More than 1,500 men, women and children were baptized at this year's Easter Vigil April 7, celebrated in parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, culminating faith journeys that took them through various phases of inquiry, reflection, study, discernment and, finally, full initiation into the Catholic Church.
Their Easter Vigil celebration capped an emotional week --- for them, their families, their sponsors and their parish communities including, of course, the initiation teams which guided them on their path to initiation. The process included rehearsals and practices just days before their initiation, like that held at American Martyrs Church in Manhattan Beach, on Wednesday evening of Holy Week, where 11 men and women to be baptized were joined by 27 more people seeking to complete their initiation by receiving the sacraments of confirmations and Eucharist.
The elect and candidates listened as pastor Msgr. John Barry read a prayer he had written to be used during the ritual of initiation.
"Tonight," he said, "our brothers and sisters stand before us as members of the elect or candidates for full initiation into the Roman Catholic Church. During the coming months we will celebrate this great gift in their and our lives. You, my brothers and sisters, have a special ministry in reflecting who we are as a waiting people - the church that is, and always is, becoming. You are here in communion with us. We affirm you and support you as you continue your journey. You will receive candles to remind you that, with us, you are people of light. You are united with all of God's people as we live out the gift of our faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen"
Among the new members of the church community are Bevan Bennett, Riah Rode, and brothers Anthony and Brian Wild from Our Lady of Lourdes (Northridge), American Martyrs (Manhattan Beach) and St. Dorothy (Glendora) Church, respectively. Their stories follow.
Riah Rode
American Martyrs Church, Manhattan Beach
Riah Rode remembers very well the day ten years ago that she and her husband David made the decision to attend American Martyrs Church. David had been raised with a taste of two religions: One of his parents was Catholic and the other was Baptist. Riah is an industrial engineer and David, baptized as a Catholic, works for Southern California Edison.
Born in Kuwait and raised as a Muslim, Riah and David made the decision to attend Catholic services when they were married. Their daughters were very young when they began to attend American Martyrs Church. Their oldest daughter now attends Marymount High School; their youngest attends American Martyrs School. Both girls have been baptized and received the sacraments at American Martyrs.
About a year ago Riah decided to join the RCIA. She says she has been attending church with her family for years, but something was always "missing." She would walk down the aisle and cross her arms, never able to receive Communion. She longed to receive the Eucharist and be fully a member of the church.
They met with Msgr. Barry, knew immediately that they were home. There are "so many similarities, it is unbelievable," says Riah, in assessing Islam and Catholicism. "We believe in so much that is the same for Muslims."
She acknowledges that there is much "misunderstanding out there" but that "Monsignor does [understand Islam]. He is fantastic. When we decided to attend here, he welcomed me to church. He seemed to know so much about my upbringing, and Islam, and when I got home I said, 'This is such an addition to all my beliefs. It fulfills them.'"
For Riah the most exciting part of becoming a Catholic is the ability to receive the Eucharist and the fact that she is now able to confirm her "beliefs that I have had and what I have known all along, and learning a lot of new things I didn't know."
Bevan Bennett
Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Northridge
Bevan Bennett, 36, is a manager for information technology and "makes computers talk to each other" at Fulcrum Microsystems in Calabasas. Engaged to Maribel Flores, Bevan was introduced to Catholicism when he first began to date her five years ago (they will be married October 20). "She's a wonderful woman," says Bevan, who says that after a year of the initiation process he is excited about becoming a Catholic, "Maribel is more excited about this than me."
Soon after he met Maribel (baptized and raised Catholic) they began to attend church together. Attending church with her, Bevan found "things I had been missing" and "they all seemed to be in place." Maribel never put pressure on him and "she'd be angry if she thought I was doing it for her." They both believe that "it has to come from itself" and Bevan believes that it is "God's will that I have been led to this."
Before he met Maribel, Bevan was searching and had been a minister in the Universal Life Church. "I've always felt religious, spiritual --- but I hadn't been exposed to Catholicism before." Twice he went to Easter services with his grandmother when he was young, but that was all. No one had ever explained Catholicism.
But, he said, going to Mass with Maribel and feeling "the spirit of community and attending classes answered my questions. I knew it was where I should be. It wasn't until attending Mass and RCIA that everything felt like it was right."
In his search for knowledge about faith, Bevan feels that Catholicism offers so much. "Penance is a big issue. I feel that I am sinful. As a moral person I would say I have lived a good life, but not a godly life. Now after attending classes I feel that I have been neglecting my godly life and I see now that I have a better way to understand God's will and understanding God's will I can better please Him. It's a poor way of putting it, but that is what it is. Pleasing Him is being a better person, serving my fellow man and worshiping Him."
"It's the first time I have felt completely comfortable in religion --- the first time that I have felt that things are right," continued Bevan. "Catholicism is more inclusive and all the answers I have make sense to me. I hadn't been touched by the spirit in that way before. I couldn't receive Communion, and I want to receive it."
Anthony and Brian Wild
St. Dorothy Church, Glendora
During their initiation process, Anthony and Brian Wild were asked to tell about their conversion experiences. Anthony, 16, attends Damien High School and Brian, 12, attends Foothill Christian School. Both boys were enrolled in RCIA and, as Anthony says, "I was raised in a Catholic family. I was brought up in a good house and with a family who raised me with Catholic values. We are Catholic, but I was never baptized and we didn't attend church often."
About two years ago Anthony and Brian's parents --- both "cradle Catholics" --- enrolled the boys in RCIA. "We thought it was about time I became a real Catholic," explains Anthony. "I soon was attending class and enjoying it. I knew what they were talking about because I had heard it all before through school. But now I felt as if I was a part of something. I believe that has helped me grow as a person and as a person of God."
On Holy Saturday Anthony and Brian were baptized, made their first Communion and Anthony was confirmed. "I'm very glad that I'm part of this wonderful community of people who love God," says Anthony. "I know this will further my faith and love for God. But more importantly it will help me to be a better person."
Both Anthony and Brian say that the sacrament of penance is something that really has made them happy. "Jesus loves us and is willing to forgive us, and give us second chances," says Anthony. Brian feels that knowing that "Jesus loves us so much and that we have so many opportunities, and that we can actually be forgiven" --- is a wonderful gift.
The brothers are glad that their parents decided to enroll them in RCIA, even if at first they may have had some doubts. As Anthony says, "It was something I wanted to do. Most of my family and friends are Catholic and it seemed like the right thing to do. I'm glad I did this."
Their mom Barbara attended the sessions with Brian and feels that she has benefited, too. She was baptized as a baby, and never had "the opportunity to understand the faith as well as I do now. I have learned a lot." |