By Kathi Stearns, Staff Writer

ATLANTA--In the beginning of Lent, Archbishop John F. Donoghue welcomes over 1,000 people who professed their desire to become full members of the Catholic Church this Easter.

During four separate liturgies held throughout the Archdiocese of Atlanta people of diverse ages and backgrounds from the north, south, east and west areas of the archdiocese were presented to the archbishop over two weekends. The four liturgies are formally called the Rite of Election and Call to Conversion.

Three hundred twenty-seven participants are catechumens, individuals who are not baptized and who will receive all the sacraments of initiation, including baptism, at Easter Vigil services. Seven hundred seventeen are candidates, baptized Christians who will receive the sacraments of confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil.

“Today we celebrate a very special event in the life of the local church, the formal election of our friends...who are now finding the final home of their faith, the strong shelter of our Roman Catholic Church,” said Archbishop Donoghue at each of the four liturgies.

Before the rite begins catechumens and candidates sign the Book of the Elect as each declares his intention to continue his faith journey through to the Easter season.

In each liturgy parish representatives from that particular region entered the church ahead of Archbishop Donoghue, each holding a Book of the Elect.

The name of each catechumen was read aloud by the parish director of the Order of Christian Initiation. The catechumens were then presented to the community and the archbishop. As their names were announced they came forward and formed a semicircle around the archbishop. Their godparents were asked to affirm that the catechumens have listened to the word of God, responded to it and have gathered in prayer with the Catholic community.

Next the candidates’ names were presented and they were described as being called to continuing conversion. Their sponsors, who will stand up for them at confirmation, were asked to affirm that the candidates have been studying the Catholic faith and reflecting upon it as well as meeting in common prayer. Each parish director then presented the archbishop with the Book of the Elect.

As the catechumens and candidates began to participate in the Lenten season with the rest of the Church the archbishop reminded them of the necessity for ongoing conversion. “It is not a process that ceases to be at the Easter Vigil, and the sacrament of baptism can hardly be called a conclusion,” the archbishop said. “Rather this whole process in time--the purification of the Lenten season, leading to the beauty of the Easter Vigil, when all members renew and affirm their baptismal vow--this whole process is a gift of the Holy Spirit for the life of the Church--new life, restored life, rededicated life--but each in its own way, the life of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.”

In some prior years, one ceremony of election and continuing conversion has been held in the Georgia World Congress Center or Atlanta Civic Center. However, space limitation have made it impossible to have one cremony with 1,000 participants, plus their sponsors and family members in any single church of the archdiocese.

A ceremony was held Saturday, Feb. 25 at St. Philip Benizi Church, Jonesboro, for the south region and Sunday, Feb. 26 at St. Oliver Plunkett Church, Snellville, for the east region. Ceremonies were also held at St. Joseph’s Church, Marietta, for the west region March 4 and All Saints Church, Dunwoody, for the north region March 5.

Despite the different locations liturgical continuity if stressed throughout the celebration. The music, prayers of the faithful, homily and programs were the same for each ceremony. Colored banners representing each region were brought to the altar. The banner of the region in which the celebration was taking place was brought forward in prominence, as the Books of the Elect were presented to the archbishop.

Music for the celebration was selected and coordinated by Alan Brown. The music was presented by Brown with cantors Janis Griggin and Sam Hagan and musicians Donny Paperbrock, Greg Holland and Mark Hughes.

Carol Hamill, who works for the Archdiocese of Atlanta in adult faith formation, has watched the Rite of Election evolve since 1982 when 125 catechumens and candidates were received at the Cathedral of Christ the King.

Every aspect of the process brings her encouragement and joy, because the faith journey of the initiates deepens the faith of those who are already Catholic and already members of parish communities.

“Faith isn’t rooted in isolation, it’s rooted in community,” she noted. “It is the assembly of the faithful that is the critical component in this journey of initiation...Through this (parish) assembly we find our catechists, our sponsors, our musicians...”

At the same time, catechumens and candidates, who are seeking God deeply, and who come to the parish or mission on this journey, bring a new presence of the Holy Spirit, Mrs. Hamill observed. “The Holy Spirit is speaking through people’s lives and their desire for something more...I think the Holy Spirit is praying through people in their desire” to experience God.

Mrs. Hamill attended three of this year’s four Rites of Election and was touched by the procession of parish directors holding aloft the Books of the Elect with the names of those seeking to join the Catholic Church at Easter. She was also struck by “the delight on the catechumens’ faces when they were called up to the altar” by name to stand with Archbishop Dongohue. “The delight on people’s faces was something to behold.”

That moment of recognition and commitment will be fulfilled in the reception of sacraments at the Easter Vigil.

“Every time I go to an Easter Vigil and I watch the baptism of adults and children...It brings me to a point of being re-baptized in my own mind and heart,” she said. “I’m deeply moved by what God does for us through the candidates and catechumens.