2024 Rite of Election: ‘I can feel God working in my life’

Charles Parks with wife Hope and daughter Aurora

Haydon Hall at St Christopher’s pastoral centre in Canberra was packed to capacity last Sunday for one of the church’s oldest rituals, the annual Rite of Election.

Taking place on the first Sunday of Lent, the rite is the final, formal step on a journey of reflection and instruction for adult converts to the Catholic faith ahead of receiving the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) at Easter Vigils across the Archdiocese. 

At this year’s Rite of Election, more than 40 catechumens and candidates (see below) declared their intention to become Catholics, witnessed by their sponsors, family and friends, and fellow parishioners.

Archbishop Christopher Prowse presided over Sunday’s ceremony, describing it as “great news” for the Archdiocese, noting it was seeing an increase in adults wanting to become Catholics.

Recky Wibiwo signing the Book of the Elect with sponsor Fiona McKenna and Archbishop Prowse

The Archbishop invited the participants to share their stories of coming to the faith and among those that did was Jo Tye from the Goulburn parish. 

She said she wanted to become a Catholic because through prayer and devotion to the Virgin Mary, “I can feel God working in my life, I can feel the Holy Spirit move in me,” she said.

Lorne Leahan of the St Christopher’s Cathedral Parish said his family’s influence was important for him in coming to the faith. His adult daughter Jessica was baptised and confirmed just last year, and his wife Kerry is his Catholic sponsor. “I’m very proud of him,” Jessica told Sunday’s gathering. “He is going to be a wonderful Catholic and I think he’s actually been a Catholic his whole life…and didn’t know it.”

Jo Tye of the Goulburn parish signing the Book of the Elect

Speaking to the Catholic Voice after the ceremony, Charles Parks (Weston Creek/South Molonglo Parish) said his family had also played a large part in his story. His wife, Hope, is a Catholic and last year, Charles’ parents were also received into the church. While he had no firm intention of becoming a Catholic himself, he went along to RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) with a “let’s just see” attitude. A cycle of questions and answers took him further into the faith and a connection with it. “It’s so deep and rich,” he said. With his wife and parents now Catholics and his children baptised as well, Charles saw the dominos lining up one way. “So yeah, I just thought, I want to do it.” 

Recky Wibiwo, originally from Indonesia, had been to Catholic Masses in the past but had “kind of lost my way”. But last year in Canberra and during a difficult personal time, he had been influenced by what he

Lorne Leahan with wife Kerry (left) and daughter Jessica

described as “full-on” Catholic friends who had encouraged and supported him. One day, he decided he wanted to go to Mass and coincidentally discovered one was about to begin at St Patrick’s in Braddon, close to his office in central Canberra. “Let’s just walk there and see what happens,” he said to himself. “And from then on, I just kept going. Started praying. And now I’m here!”

In his final remarks last Sunday, Archbishop Prowse referred to the “mysterious and wonderful ways” people came to the Catholic faith. Anyone wanting to become a Catholic would be welcome, he said. “The door is open”.

• Catechumens are those adults who have never been baptised
  Candidates are either Catholics who have been baptised but not confirmed or have received the Eucharist or who are from other Christian denominations whose baptisms are recognised by the Catholic Church