Who Is Becoming Catholic at St. Margaret’s?
Formation
Coordinator
~ Since September, the Becoming Catholic team has been meeting each Sunday with individuals who are discerning a call to the Catholic faith. Over the past several months, a vibrant and faith-filled community has formed. Our group has been blessed by many parishioners who have joined us to share their knowledge, experiences, and witness of faith.
This Easter, we are excited to welcome four people into the Church in different ways. Our Elect, Lexie, will receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation at the Easter Vigil. Our candidates—Andy, Sam, and Matt—will enter fully into the Catholic Church through the Sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation.
As they enter the final stage of their preparation, these individuals are participating in several important rites and moments of prayer during Lent. Just as the Lenten season invites all Catholics to reflect, repent, and grow closer to God, the rites of the Becoming Catholic process help our seekers examine their lives, listen more deeply for God’s call, and prepare their hearts to receive the fullness of God’s grace at Easter.
Unlike the more private spiritual practices most of us experience during Lent, these candidates and catechumen participate in this reflection during several public rites throughout the season. Because these rites occur at different Masses—and some have taken place at the Cathedral—you may not realize that they attend and participate in rites almost every weekend of Lent. At the end of Lent, they will make a day-long retreat during Palm Sunday weekend.
Additionally, our seekers have chosen to gather once a week throughout Lent – outside of their regular sessions – simply to pray together. During these gatherings, they are exploring different forms of prayer as they grow in a personal relationship with God.
Faith journeys do not always follow a set timeline, and our Becoming Catholic community includes not only those preparing to receive Sacraments this Easter, but also others who continue to learn, pray, and discern their path toward the Catholic Church. They, too, are attending most of these activities throughout Lent to support these four individuals as they prepare for Easter.
As you can see, the Lenten journey of this community is not light. Please keep Lexie, Andy, Matt, and Sam, along with the rest of our seekers, in your prayers during this Lenten season. As you make your own sacrifices to prepare for Easter, remember the work they are doing and pray that they may arrive at the Easter Vigil ready to embrace our faith with joyful and open hearts.
Throughout the year, we present an article in the bulletin each week on a variety of topics, written by a member of our Parish staff or ministries on a rotating basis.
