Increased numbers choose to join Catholic Church
RCIA participants in front of St Christopher’s Cathedral. Photo: supplied.
Last Sunday over 30 people gathered with Archbishop Christopher for the Rite of the Elect at St Christopher’s Cathedral.
That represents the third largest group choosing to become Catholics over the last 23 years.
This is an ancient, beautiful ritual that is a part of an individual’s journey in becoming a Catholic.
During this time, some of ‘the elect’ shared about how Jesus had been working in their lives over some time to draw them to this place.
One gentleman mentioned that he just started dropping into St Patrick’s at Braddon for some quiet during lunch. He was so inspired by the Priest’s preaching that he decided that he wanted to become Catholic.
The Rite of the Elect is part of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) and relates to adults wishing to become Catholic. Where there are both Elect (unbaptised) and Candidates (baptised) in a Parish there is the option of a combined Rite.
This Rite is also known by the formal title of The (Combined) Celebration at the Easter Vigil of the Sacraments of Initiation and of the Rite of Reception into the Full Communion of the Catholic Church.
When we include those from rural areas, who were unable to attend, we are probably looking at over 50 people wanting to join the Church in 2019.
The church is alive and well.
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God Bless everyone of them, the Lord is with them.
These new Catholics will a breath of fresh air and bring back joy and trust back into the Church. God Bless them while they journey on.
Babs
The Holy Spirit is very much alive and active.Praise God.This is truly an inspiration that so many people are to become Catholics, I can’t find the words of the goodness of the “now God”. May God Bless you on your spiritual journey.
I now make sure I pick up & read Catholic Voice each new addition…My heart is gladdened by lots of Good News stories such as this one Jesus said “The gates of Hell shall not prevail against her” Long live the barque of Peter & all who sail in her.
Ron Gane Kambah
Could I ask what has happened to the recent reply that politely contrasted Arcb.Comensolli’s speech with this article, and which now appears to have been taken down? We need to hear the different perspectives of all of our bishops.
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Thanks
Having read this article “Increased numbers choose to join Catholic Church” a few weeks ago, I commented that this was a fine and encouraging piece, but I expressed doubt about the validity of the article’s final sentence ‘The church is alive and well’.
That final sentence was and is at odds with the serious crisis in which the Australian Catholic Church finds itself.
That sentence was and is seriously at odds with comments that same week from Melbourne Archbishop Comensoli who had said: ”….the Church in Melbourne is experiencing its ‘darkest days’ and is standing on ‘broken ground’ in the wake of the sex abuse scandal …..at this time of deep crisis and humiliation”.
The article’s final sentence was and is at odds with similar comments last week from Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe.
My comments expressing an opinion that the Church is not ‘alive and well’ now appear to have been censored; at least they have been obliterated from this website.
Pope Francis has been consistently encouraging the laity to speak up, yet look what can happen when one does express an opinion – whooooosh!