ROCKFORD—On Feb. 21, the Rite of Election, held annually in the Rockford Diocese on the Saturday after Ash Wednesday, welcomed and enrolled a great number of catechumens (unbaptized) to receive the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil. Numerous candidates, baptized but lacking other sacraments of initiation (confirmation in particular), were present with their sponsors as well.
After the readings from the First Sunday of Lent and Bishop David Malloy’s homily, the bishop questioned and acknowledged the testimony of sponsors, catechists and candidates regarding their readiness. The rest of those in attendance promised to accept and integrate the new Catholics at their parishes.
There were two ceremonies, one in the English language and one in Spanish.
Both ceremonies were packed beyond past years, and Bishop Malloy’s homily acknowledged that national and international trend.
“We look forward to this ceremony each year, because there’s a real sense of joy and anticipation,” he began, and added, “To all of you, how welcome you are!”
Bishop Malloy spoke of the biblical “pearl of great price” and the “treasure buried in a field,” and said that faith “is worth all of the effort both now and leading up and what is to come.” Because “this is not an easy path,” he said, “we ask are you ready to do this. We want you to have eyes wide open (and understand) what it means to be a part of this community of faith.”
The bishop noted how last year in the Diocese of Rockford, numbers of catechumens and candidates were “up 40%” over the year before and “this year already our number is bigger than last year.
“There is something that is moving here, something that is going on, and you are a part of this … there are (many) people that are coming to the Church in our time, and it is statistical, it’s notable.”
He spoke of a study done in France, which asked those coming into the Church “Why?”
“People reported it was a very personal journey for them,” Bishop Malloy said, with various “trials, errors and hopes on the way to faith. It becomes a spiritual quest, especially (for) young people.”
The new Catholics said they found society and the world to be unstable and unsatisfying, with no real truth being passed on. Reading the Bible and the presence of a faithful grandmother encouraged many
of them.
Some found social media and the Internet to be a useful tool in its proper place, the bishop said, adding that some mentioned the season of Lent as being very helpful in the process because it, they said, “gave us a certain challenge that we know was directed to something greater and stronger.”
Speaking to those seated before him, Bishop Malloy said that their “presence, enthusiasm and great joy” helps him and other long-time Catholics to renew their view of the pearl of great price and the treasure that is the Catholic faith.
A time to meet and take photos with the bishop followed the ceremony in the Cathedral of St. Peter’s Fellowship Hall.
