Newspaper Page Text
CO O
OL CO
The
Soulhern
Diocese of
Savannah
ms
Vol. 81, No. 10
Thursday, March 8, 2001
$.50 PER ISSUE
Hundreds elected for Easter sacraments,
called to continuing conversion
Left: Bishop J. Kevin Boland signs the Book of the Elect of Saint James the Less Parish, Savannah,
as presenter Cathy Gilligan looks on.
Right: The Books of the Elect from the participating parishes are carried in procession.
Photos by Jonas N. Jordan
By Father Douglas K. Clark
Savannah
hey packed the Cathedral of Saint John the
Baptist on March 4, the First Sunday of Lent.
They were young and old, poor and well-off—and
everything in between. They were black, white and
Asian. They came from all over south Georgia to
be elected for Baptism, Confirmation and first
Eucharist at the Easter Vigil or to be called to con
tinuing conversion as they prepare for entering into
full communion with the Catholic Church by pro
fession of faith. And they came by the hundreds.
Bishop J. Kevin Boland presided at the celebra
tion of the Rite of Election in the context of a
Liturgy of the Word, as he had done the day before
at Sacred Heart Parish, Warner Robins. Both cele
brations involved the presentation of the unbaptized
catechumens and the bishop’s subscribing the parish
Books of the Elect, which they had already signed.
Both also involved the presentation of already-bap
tized Christians of other traditions seeking to
become Catholics. The names of these candidates
were not included in the Books of the Elect out of
respect for their status as baptized people.
In his homily, Bishop Boland spoke of the faith
journey that all Christians take, but especially the
elect and candidates for full communion. ’’This
journey has brought you here today,” he said,
pointing out the parallel between their journey and
that of the Chosen People out of slavery in Egypt
to freedom in the Promised Land.
To be elected is to be chosen, set aside and
called by God. “Moses hid his face from God at
the burning bush,” the bishop noted, “and perhaps
we feel the same fear of our unworthiness in God’s
presence. Yet God sent Moses on a mission to set
his people free. He is sending us on a mission, too,
despite our unworthiness.”
The bishop noted the words of Jesus to his disci
ples, “It was not you who chose me; it was I who
chose you.” The bishop pointed out that the Lord
works through his people to issue his call. Most
who come into the Catholic Church as adults do so
because someone—a spouse, child, parent or co
worker has reached out to them. In Warner Robins,
the bishop spoke with a woman whose husband
and children were Catholics. But not until her 8-
year-old daughter asked her why she did not
receive communion did the woman seriously con
sider becoming a Catholic herself.
“The whole season of Lent is a preparation for
that holy night, that holiest of holies, the Easter
Vigil, to be celebrated this year on April 14,” the
bishop said. For the catechumens, it will be the
night of their Baptisms, Confirmation and first
Communions. For the candidates, it will be the
night of their profession of the Catholic faith and
their reception of the sacraments of Confirmation
and the Eucharist.
For those present who are already Catholics,
especially sponsors, the bishop pointed out that
Easter involves the renewal of baptismal promises,
perhaps made by others for them, and that this
renewal is the goal of Lent for them.
Approximately 130 catechumens were elected
and 260 candidates recognized in the two rites cel
ebrated this year.
Ann Pinckney, diocesan Director of Religious
Education, was responsible for planning the cele
brations.
Father Raphael Toner dies
Monsignor Deimel profiled
Black History celebration
—see page 3
—see page 3
—see page 12