What draws new Catholics?

For insights, The Evangelist asked Elizabeth Simcoe, head of the diocesan Prayer and Worship Office. She has worked with Catholics-to-be at St. John/St. Ann's parish in Albany and Christ Sun of Justice in Troy as they went through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) on their way to joining the Church.

Joining

"People talk about always having been associated with the Catholic Church in some way," explained Ms. Simcoe. "Their friends growing up were Catholics, or they would read books like [those by spiritual writer] Thomas Merton, and at some point the call would get strong" to become Catholic themselves.

One man Ms. Simcoe helped through the RCIA process had married a Catholic and raised a child in the Catholic faith, but never considered converting himself until his 20th wedding anniversary: He and his wife wanted to celebrate with the Eucharist, and he decided he wanted to receive Communion.

Examples

Another major factor that specifically attracts people to Catholicism, she said, is "our celebration of ritual. I met a man years ago who was coming into the Church from the Baptist church. He said, `The Baptist church is a church of the word, but the Catholic Church is a Church of word and sacrament -- and I want it all.'"

Active parishes also attract non-Catholics, the director said: "They find a community they feel welcome in, [with] opportunities for people to participate."

Process

Those taking part leave during Mass each weekend to "break open the Word," exploring Scripture with the RCIA team. Ms. Simcoe noted that while converts to Catholicism tend to remain active in the Church, "there is some dropoff" after they complete the process -- "like a marriage going from those big, exciting honeymoon years to living it out day by day."

In addition, she said, "people have told me they miss that sense of small community" that results from intensive studying with fellow catechumens and candidates. But Ms. Simcoe also stated that it would be difficult to maintain that level of intensity continually: "You can't always have the mountaintop experience."

Parish affected

"We do take for granted the opportunity to practice our faith," she remarked. "It's sort of like the water that's always coming out of the tap to drink -- in other parts of the world, religious expression is a precious commodity."

Parishes can help new Catholics remain active by inviting them to participate in parish ministries. Converts to Catholicism, said Ms. Simcoe, sometimes make the most dedicated Catholics.

Who, me?

In the end, Ms. Simcoe said, the woman was baptized and received her First Communion. She served on an RCIA team and is now in graduate school -- studying theology.

The director said that spiritual thirst is like physical thirst: "Think about how thirsty you are -- when you get a glass of water, what is your appreciation of that water?"

(04-19-01) [[In-content Ad]]