More Than 300 Catechumens at Cathedral Rite of Election

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On the first Sunday of Lent, Cardinal Dolan celebrated the annual Rite of Election at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, welcoming and congratulating more than 300 catechumens who have been preparing to join the Catholic Church.

The catechumens will officially enter the Church in their parishes at the Easter Vigil, April 20, when they will receive the sacraments of initiation—baptism and confirmation and First Holy Communion.

The March 10 Rite of Election ceremony drew about 900 people, including relatives and friends of the catechumens who were present to show faith-filled support and encouragement. Among the catechumens was Michael Paulino, a parishioner of St. Francis de Sales in Manhattan. Paulino, 35, said his wife, Carmen, encouraged him to enter the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). Mrs. Paulino is a lifelong practicing Catholic.

“She was the driving force. I am very grateful to her,” Paulino, an FDNY paramedic, told Catholic New York in a phone interview last week. The Paulinos, who have been married for nine years, have two children.

He added, “We both are thankful for the parish community that we found two years ago. St. Francis is a very welcoming community…God works in mysterious ways. I feel like this was prewritten, like God wanted me to walk this path, being more religious and spiritual, finding my way in this life with help from the Catholic Church.”

Paulino grew up the middle child of five siblings, raised by a single mom; his practicing of the faith was on and off, and in his early to mid 20s, mostly off. That changed when he married Carmen.

His sister, Ana Nuñez, 39, is serving as his RCIA godparent. “I’m honored to be selected as my brother’s godparent. It’s definitely a blessing,” Ms. Nuñez said after the Rite of Election ceremony.

“The Catholic faith means a lot to us. It keeps our family together.”

Cardinal Dolan, in his homily, told the catechumens that despite Lent being considered a somber season, he feels content and joyful. “I am very happy to welcome so many of you on this first Sunday of Lent,” the cardinal said, expressing his gratitude also to parish clergy, catechists, godparents and “all of those who assisted in this magnificent work of the Church.”

“You catechumens will be fully united with us in the one holy, Catholic and apostolic Church at the Easter Vigil. Thank you for making me smile…You are a great gift to the Church. We thanked God when you responded to His invitation to faith – to faith in Him in and through His Church.”

The cardinal told the catechumens that he was especially thankful for them because they are going through the RCIA at a “difficult time for the Church…I’m glad you’re here, because we need you. And I thank God for the inspiration.” His words were interrupted by applause that grew louder as it continued.

Cardinal Dolan went on to talk about his days as a parish priest in St. Louis, when a man battling gambling addiction sought his priestly advice. The cardinal said he prayed and spoke with the man about the importance of resisting temptation as Jesus did, about maintaining strong faith in doing so, and about salvation and starting anew by leaving behind those things that can distract him from leading a Christ-centered life. The man gave up gambling, even leaving a poker chip floating in the holy water font as an important symbol of his decision, the cardinal said.

At the Rite of Election ceremony in the cathedral, there were 317 adults and six youths, ages 8 to 13, from 79 parishes; the youths were part of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Children (RCIC). The catechumens signed the Book of the Elect.

Among the catechumens was Michelle Lai, 23, another St. Francis de Sales parishioner. “It’s been life changing; it’s been a great process, helping me to find support in the journey,” Ms. Lai said.

“I grew up without faith or religion. My parents are from China, and they grew up at a time when there was no religion there.” She noted that her boyfriend is a lifelong practicing Catholic, and that she has received tremendous support from him and his family during the RCIA process. Ms. Lai is a second-year medical student.

Alberto Huerta, 40, a parishioner of St. Bartholomew in Yonkers, said, “This completes my sacraments…I try to understand what God wants. I ask for His mercy. My (maternal) grandparents, they’ve passed away. They taught me about the importance of the faith.”

Huerta, a married father of two, grew up without his father, and when he was 10 years old, his mother died in an auto accident. He said that years ago his faith saved him from the negative outlook he used to have on life, after he learned to trust in the Lord. Huerta is a self-employed glassware installer.

Jacqueline Ferber, 36, said she decided to enter the RCIA program to join her husband, Dennis, and their two children in practicing the Catholic faith, attending Mass and receiving the Holy Eucharist. Her godparent is Carmela Anderson, a fellow parishioner of Holy Family on Staten Island. Mrs. Ferber is a sergeant with the NYPD. “With this job, you need some faith,” she said with a small laugh.

During the Rite of Election, Oscar Cruz, archdiocesan director of the Catechumenate (RCIA), told the cardinal, “These catechumens have found strength in God’s grace and support in their parishes. They have vowed to participate in the sacraments of baptism and confirmation, and the Eucharist.”