BRIDGPORT— “Bring the world to Jesus one person at a time,” Bishop Frank Caggiano told more than 250 children, teenagers and adults in the RCIA program, who recently celebrated the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion—a ceremony that began their final preparation toward full communion with the Catholic Church.
St. Theresa Church in Trumbull was filled to capacity with catechumens coming into the Church and candidates completing their sacraments, along with their sponsors, family members and friends who gathered on the first Sunday of Lent to be received by the Bishop and the community.
“Bring the world to Jesus one person at a time—that is your Easter homework,” he told them.
Some had already begun the assignment. Michael Wellington, Youth Director of St. John Church in Darien, brought 11-year-old Isaac Morales, whom he had prepared to receive the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil Liturgy. Isaac, a student at Ponus Ridge Middle School in Norwalk, was accompanied by his parents Elizabeth and Edwin. “I wanted to get baptized so I can be closer to God and get into the Church,” he said, smiling.
Diane Kingsley of St. Margaret Mary Church in Shelton is sponsoring Anila Drici from Albania, the sixth member of her family to go through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults program. Anila grew up with no faith in a Communist country where Christianity was not allowed. She came to America two years ago and her daughter started taking her to church and she loved it. Her brother introduced her to Deacon Jeff Kingsley and his wife Diane.
Rite of Election at St. Theresa, Trumbull
Photos by Amy Mortensen
“I’m so happy to become a Catholic,” she said, “When I was growing up in Albania, there was no faith, no Church, nothing. Now, my faith in God is so important to me. I am so thankful and want to grow in my faith.”
When Anila is baptized, it will mark the 18th time Diane has been a sponsor, nine times through the RCIA program.
“Initiation is another step deeper into discipleship,” the Bishop said. “The journey doesn’t end there. It continues because you are called into full communion with the Church so that you can continue to grow in holiness. Your vocation is to become a saint in this life and in the life to come … And to achieve our true destiny, which is Heaven.”
“We live in a world that wants you to be comfortable, a world that wants you to only worry about yourself, a world that says it is only about me,” Bishop Caggiano told the group. “We come here to tell the world that it is wrong. And that a person who truly wishes to find himself or herself will never be afraid to go into the desert…There we find Christ, and in finding Christ, we have found everything we need.”
The Rite of Election, which is traditionally held on the first Sunday of Lent, marks the end of the formation period of study and prayer and the beginning of the final preparation for the Sacraments of Initiation at Easter — Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation.
During the service, catechumens (those who haven’t been baptized yet) and candidates (those who have been baptized but want to receive Eucharist and Confirmation) came forward to the altar to be personally greeted by Bishop Caggiano, who told them, “I will be praying for you.”
Rose Talbot-Babey, Coordinator of Family Faith Formation for the diocese, said they then sign the “Book of Election” to signify their desire to receive the sacraments and be received into full communion with the Church.
Deacon Jeff Kingsley, who served as master of ceremonies, has been an RCIA coordinator since 2006, starting at St. Joseph Church in Shelton and currently at St. Margaret Mary. He and his wife Diane lead RCIA classes together.
“We share our life experiences with them and teach them about the Catholic faith,” Diane said. “They see us practicing our faith, and they’re attracted to that excitement and the love of God in us.”
Deacon Jeff points out that RCIA is a formation program, and not just educational instruction.
“You want them to embrace Catholicism as a way of life,” he said. “You have to teach them to pray and about the sacraments and the Church. You also have to share your faith. Our faith is really a relationship, and people have to grow in developing that relationship.”
Deacon Jeff often refers to the program as “RCIF”—“Rite of Christian Initiation for Families”—and stresses the importance of other family members participating in the formation process along with the catechumens so they can learn and grow together.
The first step in the RCIA program involves a reflective period of inquiry, when a person inspired by the Holy Spirit expresses interest in becoming a Catholic. This is followed by the rite of initiation when a new member is accepted into the worshipping community. Next, there is a period of learning and formation, sharing and prayer called the Catechumenate, which typically lasts from the First Sunday in Advent to the First Sunday in Lent. During Lent, members are urged to increase their prayer and get closer to God. At the Easter Vigil, they receive the sacraments and are fully welcomed into the community of believers. This is followed by “Mystagogy,” a time to further explore the mysteries of the faith and go forth to build the kingdom of God on Earth.
As Bishop Caggiano told the group, their mission is “to truly become Christ’s mirror in the world.”
CANDIDATES
Church of the Assumption Parish, Westport
Tucker Goodrich
Our Lady of Grace Parish, Stratford
Robert Booska, Sr.
Cassandra L. Dunford
Sean Murphy
Stephanie Portillo
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Danbury
Daniel Aristizabal
Fanny Delgado
Angel Diaz
Maritza Fuentes
Gabriel Garcia
Ivan Hernandez
Edvin Jimenez
German Marrero
Sandra Martinez
Rubelsy Mazariegos
Ruby Medina
Jimmy Redrovan
Diana Torres
Teofilo Aybar
John Lopez
Rosanna Castilla
Andrew Wilkinson
Sacred Heart Parish, Stamford
Raldhy DelPozo
Indrid Espinal
Merlin Lima
Jesus Lima
Rosangel Medina
Freddy Orellana
Douglas Sandoval
Mildred Sandoval
Mercedes Batista
Ifravlio Carias
Saint James Parish, Stratford
Iraida Garcia
Matthew Harrigan
Stanley Bator
Bryan Hussey
Saint John Parish, Darien
F. Scott Tuck
Saint Joseph Parish, Brookfield
Sean Gage
Alicia Nilson
Greg Nilson
Saint Joseph Parish, Shelton
Janelle Beardsley
Lina Kosko
Pauline Matinano
Deepthi Prakash
Jocelin Maria Miranda
GianCarlos Diaz
Katherine Freire
Oscar Freire
Stephanie Martinez
Steven Martinez
Saint Jude Parish, Monroe
Ronald Moore
Saint Ladislaus Parish, Norwalk
Hector Lazaro
Clara Quiche
Erwin Ramipula
Jenny Dominguez
Elizabeth Sosa
Marco Salinas
Jose Contreras
Melissa Contreras
Jennifer Garcia
Brian Garcia
Saint Mary Parish, Bethel
Britney Seifrit
Alec Slater
Michael Joseph Oldham
Gianella Perez
Juliana Oyala
Nicholas Joseph Mahoney
Saint Mary Parish, Bridgeport
Roxana L. Aguilar
Aalishya Barreto
Saul Barreto
Suriel Herrera-Bustos
Jaimie K. Jara
Jessica I. Jara
Wendy Luna
Jhonathan Mazo
Patricia Morales
Jesus Nunez
Angel L. Sanchez
Sergio Vega
Saint Mary Parish, Norwalk
Ava Wilson
Lesly Ashley Muralles
Jack Edward Stewart
Manuel DeJesus
William Sequeira, Jr.
Neri Garcia
Ruben Corte
Lucila Paredes
Sacred Heart University, Fairfield
Michelle Barrett
Bryan Brown
Andre Buiati
Sinead Carty
Caroline Joy
James Kearns
Dayne Kepler
Kathymarie Mithcell
Allison Muccioli
Nancirose Piazza
Pattiann Piazza
Ava Prospero
Shannon Torres
Lauren Vigorito
Saint Aloysius Parish, New Canaan
Randy Culbertson
Jacqueline Russo
Corey Wieczorek
Saint Ann Parish, Bridgeport
Nashanda Alicea
Lorenzo Beristain
James Baker
Craig Van Steenbergen
Saint Charles Borromeo Parish, Bridgeport
Alicia Aca
Lauren Obando
David Aguyza
Patricia Rackiewicz
Ambrosia Alejo
Mario Sequeiro
Jissel Amaro
Jairo Tepox
Virya Badillo
Julio Benitez
Widinson Cabrera
Michael Gutman
Cindy Hernandez
Carla Hyaman
Freyling Laguna
Julio E. Laguna
Kimberly Novoa
Adrian Lucero
Fabian Cardeno
Andres Milan
Mercedes Zamora
Luis Lucero
Dolores Aguirre
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish, Shelton
Monica LaPlante
Alexandra Capalbo
Saint Mark Parish, Stratford
James Kelley
Scott Clough
Jennifer Trahan
Saint Mary of Stamford/St. Benedict/Our Lady of Montserrat Parish, Stamford
Stephanie Arias
Clelia Vicharra
Erika Arias
Anna Bissy
Murillo Rosa
Elena Alvarado
Raul Estuardo Barrera
Jenny Bermeo
Erika Bermeo
Maynor Cabrera
Venedo Carrera
Lubia L. Cruz
Juan Angel Colina
Maria C. Diaz
Wendy Diaz
Silvano De La Cruz
Marcela Garcia
Ludy Garza
Alvaro Godoy
Danilo Alberto Lima
Lina Lopez
Marco Morataya
Maria Camila Norena
Maynor Estuardo Perez
Francisca Santander
Charly Talledo
Santos Vasquez
Antonio J. Villanueva
Saint Mary Parish, Ridgefield
Rich Huckstadt
Emeka Efide
Saint Matthew Parish, Norwalk
Tracy Moon
Anna Lea Seuch
Heather Rousseau
David Lane
Saint Michael the Archangel Parish, Bridgeport
Alan Bierwirth
Saint Philip Parish, Norwalk
William DiPasquale
Laurie Gotch
Saint Rose of Lima Parish, Newtown
Leigh Crutchfield
Robert Mauri
Alexandra Pisco
Gina Quinn
Saint Theresa Parish, Trumbull
Dennis McCoy
Dessysliva Leintz
Ryan James Daddana
Russ Palucci
Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish, Norwalk
Nicola Citri
Caterina Citri
Michael Sornatale
Leonardo Atemiz
CATECHUMENS
Our Lady of Grace Parish, Stratford
Luis Bernard Negron
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Danbury
Jacob Diaz
Sauris Guzman
Ana Chacon
David Canor
Alicia Delgado
Eloisa Delgado
Sacred Heart Parish, Stamford
Eva Linares
Dominga Carolin Ortiz
Patrocinio Munoz
Saint Ann Parish, Bridgeport
Lizette Chamine
Krystal Flores
Saint Charles Borromeo Parish, Bridgeport
Marco A. Benitez
Eliu Garcia
Suresh Harrichan
Saint John Parish, Darien
Issac G. Morales
Saint Joseph Parish, Brookfield
Dara Case
Saint Joseph Parish, Shelton
Pedro Hernandez
Nhi Tran
Saint Philip Parish, Norwalk
Clay Kinley
Penelope Quirino
Saint Rose of Lima Parish, Newtown
Gregg Bjork
Michael Stutman
Saint Ladislaus Parish, Norwalk
Adis Garcia
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish
Anila Drigi
Saint Margaret Shrine, Bridgeport
Larry Alfaro
Rachel Collins
Saint Mark Parish, Stratford
Maria Harbhajan
Saint Mary of Stamford-St. Benedict/Our Lady of Montserrat Parish, Stamford
Marcos Moratalla
Agara Orbegoso
Osman A. Lopez
Omaira Paz
Carlos Rivera
Joel Rivera
Jandel Patto
Howard Peyes
Daniel Espinoza
Kiara Rodriguez
Alex Veloz
Nathalia Veloz
Saint Mary Parish, Bridgeport
Luis F. Hernandez
Christian Olivo
Saint Mary Parish, Norwalk
Stanley Chan
Maria Carvente
Saint Mary Parish, Ridgefield
Matthew Finerty
Saint Peter Church, Bridgeport
Gabriela Vargas
