Jesus Christ is Risen, Alleluia! He is Risen indeed, Alleluia!

Happy Easter! One of the great joys of Easter is celebrating the Sacraments of Initiation with “the Elect” and welcoming others into full communion in the Catholic Church through the Profession of Faith and the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist. This year we had five persons in those two categories. Adrian and Miranda are now “neophytes.” This is a Greek word that means “newly planted.” Of course, that which is newly planted needs special care. Their spiritual nourishment is important to all of us as the Church through continuing education and participation in the Catholic faith. Let us continue to pray for and support Adrian and Miranda on their journey of faith.

Three other persons were received into full communion in the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. Jessica, Fatima, and Rubi had already been baptized in another Christian denomination, or perhaps in the Catholic Church, but without catechesis. Their adult decision to profess the Catholic faith and receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist marks a new beginning in their lives. We recognize the enduring value of their baptism with whatever Christian denomination it occurred. But, receiving explicit instructions and experiencing the invitation and welcome of the Church into an adult faith is very important. They, too, will need on-going support, prayer and instruction in the faith.

Now is the time to be aware of those for whom the coming year can be a time of welcome and reception into the Catholic faith. Do you know anyone who is seven (7) years old or older who has not been baptized? Maybe this is the time for that child, teenager, or adult to begin to ask questions and seek answers about faith in Jesus Christ. The period of “inquiry” can begin now and will continue until the Rite of Welcome when the Church recognizes the unbaptized as “catechumens” as they seek incorporation into the Church. You may recall the Rite of Welcome which usually occurs in the Autumn months.

Those adults who are already baptized in another Christian denomination, or who received no instruction in the Catholic faith, may also begin their inquiries. If they choose to enter the process of catechesis, or instruction, they will be identified as “candidates” for full communion in the Catholic Church. As I mentioned above, the Church respects all baptisms whereby the person was baptized “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Any person baptized into the Christian faith, using the Trinitarian formula of baptism, is validly baptized.

Jesus is Risen, Alleluia!

Peace, Fr. Andy