It wasn’t Blackwood; it was their local town.
It wasn’t gathering with their counterparts from the Diocese of Camden’s six counties at Our Lady of Hope Parish; they were at their own parish, with their sponsors, family and faith community.
It wasn’t Bishop Dennis Sullivan presiding at the special ceremony, a marker of the first Sunday of Lent; it was their parish pastor.
For the 75 catechumens-now-elect from 28 parishes across the diocese who affirmed their readiness — after months of study, guidance, and reflection — to receive the sacraments of initiation (baptism, holy Eucharist, and confirmation) at the upcoming Easter Vigil, this year’s Rite of Election was different from years past because of COVID-19 restrictions, but it was no less impactful.
The Rite of Election is part of the Rite of the Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), the process taken by individuals who want to become Christians in the Catholic tradition.
In addition to the 75 adults, there were 35 youth, ages 8-14, from nine parishes who will be baptized this Easter Vigil.
“One of my elect told me after the ceremony, ‘I feel different, and it feels wonderful,’” remarked Cathy Johnson, pastoral associate at Cherry Hill’s Catholic Community of Christ Our Light.
For months, the six men and women from her parish who will enter into full communion with the church have been diligently preparing themselves, with their sponsors and catechists leading the way. In years past, their RCIA meetings would have been in-person; this past year, all were virtual.
Which made the physical, albeit masked and distanced, gathering last weekend even sweeter.
“Another elect told me how nice it was for us to talk to each other in person, instead of through a screen,” Johnson said.
Another noticeable difference was in the new location.
In years past, the diocesan-wide Rite of Election in Blackwood would include only catechumens and their sponsors, catechists and families present. Now, with permission from Bishop Dennis Sullivan to have each pastor preside at the occasion with his own community, the unique opportunity to include local faithful as participants was there.
For weeks leading up to the day, the catechumens were being introduced to the larger community via biographies published in the parish bulletin.
“When Father Picinic read (the section in the Rite) which asked the congregation if they were ‘ready to support the testimony expressed about these catechumens and include them in your prayer and affection as we move toward Easter,’ everyone shouted Yes!” at the two Masses (Saturday’s 4:30 p.m. and Sunday’s 7 p.m.) where catechumens were present, Johnson said. “There was great support from the whole assembly,” she added.
At Our Lady of Peace Parish in Williamstown, high school senior Christian Venticinque signed the Book of Elect last Sunday in front of Father Cadmus Mazzarella, pastor of the parish.
Receiving the sacraments of initiation has been a tradition in his family for the last year, a sign of the faith that’s been passed down.
Last year, his sister Cecilia entered into full communion with the church after undergoing the RCIA process. The day after Cecilia’s own entrance, the siblings’ two younger sisters, Madison and Mackenzie, were baptized.
“It’s Christian’s moment now,” said Kari Janisse, parish youth minister, who helped him go through the RCIA for teenagers.
“It was a happy, joyful moment for him, his family, and the parish community,” she said.
Missing his interaction with catechumens this year, Bishop Sullivan sent congratulatory letters to each man and woman who will soon be in full communion with the universal church.
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