Lutheran who joined church at Easter Vigil says he feels he's home

Published: 2008-03-25

WOODSIDE, N.Y. (CNS) -- At the Easter Vigil at St. Sebastian's Parish in Woodside knelt 40-year-old Ramon Montero, who stood out from the adolescents around him. Dressed in a flowing white robe and clutching a rosary, Montero seemed sedate but later admitted to being nervous. Immediately behind him were his mother and his sponsor, Paula Bennett, his aunt. Montero was one of nearly 40 catechumens and candidates entering into full communion with the Catholic Church at St. Sebastian's on Holy Saturday, March 22. And when it was over he said he felt like he was home. Across the country people of all ages and from all walks of life joined the church that day. Catechumens were baptized and confirmed, and they received their first Communion; candidates, who already had a valid baptism, entered into full communion with the church. The figures for this year are not yet available, but last year, according to the Official Catholic Directory, almost 64,500 catechumens and almost 93,000 candidates joined the church.

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