Pastor's Corner

Catholic parishes welcome new members into the Catholic Church through a process of education, faith sharing, and rituals knows as the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults and a similar process for children past the Catechetical age of 7+. This process includes several stages marked by prayer, study, and discussion. Included in the process are several Rites, which take place within the context of the Mass, the majority of which are done during the Lenten season. The U.S. Bishops describe the OCIA as a process in which participants "undergo...conversion as they study the Gospel, profess faith in Jesus and the Catholic Church, and receive the sacraments...it follows the ancient practice of the Church and was restored by the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s as the normal way adults prepare for baptism." 

The OCIA is structured over a series of ceremonial steps and periods of learning, and the timing of these may vary for each individual. One may take as much time as he or she needs in the initiation process before becoming ready for full initiation through the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist. Initiation within the Church is a journey of conversion that is gradual and ongoing and suited to individual needs. This is the case especially with children. 

At Nativity, the process generally begins in August and can be applied to the following groups: The unbaptized, those over the age of discretion (7+), those baptized in another Christian Church, and baptized but uncatechized Catholics (e.g., never received First Communion or Confirmation). 

At this point in the process, we have passed from the period of Evangelization and Precatechumenate and celebrated the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens this past December. Last weekend we concluded the period of Catechumenate as we celebrate the Rite of Sending them to the Rite of Election which was celebrated with Archbishop McKnight.   

Now, we are in the period of purification and Enlightenment; a time of reflection, prayer and spiritual direction and final learning. During this time, the elect and the candidates enter into a period of intense spiritual preparation and prayer which includes the three public scrutinies at Mass in the weeks ahead. It is strongly encouraged that our entire parish community pray for all those involved in this process that they may overcome sin so as to receive the Sacramental graces that await them at Easter. 

The pinnacle of the journey is the celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil Saturday, April 4. This is the biggest and most important celebration of the Church year, thus more reason to keep in our prayers all those who will be receiving those sacramental graces that night. 

We are in the process of moving along with the Church in the United States to a year-round formation for adults seeking to become Catholic. At every moment God is calling people to be open to the Spirits call to become Catholic and we will soon be able to respond in a very personal way in line with each person’s personal needs. Let us pray for all of those discerning in the ministry of the OCIA. 

 

God bless, 

Fr. Jerry

Sunday Mass is the greatest miracle in the world: the Eucharist. God speaks through the Scriptures. The Church offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving. The Holy Spirit transforms bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. The faithful share Holy Communion with one another and God, and then go nourished into the world to preach and live the demands of the Gospel. God speaks and does something miraculous, and the people respond and receive personally through their unity in the communal prayer which is the Mass. 

In my thirty-three years as a priest, I have celebrated Mass thousands of times. And even though it has become a very familiar part of my routine, sometimes in presiding at Mass, new insights, or at least important reminders, come to me. 

That has happened recently as I’ve become more aware of the fact that every time I hold the host and say, “This is my body” and hold the chalice and say “This is the chalice of my blood,” I am united in a very real way to every other priest of the Archdiocese who has said or will say those same words the same day. I am comforted by that insight. 

The reality of Eucharistic unity goes beyond the priests of our Archdiocese, however. I’ve come to recognize that when I celebrate Mass and receive Holy Communion, I am spiritually united with all of the Catholics of our Archdiocese and with Catholics all over the world who hear those words of consecration. It’s unites me with my parents, who I pray are enjoying the heavenly banquet and all of the saints in heaven. 

But what is true for me in the Holy Eucharist is true for you as well. Eucharistic unity is a unity of faith; it is also a unity of charity and human affection. Receiving Holy Communion unites you to Jesus, to be sure. But it also unites you to your fellow parishioners, members of our Archdiocese, and Catholics all over the world who are receiving Holy Communion that day. The Eucharist calls you to be aware of and to share in the hopes and dreams, the joys and sorrows, the blessings and the challenges of Christians everywhere. It should remind all of you that the Mass is a communal prayer and not a time for personal forms of piety that can disrupt or portray dis-unity. The rubrics and guidelines of the USCCB and the General Instruction of the Roman Missal are meant to bring about unity as we should be reminded to be in communion with one another in our communal prayer of the Mass. You can hear a little more about the importance of our communal participation in the Eucharist at one of our Liturgical Ministry Renewal Sessions this next week. Please come! 

Eucharistic unity transcends time. The Holy Mass unites you to all of the saints who have gone before you and have done what you are doing. In receiving Holy Communion, you are “coheirs to eternal life with those who have pleased the Lord throughout the ages.” (2nd Eucharistic Prayer) 

The concept of Eucharistic unity is certainly not new. St. Augustine put it this way: “When you hear the words ‘the Body of Christ’ and respond, ‘Amen,’ be then a member of the Body of Christ so that your ‘Amen’ may be true!”

Something to think about: The next time you receive Holy Communion, try to be attuned to all other members of the Church, in our parish, and around the world, who are receiving Holy Communion that day. It is not a time for you to separate yourself physically, emotionally, or spiritually, but a time to be in communion – in union with the Church. 

God Bless, 

Fr. Jerry