Converts eager to join Church

"This is something that I have really wanted to do since I was about 16," said Michelle O'Brien. "So far, God has been with me all the way!"

A candidate in a parish RCIA program, she recently attended the Rite of Election at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany. She described the ceremony as "absolutely awesome."

Bishop Howard J. Hubbard welcomed the 19-year old Massachusetts native to the Catholic faith, along with nearly 300 others who will formally join the Church at the end of Lent.

Godmother's influence

Ms. O'Brien, currently enrolled in the nursing program at Russell Sage College in Troy, was brought up as a Protestant, but there was always a Catholic influence in her life through the example of her Catholic godmother.

"She is a very devout Catholic, and I was always impressed with the examples she showed when it came to her faith and going to church," Ms. O'Brien explained.

Two years ago, when she moved to the Capital District, she decided to pursue the pull she always felt towards Roman Catholicism. She began attending weekend Masses at the Cathedral with a friend and soon decided to pursue the RCIA program. Her friend's mother is now her sponsor.

"I've always been the type of person that just goes ahead and does what I feel I have to do," Ms. O'Brien said, noting that becoming a Catholic is part of that determination.

RCIA process

During Lent, RCIA programs in parishes throughout the Albany Diocese are drawing to a conclusion. For six or seven months before Easter each year, catechumens (those converting from non-Christian faiths or no faith) and candidates (those converting from other Christian denominations) study the Gospels, attend weekly liturgies and spend time learning about the Catholic faith.

The RCIA program, which generally begins each autumn, culminates at the Easter Vigil Mass, where catechumens and candidates are welcomed into full communion with the Catholic Church through the sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation.

This type of instruction is an ancient practice, dating from the first century of the Catholic Church. It was used by early Christians to teach their faith to those who wanted to join the Catholic community.

Old and new

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) was re-instituted in 1972.

"Most parishes in the Albany Diocese have RCIA programs," said Deacon Mike Melanson, a parishioner at Immaculate Conception in Glenville and head of the RCIA program there. "This period is a time of preparation, of studying and learning about the faith."

He noted that the length of instruction varies, depending upon how involved an individual has been, or not been, in a previous faith.

"Some people come to us with a lot of previous activity in another Christian faith," he said, "while others have had little or no experience at all."

Rite of Election

After months of preparation, catechumens and candidates attend the Rite of Election, usually held on the First Sunday of Lent and celebrated by the Bishop.

During the rite, the person's pastor, sponsor and catechists testify to the person's readiness to receive the sacraments. The "elect" then enter a period of purification and enlightenment, a time of preparation known as the "scrutinies."

Deacon Melanson explained that the "scrutinies" help everyone to deepen their conversion experience by asking God to guide them. The entire parish participates with the "elect" in this process at Mass on Sundays.

"Candidates and catechumens then become full Catholics when the sacraments are administered at the Easter Vigil Mass," he noted.

Family influence

Jane Skorko of Lake George, who attended the Rite of Election, said her decision to join the Catholic Church was directly related to her daughters.

"Being a mother did it for me," she said, referring to her attendance at liturgies for many years at Sacred Heart parish. "My husband was raised as a Catholic, but over the years sort of fell away from the Church. When our daughters were born, we decided that they were going to be raised as Catholics. We joined Sacred Heart, had the girls baptized and raised them in the Catholic faith. We've been attending Sacred Heart ever since."

'About time'

"When I was a child, my [Methodist] family would go to services on holidays, but that was about it," she said.

She grew up in a neighborhood that was primarily Catholic, had many Catholic friends and always agreed with Catholic viewpoints. She cited Catholicism's strong defense of human life and social activism as examples.

"At one point," she noted, "I just decided that 'we raised our girls Catholic, and I really agree with most of what the Church says.' I figured it was about time I became a Catholic."

(3/27/2003) [[In-content Ad]]