NewSeeker's Rite of Election Experience

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All - I participated in the Rite of Election yesterday. I know some of you have been following my threads as I’ve been progressing on my journey into the Catholic Church. Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement. It has been hard to do this alone, but yesterday was a very rewarding and uplifting day.

The day began at my parish with the Rite of Sending during Mass and then we caravaned to South Austin for the Rite of Election at San Jose Parish. Once there, it was amazing to see how many people in the Austin metro area were entering the church. During the Rite the bishop said there were 900 candidates and 300 catechumens in the diocese that were entering the church this year. The rite itself was wonderful. I’ve really come to love the antiphonal nature of catholic worship. To hear all those people singing in response to the cantor was very moving. There was also a moment where it was confirmed to me that this journey is exactly where I need to be. Most likely it was coincidental (but then again, maybe not), but at precisely the moment when the bishop asked the catechumens to stand and I stood the sun broke threw the window and bathed me in light. I had to squint a bit. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect to make me feel like God was looking right at me. It was amazing really. We were one of the last parishes to meet the bishop. The seats started to get hard and there were many people before me to meet the bishop, but it was well worth the wait. The bishop looked me in the eye when I shook his hand and he said - “Welcome to our family.” Whoa. That’s when it hit me. I’ve been rootless for so long, drifting aimlessly without God in my life, desperately searching for Him. I really did feel like I was coming home. It felt so right. After the bishop declared us as the Elect everyone started cheering for us. I must admit I got a bit verklempt, but in true manly fashion I kept it in check. :rolleyes: It was a great day.

NewSeeker
 
Sounds like a great experience!!! It’s so great to hear this. I’m pretty sure it was God looking at you as you describe… I hope your swim across the Tiber is even happier the day of… praying that your family will come to support you.
 
Thanks for relating this event to us. These are the kinds of moments we just never forget.
 
That was just beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing your experience and welcome!
 
I am so happy for you! (for US!!!) It’s an amazing journey, isn’t it? I just know this is only the beginning… 😃
 
VERY happy for you and appreciate you sharing your experience!!! 😃 😃 😃
 
That is wonderful!!!
I participated in the Rite this weekend, as a sponser and godmother both.
It was a beautiful ceremony, I didn’t even know such a ceremony existed 😊 . I really enjoyed learning more about the faith, and was overwhelemed by the amount of people that were at the cathedral.
Welcome to the family New Seeker!!!
 
My wife and I did ours as well this weekend, I don’t know the number of people but it was much larger than I expected. We had to have 3 separate Rites across the State of AR to cover everyone.

The Rite was beautiful, I know my wife (I’m a Canidate and she is an Elect) was truly moved and seeing so many people truly brought me to tears at times.

Congrats on your journey and may God continue to Bless you during this time of refelction!

Joe
 
Hi Joe! I was moved as well by the sheer number of people entering the church. The Austin diocese had so many candidates and catechumens that they also had to be accomodated in three separate Rites, and I attended just the first one held in Austin. And then there’s the dioceses in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, El Paso, and the rest of Texas. I wonder how many are entering the Church in Texas, let alone the rest of the US and the world??? Millions???

I’m so happy to hear that you and your wife had a wonderful experience too. Thanks for sharing!

God Bless,
NewSeeker
 
NewSeeker said:
I wonder how many are entering the Church in Texas, let alone the rest of the US and the world??? Millions???
Click to expand...
According to this, in 2004 there were 150,000 adults.

According to this, the number varies a lot, but infant baptisms reach almost 1 million! :eek:
 
Well, now you won’t feel so all alone, I hope. Still praying for you over the next weeks as go through the Scrutinies.
 
thanks, you do realize the entire Church around the world is praying for you now. ooooh I love my job

welcome home, and if you have specific questions about Lenten rites, just ask. I was looking to respond to you earlier, but on evangelization, sorry I missed congratulating you on the day, so glad I found your thread, because I want to add my welcome to your bishop’s.

we had rite of sending in the parishes Sunday, and bishop calls candidates tonight for call to continuing conversion (about 800) and catechumens tomorrow evening for election (about 600). There are probably more but some of the more remote parishes and missions celebrate election in the parish. we have 14 Elect from our parish, and our new inquiry class is just starting, and we have some people well on their way for next Easter, something is happening in this Parish and I am very excited about it.
 
NewSeeker:

I participated in the Rite of Election at San Jose this weekend as well. San Jose is my parish. It was a very moving experience. I was amazed by the number of people going through the Rite, and doubly amazed by the diversity present. This was something I rarely experienced in Protestant churches. The Church truly is universal!

I am so excited for the Easter Vigil. If this Rite is portentious at all, I will be crying like a wee one with a big smile on my face!

Blessings,

Aaron
 
Hi Aaron! Wow, what a small (web) world. You have a beautiful parish. Mine is St. Margaret Mary. I was also amazed by the diversity of people attending the Rite; that’s exactly what you would expect in Christ’s church for God welcomes all and is no respecter of persons. I’m on pins and needles waiting for the Vigil myself. It’s been a very long, difficult journey for me to get to get here and I know it will be a very emotional experience for me as well. I’ve been lost and living with a god-sized hole in my soul for so long …I can’t believe I’ve only got a few weeks to go until I can receive Him in the Holy Eucharist and my new journey will begin.

Thanks for writing! It’s great to hear from someone else in Austin coming into the church.

God bless you,
Andrew
 
NewSeeker said:
All - I participated in the Rite of Election yesterday. I know some of you have been following my threads as I’ve been progressing on my journey into the Catholic Church. Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement. It has been hard to do this alone, but yesterday was a very rewarding and uplifting day.

The day began at my parish with the Rite of Sending during Mass and then we caravaned to South Austin for the Rite of Election at San Jose Parish. Once there, it was amazing to see how many people in the Austin metro area were entering the church. During the Rite the bishop said there were 900 candidates and 300 catechumens in the diocese that were entering the church this year. The rite itself was wonderful. I’ve really come to love the antiphonal nature of catholic worship. To hear all those people singing in response to the cantor was very moving. There was also a moment where it was confirmed to me that this journey is exactly where I need to be. Most likely it was coincidental (but then again, maybe not), but at precisely the moment when the bishop asked the catechumens to stand and I stood the sun broke threw the window and bathed me in light. I had to squint a bit. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect to make me feel like God was looking right at me. It was amazing really. We were one of the last parishes to meet the bishop. The seats started to get hard and there were many people before me to meet the bishop, but it was well worth the wait. The bishop looked me in the eye when I shook his hand and he said - “Welcome to our family.” Whoa. That’s when it hit me. I’ve been rootless for so long, drifting aimlessly without God in my life, desperately searching for Him. I really did feel like I was coming home. It felt so right. After the bishop declared us as the Elect everyone started cheering for us. I must admit I got a bit verklempt, but in true manly fashion I kept it in check. :rolleyes: It was a great day.

NewSeeker
Click to expand...
Hello NewSeeker, I was at the Rite of Election on Sunday too, with my sponsor “truthsilence”. It was an amazing experience and I thought of all the other candidates, catechumens and sponsors all over the US doing the same thing. A great day for us all!

Rebecca
 
That’s so cool Rebecca, Truthsilence has been a great help to me on my journey. I got to know her online over on the LDS boards at beliefnet.com and then I disappeared for a year and went through my darkest time. I later popped up here on CFA after deciding to enroll in RCIA. I had no idea she was catholic when I was posting at beliefnet and imagine my surprise and amazement to learn that fact when Truthsilence PMd me and I put 2 and 2 together. You’ve got a great sponsor. Congrats! …and congrats on your Election!! Thanks for sharing that fact and your connection to TS…

Andrew
 
NewSeeker said:
That’s so cool Rebecca, Truthsilence has been a great help to me on my journey. I got to know her online over on the LDS boards at beliefnet.com and then I disappeared for a year and went through my darkest time. I later popped up here on CFA after deciding to enroll in RCIA. I had no idea she was catholic when I was posting at beliefnet and imagine my surprise and amazement to learn that fact when Truthsilence PMd me and I put 2 and 2 together. You’ve got a great sponsor. Congrats! …and congrats on your Election!! Thanks for sharing that fact and your connection to TS…

Andrew
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Thanks, and congratulations to you too.

TS is a great sponsor and friend.
 
We are singing this at Mass as the Catechumen’s leave the Sanctuary and I offer it for all who are New to the Church, Coming Back or wondering which path to take on their own spirtual journey.

May the Word of God Comfort you,
May the Word of God Nourish you,
May the Word of God Strengthen you,
all your life.

God Bless and Keep all those who seek the Truth and Light.

John 3:16
 
:grouphug:

Welcome again! I am so excited for your sacraments next month.
 
Thanks KC! I can’t believe I only have 1 month to go. When I began this process in July it seemed so far away. Thanks for all of your prayers and support along the way. God bless you and your family!

NewSeeker
 
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