Florida Catholic | 2008 Rite Of Election

Record number becoming Catholic this Easter

LAURA DODSON | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Published: 02.22.08

Bishop Thomas Wenski displays a book of signatures of the elect during the Rite of Election at the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe Feb. 10.
VALETA ORLANDO | FC

ORLANDO | The 2008 rite of election became an earmark day of this Year of Evangelization designated by the diocese. Sixty-five parishes and a mission presented 569 catechumens, the largest number seeking to enroll their names in the Book of the Elect — declaring their intention to be initiated into the Catholic Church at Easter time — in the 40-year history of the Diocese of Orlando. The National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe in Orlando teemed with the kaleidoscopic diversity of humanity Feb. 10.

A few days prior to the event, based on the names received by the diocesan Office of Liturgy, only 547 catechumens were anticipated.

Tai Nguyen of St. Joseph Parish in Winter Haven said, “I’m kind of nervous. This is the first time I’ve been in a big thing like this. There are so many people and they’re all different. It’s really, really special.”

The “big thing” Nguyen was referring to was the rite of election, a significant step in the Christian Initiation of Adults in which the catechumens are ratified as prepared and willing, and are declared by Bishop Thomas Wenski “to be members of the elect to be initiated into the sacred mysteries at the next Easter Vigil.”

Jorge Antonio Contreras from St. Ann Parish in Haines City explained his journey: “It started with friends, then the church, then the community and then the rest of the world started to jump in. I discovered a lot of my co-workers are Catholic. No matter what, I’m not going to be left in the dark after this.”

The Scripture readings were proclaimed in English, Spanish and Vietnamese, and songs were multilingual as well. In his homily, Bishop Wenski intoned the words of the familiar spiritual, “Oh, when the saints go marching in, I want to be in that number, when the saints go marching in” and explained that once the catechumens had signed their names, they would be counted in that number as “saints, holy ones, friends of God.”

“To accept this gift of friendship with God implies a ‘yes’ to friend and a ‘no’ to all that is incompatible with friend,” Bishop Wenski stated, “It means a turning to the Lord and from sin. Conversion is our life’s work. Our earthly pilgrimage must be a continuous turning to the Lord and continuous turning from sin.”

Lynelle Olson of St. Joseph Parish in Lakeland had expressed similar sentiments in an interview prior to the liturgy, indicating just how truly ready she is. She credited the faith of extended family with bringing her to this place. “It is with great anticipation that I am looking forward to the Easter Vigil where I will receive the sacraments of initiation and can then call myself a Catholic and continue living a life of conversion; the life I now realize is the life of my dear aunt and grandmother.”

The applause was thunderous as Bishop Wenski, flanked by deacons in the side aisles, presented the signed Books of the Elect to the gathered community and then declared the catechumens to be members of the elect. “My dear elect, God is always faithful to those he calls. Together we will come to share the joys of Easter.”

Matthew Dackers, 17, of Our Lady of the Lakes Parish in Deltona, lingered by the newly installed bronze statue of St. Peter. A deacon had told him that it was tradition to rub St. Peter’s feet. “I rubbed his feet and said a prayer for me to live a better life after I’ve been reborn in Christ and I prayed for everyone who is Catholic,” he said.

Nearby, Tiffany Duarte, 10, from St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Apopka, bubbling with excitement told the Florida Catholic, “I feel good. I feel wonderful. I feel open — open to the doors of God.”

Music and the Liturgy

Although the music for many of ceremonies and rites of the Catholic Church are standard, the events are made distinct by the people.

William Glenn Osborne, diocesan director of music, is particularly impressed with the multicultural element of the Diocese of Orlando. As a person whose focus is sound, the diversity of the people celebrating the rite of election Feb. 10 was especially moving for him.

A representative from each parish proclaimed the names of the catechumens and for several there were many different ethnicities and cultures. “It was clear that the person reading the names had to know the people,” Osborne marveled. “The names were pronounced clearly, correctly and with love.”

Osborne said he looks forward to interacting with the different groups and parishes in the diocese “to help them provide wonderful music for the liturgies.” He reflected on the recent dedication of St. Philip Phan Van Minh Parish in Orlando, “I was very touched by the liturgical dance, which was very beautiful, and seeing how it fit into the liturgy.

“Music gives expression of faith more moving than words alone can,” he said “Words just aren’t enough. It’s too deep for words. Music can reflect upon the text and make it more memorable.”

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Record number becoming Catholic this Easter

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