RITE OF ELECTION—Paul, left, and Mandy Merck attend the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion held Feb. 24, the first Saturday of Lent, at St. Oliver Plunkett Church, Snellville. The couple attends Prince of Peace Church, Flowery Branch, where Mandy, 24, is a catechumen and Paul, 30, is a candidate. They are among approximately 1,500 in the archdiocese who spent Lent preparing to enter the Catholic Church. Because of the large number involved, the Rite was celebrated four times on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25 so all catechumens and candidates could be presented to Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory. (Photos by Michael Alexander)

FIRST SCRUTINY—Deacon Mike Woods lays hands on Mandy Merck as she kneels at the foot of the altar during the First Scrutiny for the Elect held March 11 at Prince of Peace Church. Next to Mandy is fellow catechumen Christina Choi. The Elect—those who are preparing to receive baptism, confirmation and Eucharist at Easter—are called forward with their godparents at this parish Mass following the Scripture readings and the homily. The Elect kneel, the parish community prays intercessions for them, the celebrant offers a prayer of exorcism for them, and then each receives a laying on of hands. After a blessing from the community, they are dismissed with the candidates to reflect on the Gospel reading.

FAITH STUDY—On Monday evenings during Lent from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Mandy and Paul Merck attend classes for catechumens and candidates. The couple has an 8-year-old and 2-year-old twin daughters and alternates bringing the girls from week to week. Morgan sits on her mother’s lap March 12 as Mandy listens to the class instructor, Cenacle Sister Susan Arcaro.

‘WE BELIEVE’—On the evening of the first class following the Rite of Election, the catechumens and candidates at Prince of Peace Church receive a scroll with the Nicene Creed they are learning to recite. Kimberly Clark, right center, holds the scroll for Mandy Merck as she holds her daughter Morgan. Joining Paul Merck, center, are fellow candidates (l-r) Ronnie Turner, Russell McMurry, Agnieszka and Steve Ray, and Calvin Jones. Candidates are those already baptized who will come into full communion with the Catholic Church at Easter.

SECOND SCRUTINY—Mandy Merck, left, faces her godparent Anna Maijer as the congregation and godparents extend their hands over the Elect at the Second Scrutiny at Prince of Peace Church March 18. Father Francis Tran invokes the Holy Spirit to come over the Elect, who are preparing to receive the sacraments of initiation.

PLANNING FOR EASTER—After the Monday evening class, March 19, Mandy, left, and Paul Merck go over the Holy Week schedule with Mandy’s godparent Anna Maijer. The class, led by Cenacle Sister Barbara Young, was on “living the Gospel.”

REFLECTING ON SCRIPTURE—Paul Merck, in the wheelchair, and Mandy, beside him, participate in a discussion following their dismissal from the Second Scrutiny. Joining them are candidates Shawn Hester, Tal Parden, Kendall Daigle and Jason Pirkle and catechumens Larry Crosswhite and Christina Choi.

JESUS THE HEALER—The discussion March 18 centers on John’s Gospel account of Jesus healing the man born blind. Paul Merck is visibly in pain, frequently bending over in his wheelchair. He has been injured in two accidents, one in February when he broke his ankle and wrist. His favorite Gospel this Lent is the raising of Lazarus. He says it reminds him that he is growing spiritually even though his body is broken.

THIRD SCRUTINY—Mandy Merck is the last catechumen Deacon Mike Woods imposes hands upon. The congregation is seated as the pastor, Father Fred Wendel, conducts a prayer over the catechumens. Mandy almost missed going to the altar for the scrutiny on this particular Sunday. The twins were in the nursery, and one of them was crying for so long she had to go retrieve them. When she came back into the church, the scrutiny was already underway. (Photos by Michael Alexander)

GOD’S LOVE—As the crucifix is passed around during the day of reflection, Paul Merck and others are called to gaze upon the cross and feel the depth of Jesus’ love for them. He said, “I’m amazed by the sheer will and strength it must have taken to lose his life for us.”

SPONSOR SUPPORT—Paul Merck, right, sits in the back of church before the 12:30 p.m. Mass talking to his sponsor Larry Maijer. It was the day of the Third Scrutiny. Paul said Larry was one of the first people to come see him at the hospital after his February accident. By the night of the Easter Vigil, Paul had gone from a wheelchair to crutches to finally a cane.

NEW BOND—During a morning segment of the March 31 day of reflection, catechumens and candidates disperse to reflect on the Paschal Mystery and the Passover of the Lord’s Supper. As Paul Merck, right, observed his wife Mandy, left, the night of the Easter Vigil, he was amazed how she had come to fall in love with the Catholic faith. “Now we have something else in common to share as a couple,” said Paul.

FIRST PENANCE—As the next person in line to see a priest for the sacrament of reconciliation, Paul Merck takes a final moment of personal reflection. Father Fred Wendel heard Paul’s confession.

EASTER MOMENT—Paul Merck and his sponsor, Larry Maijer, take their place at the foot of the altar April 7 with the other candidates during the act of reception. As Paul moves ever closer to the end of his RCIA process, he’s also thankful to Larry Vecellio, his best friend’s father who was responsible for taking him to his first Catholic Mass in 1998. Vecellio is a parishioner at St. Michael’s Church, Gainesville.

BAPTISM—As a catechumen Mandy Merck receives all three sacraments of initiation. Here Prince of Peace Church pastor Father Fred Wendel baptizes Mandy as her godmother stands with her. Mandy said she thought of the new life that was ahead of her during baptism. She added, “But it really hit me when my head was anointed with oil during confirmation. I started to cry at that point.”

CALLED TO SERVE—Mandy is one of the twelve Elect chosen to get her feet washed by Father Fred Wendel, pastor of Prince of Peace Church. When Father Wendel finishes, he recites the words of Jesus, “As I have done, will you go now and do.” Mandy’s response is “I will.” In his homily Father Wendel says all are called to go forth in service and the Holy Thursday liturgy is a reminder of where it all began.

ELATION—Anna Maijer and Mandy hug each other during the sign of peace. Mandy said, “I took the opportunity to express my thanks to Anna for all she had done for me and the great journey we experienced.” Moments later Mandy would receive the body and blood of Christ for the first time.