The Diocese of Brooklyn will be welcoming hundreds of people into the faith when they are baptized at the Easter Vigil at their home parishes on March 30. Each of these newcomers to Catholicism has his or her unique personal story about their journey of faith. The Tablet is pleased to present some of their stories.
As Bishop Robert Brennan stood at the entrance of Resurrection Ascension Church in Rego Park shaking hands and greeting people entering the church for the Rite of Election service on Sunday, Feb. 18, the symbolism was unmistakable. He was welcoming people into the church just as he will be welcoming the newly baptized into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil next month.
After going to church regularly for more than 20 years, Jerry Garner of Lenox Township, Pennsylvania, is now consciously making a decision to join the Catholic faith.
Hundreds of people took a big step in her journey to becoming Catholics by taking part in the Rite of Election on Sunday, Feb. 26 — a time-honored tradition that takes place annually on the first Sunday of Lent and signifies the fact that those who are to be baptized — called catechumens — have been chosen, or elected, by the Church.
Hundreds of people came to St. Patrick’s Church, Bay Ridge on Sunday, March 6, to take part in the Rite of Election — a prayer service in which those who are enrolled in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) in the Diocese of Brooklyn took an important step toward becoming full members of the Catholic Church.
Jasmine Zuniga is one of the hundreds of people, called catechumens, who are enrolled in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) in the Diocese of Brooklyn and have been busy studying in their local parishes to be baptized into the Catholic Church. On Feb. 21, Jasmine and her fellow catechumens took part in the Rite of Election.
Never baptized in any Christian tradition, these catechumens – as they are called – are enrolled in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), and will enter the Church at the Easter Vigil, March 31, in their home parishes.
In Brooklyn and Queens, 1,125 adults and children will receive the sacraments at the Easter Vigil. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio greeted them during the Rites of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion last Sunday, Feb. 14.
