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By Erika Anderson, Staff Writer
ATLANTA—Don Massey can’t remember the exact moment or
location that he decided to become Catholic.
It may have been in the Philippines, where he befriended a young
man who was a devout Catholic. It may have been in Australia, where he met a
friendly Catholic family. It could have been in Vietnam or maybe it was in
Haiti, where he talked to Catholics who worried about where their next bowl of
soup would come from, but clung to their faith. Perhaps it was in Alaska, where
a gentle Eskimo passionately told the story of his faith journey. It may even
have been in the presence of Pope John Paul II, who smiled at him as they
compared travel notes.
But at the Rite of Election March 3, as he stood among the other
catechumens of varying nationalities, Massey was reminded of those people that
he met, those that he still carries in his heart from his travels around the
world.
Massey, an associate professor at the University of Georgia in
Athens, who teaches design in the drama department, was sent around the world
to interview, photograph and make molds of the hands of practicing Catholics,
including the Holy Father, on behalf of the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center
that opened March 20 in Washington, D.C.
The 51-year-old new grandfather, who said he had no prior faith
knowledge and “wasn’t Catholic, really wasn’t anything, but had
just kind of kept religion at a distance,” was so touched by the stories
of faith and miracles that he heard, he “didn’t really have much
choice” but to become Catholic.
Originally he was told to interview people to find a quote to
display with the molds of their hands, but “15-20 minute interviews turned
into an hour, an hour and a half,” he said.
“These people were telling me things that were very personal
and I just felt so privileged,” he said. “I am anything but a holy
man, and yet, they were telling me things, special things . . . I really had my
eyes opened and I wanted it (to become Catholic).”
At the 20th annual Rite of Election and Call to Continuing
Conversion, held at the Omni Hotel in Atlanta, Massey was among 445
catechumens, those who will receive all of the sacraments of initiation,
including baptism, at the Easter Vigil, and 1,088 candidates, those who have
been previously baptized as Christians and will receive the sacraments of
confirmation and Eucharist.
At the Lenten rite, the candidates and catechumens expressed their
desire to become Catholic. Two separate ceremonies were held in the large
ballroom, one at 10 a.m. for the north and east regions, and another at 2 p.m.
for those in the south and west regions of the archdiocese. A total of 66
parishes participated.
Prior to the ceremonies, catechumens and candidates signed the
Book of the Elect from their respective parishes, declaring their intention to
continue their faith journey throughout the Easter season.
Trumpets blared regally as gleaming bowls of incense were brought
forth from the four corners of the room, coming together in the center of two
stages placed at either end of the spacious ballroom. Banners, twinkling with
bells and representing the four regions of the archdiocese and the universal
church, were carried, followed by parish representatives holding each Book of
the Elect. They came together in the center and circled the area between the
stages. They processed past Archbishop John F. Donoghue who gave a silent
blessing over each book.
The congregation began each ceremony as cantors Janis Griffin and
Sam Hagan, accompanied by a small choir, led them in “Amazing Grace,”
a song that unites people of faith from almost every denomination.
Following a Scripture reading, responsorial psalm and Gospel,
Archbishop Donoghue, in his homily, expressed his delight in those who have
chosen the path to Catholicism and explained the significance of Lent to those
who will become Catholic at Easter.
“To all present, then, we say welcome, and we say, abide in
peace, for here today, we are met on the journey—here today, we pause for
refreshment at the inn of liturgical rest, pause to inscribe the names of the
illuminandi, those who have received the light of the Spirit, those whose eyes
have been opened, in the book of life—we take up a place together, from
which we will set forth together, and keep one another company as time draws us
on,” he said. “For the time now begins we call Lent, the time of last
preparation, preparation for that precious day when the elect will enter into
the graces of Baptism and Confirmation, with their friends at their side, and
the Lord waiting to receive them.”
He encouraged those coming into the church to seek the heart, mind
and soul of Jesus more deeply during Lent.
“But there is another mind, another heart and another soul
present here and before us that must now take center place as we resume the
journey, through Lent, and into the deep holiness of the Easter Season—the
mind and heart and soul of Jesus Christ Himself—and it is upon these parts
of our Lord, these expressions of His Divine Being, that you must now
concentrate all your strength and application, as you make your final
preparations for the sacraments you will receive,” he said. “And
those who sponsor you, who lead you, who guide you must also join you in these
exercises, since the chance of renewal is one that no Christian must let
pass—for our need for the mercy of God, for His forgiveness, and for His
inspiration never dims, and is never filled—our need for His love can only
intensify as we receive it—for there is no full measure of the love of
God, except to realize and admit, that we always need it more and more.”
The archbishop concluded by telling the candidates and catechumens
to continue diligently toward the prize that awaits them, though the path does
not end there.
“But now, the time comes for us once again to take to our
feet, for the last miles are before us, and the signs beckon us
enthusiastically, saying that just ahead, are to be found the doors of our
homecoming—the doors of the Sacraments, of holy Baptism, and strengthening
Confirmation—and the joy of all who wait to greet us fully, at Easter, as
brothers and sisters in the Faith, and as sharers of the Heavenly Banquet which
is our Holy and holiest Communion,” he said.
“The journey will not end when these destinations are
achieved—the heart and mind and soul are but enlarged, and opened to hold
more, by belonging to the one true Church—the saints have proven this. But
the journey will no longer be outside the walls—the journey will no longer
be a wandering—it will be a passage within a homeland—a homeland
where Christ is ever present in the Sacraments, and where forgiveness is but a
confession away.”
After the homily, the parish director of the Order of Christian
Initiation read aloud the names of the catechumens, who came forward, along
with their godparents, and stood between the stages.
The 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 stood at their places with their sponsors as
their names were called. The sponsors affirmed that the candidates have been
studying the Catholic faith and reflecting upon it, as well as meeting in
common prayer.
Following the rite, many waited patiently in line to have their
photo taken with the archbishop.
For Massey, who is receiving instruction at the University of
Georgia Catholic Center, the experience of the Rite of Election was a powerful
one. Having traveled to 27 countries, meeting Catholics around the world, he
said he now calls himself a Catholic “junkie.”
“It’s all new to me and I’m just loving every
second of it,” he said.
He said when he stood at the rite, he noticed that there were
people of many nationalities represented.
“One of the things that gives me the most satisfaction is
that (Catholicism) crosses so many borders,” he said.
He said he is greatly anticipating Easter.
“I can’t wait to receive the Eucharist,” he said.
“Until now, all I’ve been able to do is watch, and I am just so
looking forward to it.”
The UGA Catholic Center has 31 adult candidates, four youth
candidates and five catechumens, an impressive number for a community with only
300 registered families.
Though Massey’s story is unique in its nature, his desire to
become Catholic is not unlike many who will be received into the church.
Paula Williams and her husband, Tim, will be the second and third
members of their family to become Catholic. Their daughter, Kyndal, a
sixth-grader at Queen of Angels School, Roswell, decided to become Catholic
last year during her first year at the school.
“It’s always been a big thing for all of us, worshipping
as a family,” Mrs. Williams said.
She was raised as a Baptist, but later converted to the Episcopal
faith that her husband practiced. She said that becoming Catholic means
“everything” to her.
“It means as much to me as motherhood and being a wife,”
she said. “My heart is so full of this whole process. How can you not know
this is a calling when everything has just fallen into place so
beautifully?”
Mrs. Williams said that she and her husband, who will be received
into the church at St. Peter Chanel Church in Roswell, have always given their
children, including Kyndal and two grown daughters, free will when it comes to
religion.
“I always felt that the children had a right to choose as
long as they did choose and they chose to worship God,” she said.
“Today we feel differently. We would love our other daughters to become
Catholic.”
Mr. Williams said that he was always fascinated by Catholicism. As
a child, he remembers going to the Episcopal church on Christmas Eve and then
returning home to watch the pope’s Christmas message.
“I’ve noticed that there are a tremendous amount of
similarities (between the Episcopal Church and the Catholic Church), but as
I’ve come to learn, the Catholic Church is deeper,” he said.
He said that his decision to become Catholic was a “big
deal,” as he was very involved in his own church.
“This has been humbling, but I have never looked back, which
surprised even me,” he said. “I thought I’d reject some things
and struggle with some of the teachings, but it’s been the opposite.”
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