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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