By Paula Day

In the 11th annual Rite of Election of the Atlanta archdiocese February 16, Bishop James P. Lyke, OFM, welcomed more than 700 people seeking membership in the Catholic Church.

Catechumens, candidates, their families, godparents and parish sponsors gathered in the Atlanta Civic Center for a ritual linking individual parishes and the local Church of North Georgia. The Rite of Election is the second step in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults leading to reception into the Church on Holy Saturday.

The lower level of the Civic Center, which seats 2,500, was nearly filled.

In his words of welcome Bishop Lyke greeted the assembly, calling them “a beautiful portion of God’s flock.” He pointed out they came from many parishes, some of which worship in funeral homes and in Protestant churches willing to share their facilities. Others came from large old Catholic churches or from new modern structures. But all came “praising the name of Jesus,” Bishop Lyke said, and “all placing ourselves in the hands of a loving God who elects us, who calls us, who chooses us by name.”

To accommodate the numbers expected to participate, for the first time the Civic Center was the ceremony’s site. Since the first celebration in 1980 when between 140 and 160 catechumens and candidates took part in the Rite at the Cathedral of Christ the King, the numbers have consistently grown. Since 1987 the Rite has been held on two separate occasions because the Cathedral was not large enough. According to Father Louis Naughton, who worked to inaugurate the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults in the archdiocese, the decision to move was made reluctantly but necessarily.

One hundred seventy-two catechumens (unbaptized persons) and 531 candidates (previously baptized) from 50 parishes were presented to the bishop in this year’s ceremony, according to Marilyn McDonald, director of the Office of Religious Education.

The three-and-a-half hour celebration began with a gathering rite of music. A 160-voice archdiocesan choir was supplemented by a four-member group from Cedartown’s Hispanic community singing Mexican hymns, by members of Our Lady of Vietnam mission singing hymns in their native tongue, and an African-American choir from St. Paul of the Cross parish. Planners hoped this diversity of music would underline the cultural richness within the Church.

In contrast to previous years, when participants were identified by parish, this year’s celebration focused on the geographical extent of the church in North Georgia, spread over 21,000 square miles. The catechumens and candidates gathered in sections representing the four quadrants of the compass and were presented as being from the Church in the north, the east, the west and the south.

“I know well where you are coming from, dear friends,” Bishop Lyke commented in his homily. A convert from the Baptist church, he remembers as a youth being led by “‘my own inner urgings,’ and encouraged by the example of my mother, to seek the belief that would make a difference in my life.”

“These rites, marked with such liturgical solemnity,” the bishop said, “fittingly express the importance of this occasion. The imprint of today’s events will stay with you forever, for this is the time of your change, of your metamorphosis, of your passing from the stormy sea of indeterminate belief into the Church of the Elect, the Harbor of Grace.”

Bishop Lyke closed his homily remembering another convert, St. Augustine, bishop and doctor of the Church. He quoted a prayer of the Bishop of Hippo in northern Africa:

“Too late have I loved thee, O Beauty so ancient and so new, too late have I loved thee! Thou wast with me and I was not with thee; I was abroad, running after those beauties which thou hast made; those things which could have no being but in thee, kept me far from thee. Thou hast called, thou has cried out, and hast pierced my deafness. Thou has enlightened, thou has shone forth, and my blindness is dispelled. I have tasted thee and am hungry for thee. Thou hast touched me, and I am afire with the desire of thy embraces.”

Central to the day’s celebration was the presentation of the catechumens and candidates. Delegates from each parish came to the microphone one by one and announced the names of those seeking to be baptized on Holy Saturday and to receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist. These stood with their godparents and remained standing until after the Act of Election. The bishop queried the godparents to affirm their preparation; the congregation on its readiness to support them through prayer and affection; and the catechumens themselves about their desire to come into the Church. Each parish delegate presented the Book of the Elect in which the name of each catechumen was written. These books were placed on a table on the stage.

In the Act of Election, Bishop Lyke told the catechumens: “I now declare you to be members of the elect, to be initiated into the sacred mysteries at the next Easter Vigil.”

Candidates, who are already baptized and are now seeking full membership in the Church through reception of Confirmation and the Eucharist, were presented in the “celebration of the call to continuing conversion” which followed the Rite of Election.

Again, the parish delegates announced the individual names and each stood with his or her sponsor. The bishop posed similar questions to the sponsors and to the congregation before formally recognizing the candidates and urging them to “hear the call to conversion and be faithful to your baptismal covenant.”

Music preparations for the ceremony began four months ago, according to Alan Brown, music director of St. Jude’s parish in Sandy Springs and co-director of the Fellowship of Catholic Musicians. Musicians from approximately 20 parishes participated.

“We tried to do a program that was reflective of the entire diocese,” Brown explained, “one with dignity, a quality liturgy built around the people.”

“It was the biggest and most ambitious musical program for the diocese, organized and created by our own people,” Brown added.

“Our own people” included Manuel, Ernesto and Melchor, who with Father Dan Stack made up the Mexican music group from St. Bernadette’s parish in Cedartown.

After introducing the three very young and serious looking Mexicans, Father Stack added, “My name is Dan Stack, a gringo.” Between selections he admitted, “You don’t see any smiles because, to be honest, we’re scared to death. This is a little bigger house than we’re used to playing to. This (center) seats about the number in our whole town, and our parish would fit on this stage.”

Led by Victoria Jackson and Alphonso Nuckles, the congregation joined in verses of “Amazing Grace” and “How Great Thou Art.” Using a technique from black congregational signing, Bishop Lyke “lined” a verse from an old Negro spiritual, singing “God has smiled on me, He has set me free. God has smiled on me, He’s been good to me.”

Father David Stachurski, OFM, Conv. pastor of St. John Vianney parish in Lithia Springs and member of the Atlanta Forum on the Catechumenate, helped plan the liturgy. “We were celebrating the people at the grassroots level,” the Franciscan noted. “Many of these people were coming together feeling they were the only ones making this journey but as they got into the auditorium they realized there were hundreds of people making the same journey, and hopefully feeling the support of the Atlanta church.”

Brown played the organ for the liturgy. Peggy Stapleton of the Cathedral parish played the piano and Mary Root of St. Ann’s parish in Marietta directed the archdiocesan choir.

Musical selections ranged from “Ubi Caritas,” to “Amazing Grace” with the added spice of Mexican, African-American and Vietnamese music.

An hour before the 2 p.m. rite, the foyer of the Civic Center began filling with people. They were directed to sections marked by colored ribbons designating each quadrant of the archdiocese. The archdiocesan choir was seated on stage in front of a large red-rimmed white Jerusalem cross hanging in front of a dark blue scrim. Potted plants and candle holders were spaced between the musicians and the presider’s chair in the center. A crucifix stood at the left.

The festive atmosphere was heightened by the bustle of finding one’s place, the sound of instruments tuning up, the flash of cameras as participants posed for snapshots.

Christa Sager, 27, is a candidate whose husband of six years is a member of St. Andrew’s parish in Roswell. She had been going to church with him but “didn’t know what it was all about, but I finally made the decision to learn about the church.”

Gale Leithauser, 31, a candidate from St. Mary’s parish in Rome, had visited other churches to decide what was best for her family. Her husband is a Catholic and the couple had almost decided to make the Baptist denomination their religious community. But Mrs. Leithauser made one more visit to the Catholic parish and decided, “This is it.”

The day after the Rite a member of the RCIA group at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception introduced himself to newcomers.

“I’m one of the elect,” Mack Palmour announced.

Sister Margaret McAnoy, the parish RCIA director, said this elation was still strong among those she met.