Rite of Election ceremony celebrated at cathedral

Sunlight splashed through the stained-glass windows of St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge in a display of heavenly joy as 246 people preparing to enter the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil Mass on April 16 responded “Here I am” during Rite of Election on March 6.

During the ceremony, the unbaptized catechumens, now the “elect,” were called forth for the Rite of Election, in which the church, headed by Bishop Michael G. Duca, makes its “election” or choice and admission of the catechumens to take part in the next major celebration, the sacraments of initiation. The baptized candidates affirmed their commitment to their conversion through the church.

In his homily, Bishop Michael G. Duca referred to in the reading of that day from Eph 1:4-6, in which St. Paul wrote, “God chose us before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in his site to be full of love. He predestined us to be his adopted sons and daughters through Jesus Christ. Such was his will and pleasure that all may praise the divine favor he has bestowed on us in his beloved.”  

Bishop Duca noted that all were present at the Cathedral that day were  there through a journey of faith.

“We might go back in our minds to a point where it began, maybe through the example of a person, a difficult situation in our life which caused us to reach out to God in a new way that began to open us in faith that led us into the direction of the Catholic Church,” said the bishop.

“But that in fact was not the beginning of your call. For at the very moment of our creation we were called by God and called by name.”

He referred to another passage, 1Cor 13:12, in which St. Paul wrote, “Now we see darkly, as through a mirror, then we will see face to face.”

Bishop Duca noted that in St. Paul’s time, glass was not clear like it is today, but you had an image to know someone was there.

The bishop said in a “twist in terms of words” for him, the passage goes on to say that “we will be seen as we have seen and know as we have been known.”

The bishop highlighted the fact that God has known us from the moment he created us then and “we will see ourselves through the eyes of God.”

“And that will be the redemption in many ways, I think – to see an image of ourselves we dare not believe in now,” said the bishop.

And seeing the beauty and wonder of each one of us, we will come alive in Jesus Christ, he added.

Healed and renewed in Christ, after their entry into the Catholic Church the new Catholics will be sent forth as disciples to proclaim the good news to the world, the bishop pointed out. 

Following the celebration, the elect and candidates expressed their excitement about their upcoming entry into the church.

“Love brings me to the Catholic Church,” said candidate Kim Gatlin, who will enter the church at St. Joseph Church in Ponchatoula. Her parents, Dennis and Betty Gatlin, married 31 years ago at St. Martin of Tours Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland. 

Gatlin said witnessing her parents’ devoted love for each other and their faith moved her to come into full communion with the church.

“I look forward to receiving the Eucharist and begin God’s call for my life,” said Gatlin, who plans to be actively involved in church ministry.

Beverly Williston, one of the elect who will enter the church at St. John the Evangelist Church in Prairieville, said she has been interested in Catholic traditions her entire life.

“I like a lot of its history. As a little girl, my cousin was learning the rosary. I thought that was cool,” Williston said. 

Her cousin and sponsor John Forbes, a member of St. Joseph Church in French Settlement, beamed with pride and sheepishly said Williston reminded him about the early “rosary lessons.”

Although she was raised Mormon, Williston had many Catholic friends.

Her journey to the Catholic faith began following a divorce after 30 years of marriage.

“I thought my life was over,” Williston said. 

She spent a lot of time, fasting, praying and reading Scripture. 

In time, she “fell in love and got married” to a Catholic man.

When Williston’s good friend died of COVID-19, she attended her funeral Mass at St. Thomas More Church in Baton Rouge. She found it to be a beautiful experience.

Already attending Mass with her husband, Williston was “nudged” to start the RCIA process. 

She still prays and quietly reflects over Scriptures, but this time with exuberant joy as she anticipates “starting new” and entering the church.

“I’m excited because it feels right,” Williston said.