My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

On the first Sunday of Lent, the Church around the world celebrates the Rite of Election in which catechumens to be baptized at the Easter Vigil are accepted officially for the Sacraments of Initiation.  At the same time, candidates, those who have been baptized but are completing the Sacraments of Initiation, are also included in this Rite of Election.  I believe it is one of the most festive days we celebrate in the Diocese of Brooklyn. 

A total of 898 catechumens and candidates will be present at Christ the King High School in Middle Village for this year’s Rite of Election, which will take place in two sessions, given the great number of attendees, which includes sponsors, families and friends.  There will be 391 catechumens to be baptized and 507 candidates who will complete the Sacraments of Initiation.

What makes this day so wonderful is that it is a sign of growth in the Church.  This year, 126 parishes are represented.  We are still shy close to 100 parishes, which means that either they are not participating in the diocesan process, as they should, or they have no catechumens or candidates to be represented at the Easter Vigil. 

The Easter Vigil is the barometer that measures the life of the Church, because when the Church cannot replenish itself, especially with adults, we recognize that there is something missing in our life as a Church, as a parish and as a Diocese.  Although our numbers are great in comparison to other dioceses, we still have a long way to go to meet the average number of catechumens and candidates for larger dioceses that would indicate we are healthy and continuing the mission of the New Evangelization.

The New Evangelization, as I have said many times, includes not only the pastoral care of those already baptized, and in this case those who have not completed the Sacraments of Initiation, but also the outreach to those who have never been baptized, those who in some ways have never been offered the waters of Baptism.  We must continually see ourselves as a missionary Church, reaching out to all pastorally with a sense of mission and conversion.  The New Evangelization will never take place unless each one of us takes personally our own need for constant conversion.  Although we have all been baptized and participate in the Sacraments of the Church, a constant renewal is the only source of vital energy that will help us to continue as a vibrant Diocese.

A further analysis regarding the Rite of Christian Initiation tells us that almost half the catechumens and candidates are from Hispanic origins, and many from the Haitian community.  It certainly does reflect the life of our Diocese.  This year representatives from the Korean community of our Diocese will participate in the Rite of Election.  They are one of the most vibrant and evangelizing language groups we have in the Diocese.  There is always room for improvement, and the new Rite of Christian Initiation offers us that opportunity.

We should take this opportunity to thank the many volunteers and professional pastoral workers who make the process of catechesis, which accompanies the liturgical rites of the RCIA, so wonderful.  The faith, besides being taught, must also be caught by the witness of those who firmly believe.  The many dedicated catechists, religious educators and others who make this process possible truly should be complimented.  Particularly, I wish to thank Father Bryan Patterson, director of our Faith Formation Office, and Sister Alice Michael, S.U.S.C., for their particular attention to this important process of Christian formation.

As a Diocese, our interaction with the catechumens and candidates will continue during the Lenten season. We will remember them in our prayers. We will accompany them during the liturgical rites on the various Sundays during Lent.  Finally, we will pray for them in earnest at the Easter Vigil.  Many of us will witness their Baptism, Confirmation and First Eucharist, a sign of new life that we need as Catholics. 

The progress of our brothers and sisters in the new Rite of Christian Initiation certainly mirrors the effort of “putting out into the deep.”  They have taken up a challenge in their lives. They have gone where perhaps they could not go. They have come to make a firm commitment to Jesus Christ by accepting Baptism and continuing their lives as full members of the Catholic Church.  We congratulate them and those who have assisted them. May we continue to grow as a missionary Church here in Brooklyn and Queens.

                                          

                                                                * * * * *