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By Erika Anderson, Staff Writer
ROSWELL—As in churches throughout the Archdiocese of Atlanta,
the Easter Vigil celebration at St. Peter Chanel Church brought many to tears.
Tears of joy, tears of gratitude and tears of anticipation were
shed by many who embraced their newfound faith and began a new life in the
Catholic Church at Easter Vigils held on April 14.
At St. Peter Chanel, which held its first Easter Vigil as a parish
in the gymnasium at Queen of Angels School, the Vigil began outside the school
as Father Frank McNamee, pastor, blessed the paschal fire and lit the paschal
candle held aloft by Deacon Keith Kolodeziej. The pastor then proceeded to
light tiny candles that parishioners carried into the gym.
With only the soft glow of the candles lighting the room, the
liturgy began.
After three Old Testament readings, the choir led the congregation
in singing the Gloria, as the lights came on and reflected the joy of the
resurrection. Following a reading from the New Testament, Deacon
Michael Balfour proclaimed the Gospel.
During his homily, Father McNamee expressed his delight in
welcoming the new Catholics into the church.
“This is a great night for you all, and it makes me as a
pastor very happy to have you all with us to witness this great night of
celebration,” he said.
Father McNamee, the church’s first pastor since it was named
a parish in September 2000, said that the celebration of the new faith of the
catechumens and candidates was close to the hearts of many in the parish of 874
families.
“As we welcome our new brothers and sisters into the faith of
the Catholic Church, some of these people might be your wife, your husband,
your sister, your brother . . . Maybe the person tonight is your friend,”
he said. “You may have prayed in silence for this great day for years . .
. You hoped and prayed that your loved one would come into the faith you hold
so dear.”
He compared the conversion of those to be baptized and confirmed
to the resurrection of Christ.
“We see in our catechumens and our candidates new life, as
they are embracing the Catholic faith,” he said. “As a pastor, I am
very proud to accept you into full communion with the Catholic Church.”
Father McNamee said that though the road for many converts was
paved with pain and sadness, the road ahead is one of joy.
“The journey of conversion and faith is ongoing to eternal
life,” he said. “It is realized that there is a lot yet to be
understood.”
After the homily, Deacon Balfour called each one of the eight
catechumens, those receiving all of the sacraments of initiation, including
baptism, to come to the altar. As they processed throughout the gym, the
congregation sang the Litany of the Saints.
The catechumens, ranging from children to adults, were then
baptized, putting on baptismal robes and walking throughout the church, again
lighting the candles of the congregation.
Approximately 20 candidates, those previously baptized as
Christians, were then called forth, along with the catechumens, to receive the
sacrament of confirmation.
During the Liturgy of the Eucharist candidates and catechumens
came forward to receive the Eucharist for the first time.
Following the Mass, the new Catholics joined their families and
friends for a reception in their honor in the school’s cafeteria.
Nancy Vance, a 42-year-old mother, was among those baptized. Her
three sons, Josh, Jake and Joe, were also baptized. Vance’s husband of 18
years, Jessie, was already a Catholic.
Vance was moved to tears at the sight of her sons’ baptisms.
“It means so much to know we’re all a Catholic
family,” she said. “As a mom it really meant a lot to know that they
(her sons) understood what was happening and chose to be here.”
Previously considering Catholicism, Vance said that when her son,
Josh, was accepted into Blessed Trinity High School, she knew that it was a
sign that her family should embrace the faith.
“It has brought our family so close,” she said.
Her husband said that the baptisms of his family members have
given him an “inner peace.”
“It means if I die tomorrow, my family is saved,” he
said. “They now have a sense of the Lord Jesus.”
Cathy Marbury, director of religious education at St. Peter
Chanel, said that the Easter Vigil is the “big day” for her.
“It’s really exciting to see all of these people who
started out questioning and unsure and afraid, just to see them all here,”
she said. “It makes it all worthwhile.”
Bruce Lieberman was not one to question.
Raised a Jew, Lieberman said that the conversion from Judaism to
Catholicism was a simple one for him.
“It was easy for me,” he said. “I found Catholicism
to be a continuation of Judaism, almost an extension.”
Lieberman’s wife, Dolores, converted to Judaism from
Catholicism when the two were married in 1985. Never feeling at home, she began
going back to the Catholic Church.
“I basically wandered for the next 10 years,” he said.
The couple adopted a child, which Lieberman says was a turning
point in his faith journey.
“That was the catalyst that started my wanting us to have one
uniform value system,” he said.
Lieberman began going to church with his wife, just to go, he
said.
The Liebermans moved to Atlanta from Florida a year ago. After
attending another church, they found their way to St. Peter Chanel.
“In the first couple of minutes we looked at each other and
said, ‘This is it. We’re home,’” he said.
It was after a particular homily by Father McNamee, Lieberman
said, that he really felt the desire to fully embrace the Catholic faith.
“It wasn’t my wife who was pushing me,” he said.
“I came to this church and immediately I wanted to be a part of it.”
And Lieberman has become a part of the parish, serving as
co-president of the men’s club and attending Bible studies. His wife sings
in the choir and teaches in the parish school of religion. She said that she
almost feels disbelief that she and her husband are finally united in faith.
“This is so wonderful,” she said. “It’s really
exciting. I’ve waited for this for 15 years.”
Lieberman said that though the Easter Vigil made his Catholicism
legitimate, he has embraced the faith for a long time.
“Mentally and (in my heart) I’ve been here for a
while,” he said. “I’m just very happy to officially be a part of
this family and this community in the eyes of everyone else.”
Receiving the Eucharist, Lieberman said, was “big for
me.”
“I’m really looking forward to taking advantage of the
sacraments.” |
