By Milam McGraw Propst

Three o’clock in the afternoon, Sunday, March 4, and Sunday, March 11, the doors of the Cathedral of Christ the King opened wide to welcome over 650 people from 48 parishes and missions in the archdiocese of Atlanta.

They came from Athens, from Lilburn, from Marietta, from Stone Mountain. They came from the new mission church, Our Lady of Vietnam, proudly escorted by their pastor, Father Francis Pham Van Phoung.

Some came by car from towns all over north Georgia, some came in a big yellow school bus from the parish of Saints Peter and Paul in Decatur, some walked down the hill from Christ the King, some came in wheelchairs. They all filed into the cathedral, two by two, each on the final step of a long journey to participate in the Rite of Election.

Standing behind parish signs that helped to arrange the crowd and bring them into the cathedral for seating, the flock showed what the numbers reveal. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, used across the archdiocese for those entering the Catholic Church at Easter, is growing.

According to numbers gathered in the 1980s, this year’s gathering of 659 people who will join the Church exceeds last year’s by 100. For the fourth year in a row, it was necessary to hold the Rite on two Sundays to accommodate the people.

Accompanied by a godparent or a sponsor, men, women, and children processed in and took a seat as the sounds of “Gather Us In” echoed throughout the cathedral. Archbishop Eugene A. Marino, SSJ, greeted the congregation and welcomed the catechumens and candidates, the clergy and Religious, RCIA directors, sponsors and team members saying, “The Cathedral of Christ the King resounds with a joyful sound because of your presence and your efforts.”

During the Liturgy of the Word, the faces reflected the moment. There were smiles of anticipation. A sponsor patted the shoulder of a candidate. “We welcome you to the Mother Church” of the archdiocese of Atlanta, the archbishop said. “You have been listening for several months now during this phase of preparation for a deeper relationship between you and God who has been calling you your whole life.”

A husband squeezed the hand of his candidate, his wife, as the archbishop encouraged his listeners to come into the desert for a Lenten journey with Jesus. "We welcome you into this phase of enlightenment and purification," counseled the archbishop as he spoke as shepherd. “There is a victory over sin through the person of Christ. We will pray with you, and we will pray for you. Together we will share victory over sin and victory over death.”

Two different groups of people participated these first Sundays of Lent. The first group, the catechumens, will be baptized as well as receive Holy Eucharist and Confirmation at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. The second group, the candidates, have already been baptized and hope to receive Holy Eucharist and be confirmed at the Easter Vigil. Both the catechumens and the candidates are presented to the archbishop, according to the RCIA. The church declares that those who are “Chosen by God” may proceed to the sacraments. The personal advancement is expressed in the inscription of names at the Rite of Election.

After the homily, Marylyn McDonald, director of the Office of Religious Education, began the presentation of the catechumens and the candidates to the archbishop. Each parish RCIA director went to the microphone and announced the parish, city and the name of every catechumen. One by one each catechumen and godparent rose to be acknowledged. A little boy nervously rocked back and forth as he stood at his place. Then, as all the directors processed up the center aisle holding aloft the Books of the Elect, he grinned, “There’s my name going up right now!” His joy radiated in a childlike innocence.

The parish directors returned to the microphone and announced the parish, city and name of every candidate. Each candidate and sponsor stood in response.

One, Brian Hersey from St. Jude’s parish, Sandy Springs, could not rise because he is wheelchair bound. But his joy could not be contained. Not only is he looking forward to becoming a member of the Catholic Church this Easter, but he will have with him the newest member of the family, Kathleen Elizabeth Hersey, who was adopted this month.

After a series of questions and responses, Archbishop Marino remarked, “Let us express our joy and support for these candidates.” A round of applause was given as a sign of the assembly’s approval. It was a moment of great elation for the congregation, catechumen, candidate, clergy, sponsor, godparent, and onlookers.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the archbishop blessed the catechumens, the candidates and the congregation was dismissed as “Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days” was sung. A reception followed in the Hyland Center.

The largest group to participate in the Rite of Election was from St. Catherine of Siena parish in Kennesaw with 12 catechumens and 43 candidates. In an interview, Shannon Le Fevers, a catechumen who attended the March 11 service, said, “It is hard to believe our group is so large. I suppose we just have a wonderful parish.” Tom Keegan is RCIA director, and he and Deacon Norm Vigue teach the group. Mr. Le Fevers said every Sunday since the class began in September, the entire group has processed into the church during 9:30 a.m. Mass, has been recognized at the homily and then adjourned for instruction.

“The members of St. Catherine’s see us as a reassurance of their own faith,” explained the enthusiastic catechumen.

On the two Sundays, 46 parishes and three missions were represented with catechumens and/or candidates. The cathedral parish was represented with 44 candidates and catechumens, Our Lady of Vietnam mission brought in nine catechumens and parishes in Decatur had 48 catechumens and candidates, 27 from Sts. Peter and Paul and 21 from St. Thomas. More.

St Matthew’s in Fairburn was represented with 13, as was St. Anthony’s parish in Atlanta. Parishes in Canton, Calhoun, Rome, Commerce, Toccoa, Dalton, Cleveland, Dahlonega, Blue Ridge, Clarkesville and Athens and the University of Georgia campus center were represented along with Atlanta and metropolitan area parishes.