbury community, an Episcopal group preparing for full communion in the Roman Catholic church.

In his homily Archbishop Marino reminded the congregation: “As Roman Catholic Christians we walk as pilgrims. We don’t speak in our church of ‘being saved.’ We do not speak as though it was accomplished once and for all. We realize that temptation is very much a part of life. We recognize our frailty, our infidelities. We give our work, but we dilute that work, so we find ourselves in a situation of not having possessed perfection but in pursuit of perfection.”

In pointing out the communal nature of the pilgrimage the archbishop said. “It is a great comfort that we do not travel this journey alone. If we are successful, it will be because others have helped us. If we are successful, it will be because we have helped others.”

The archbishop noted the presence of those from the St. Augustine of Canterbury community saying, “We are particularly happy to recognize a group who come to us from the Episcopal faith who will join in full communion with us at Easter.” Theirs was a decision made “in response to a call from Christ,” he said.

In a telephone survey of 90 percent of the parishes in the archdiocese. The Georgia Bulletin found over 50 participating in the Rite of Election at the Cathedral as part of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. Since 1972 the RCIA is officially recognized as the way of initiating adults and children over seven into the Church.

The more than 130 catechumens and 500 candidates came from virtually every metro Atlanta parish and from parishes throughout the rest of the archdiocese. The Cathedral parish has 39 preparing to become Catholics. The seven metro parishes making up the Commission for Black Catholic Concerns have 61 catechumens and candidates.

Two metro Atlanta counties who already have a large Catholic population have a large number of participants in the RCIA process. St. Ann’s parish in Cobb County has 38; St. John Neumann in Gwinnett has 42. Through the RCIA Cobb County churches are preparing 98 candidates and catechumens, 80 in Marietta’s parishes alone. Parishes in Gwinnett County are preparing 87 for entry into the Church.

Fulton and DeKalb counties, at the center geographically and historically of the archdiocese, account for over 200 of the candidates and catechumens. The 15 Fulton County parishes, which include the Cathedral of Christ the King, have 119, DeKalb’s eight parishes have 111, 30 of whom are from All Saints Church, Dunwoody.

However, parishes outside the Atlanta area also are actively involved in the RCIA process. Among those participating are Holy Trinity in Peachtree City, Our Lady of LaSalette in Canton, St. Clement’s in Calhoun, St. Francis of Assisi in Blairsville, St. Paul the Apostle in Cleveland and St. Francis of Assisi in Cartersville.

Other parishes preparing candidates and catechumens through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults are St. Joseph’s in Athens, and St. Joseph’s in Dalton; St. Luke the Evangelist in Dahlonega, St. Mark’s in Clarkesville and St. Mary’s in Toccoa.

St. Matthew’s in Fairburn, St. Michael’s in Gainesville and St. Philip Benizi in Jonesboro also offer the opportunity to be involved in the RCIA process.

St. John Vianney parish in Lithia Springs provided music, lectors and other liturgical ministers for the Feb. 12 celebration of Rite of Election at the Cathedral. St. Lawrence parish in Lawrenceville was responsible for the Feb. 19 liturgy. The Atlanta Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women hosted the receptions on both Sundays.