By Jessica Able, Record Staff Writer
Daniel Guzmana 14-year-old, said his desire to be closer to God led to his decision to enter the Catholic Church.
“I want to leave all the bad things I’ve done and be better. I want to help the church and to defend the faith,” Guzman said. “I want to share what I believe in and follow a good path and to be a better person in life.”
Guzman was one of the 447 individuals who were recognized at the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion ceremonies held Feb. 17 at St. Peter the Apostle Church and Feb. 18 at the Cathedral of the Assumption.
During these ceremonies — held the first weekend of Lent — the church formally welcomes catechumens and candidates who have been preparing to enter the church through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). Catechumens have never been baptized. Candidates have been baptized in another Christian tradition.
These men, women and children from 57 parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Louisville will enter the church at the Easter Vigil on March 31 or during other liturgies this year.
During the ceremonies, the 200 catechumens signed their names to the Book of the Elect — which was presented to Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz at the Rite of Election — stating they wish to enter the Catholic church through the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and Eucharist.
The 247 candidates will enter the church through the sacraments of confirmation and Eucharist.
Both ceremonies were celebrated by Archbishop Kurtz. Assisting him was Deacon Aurelio Puga of St. Rita Church, who translated parts of the celebrations for Spanish-speakers.
Guzman, a catechumen who will be baptized this Easter, attends St. Bartholomew Church. There are nine catechumens and six candidates preparing to enter the church at St. Bartholomew, said Deacon Frank Villalobos, a permanent deacon at the parish.
During his homily, Archbishop Kurtz addressed the catechumens and candidates and told them “we accompany and welcome you.”
“You who are being received into the church, you are saying something. … Jesus Christ never forces himself on anyone. He always waits to be invited. He always waits for a personal invitation,” he said.
The church is a family of families, Archbishop Kurtz said. Coming into the church is “going to make you stronger in your commitment to your family.”
“We take each other for granted. So today you are going to be more committed to family. This is part of the gift of our faith. Knowing that Jesus is the vine and we are the branches,” he said.
The archbishop urged those gathered to use the season of Lent for repentance.
“Use it also for the fish fries,” he said, drawing a chuckle from the crowd.
On a more serious note, he said, Lent is about coming back to the Lord, purifying our lives and becoming all the things God wants us to be.
The archbishop also made note of the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., which occurred Feb. 14, Ash Wednesday, and said it “makes us join our hearts and mind to the families who grieve and suffer.
“It also makes us aware how precious the gift of life is and so we pray in gratitude for our families and those who walk with us in this world,” he said.
