Becoming Catholic Ministry Joyfully Anticipates Easter Vigil: A Journey of Faith Coming to Fruition

The beauty of the Easter Vigil is unmatched by any other Mass during the liturgical year. This liturgy celebrates the culmination of Christ’s Paschal Mystery after the 40 long days of Lent. In addition, in parishes all across the world, we welcome new Catholics into the Church.

Here at Holy Family Cathedral, the Easter Vigil will be the culmination of many months of preparation by our candidates and catechumens through a program called Becoming Catholic. Our Becoming Catholic participants are a diverse group of people that come together weekly on Sunday mornings for formation to guide their journey towards Catholicism. This year, the class consists of individuals who have never been baptized, those converting from other Christian denominations, and also a few Catholics who were baptized but never confirmed.

“Everyone who is in the formation class has a unique journey and they are starting at different places,” says Fr. Kastl, Rector of Holy Family Cathedral. “The cadence and sequencing of the classes intentionally brings people into the story of salvation and leads them to practical ways in which we are called to live our Catholic faith. All along the way, we put a great emphasis on the formation of the mind and heart so that when our brothers and sisters make their profession of faith, they know fully what they are saying ‘yes’ to.”

These Sunday morning classes are always open to anyone in the parish who wants faith enrichment. Jeri Potter continues to coordinate the program and catechists are made up of our parish clergy and other laypersons trained in philosophy and theology. Attending these classes is not only a great way for Catholics and non-Catholics to grow in their understanding of the faith, but it is also a great way to show support to those who are venturing into the Church. It can sometimes be a scary journey for people to show up in a community where they know nobody, so having other members of the community present makes for a more enriching experience.

“Becoming Catholic at Holy Family Cathedral has been a remarkably informative and welcoming space in my search to know more about Catholicism and find my way in my faith,” says Joe Lyons, current participant. “The clergy and staff are so gracious and helpful, and one really gets the sense that their personal journey is uniquely important. It has been really enjoyable and affirming to hear the thoughts and questions of fellow inquirers, as they often ask questions I might have been too afraid to ask or never knew I needed the answer to. I look forward to the meetings all week!”

As we draw closer towards welcoming between 35 and 40 new Catholics to our parish community this Easter Vigil, Fr. Kastl encourages all in our community to pray for those anticipating the sacraments now and in the future.

“There are thousands of people in the world that are waiting to be asked to become Catholic,” Fr. Kastl says. “By virtue of our Baptism, all of us are called to take the hands of our neighbors, friends, and family members and invite them to come and see. Although this class is coming to an end, now is the time to start cultivating the relationships with those that you can invite on this journey next year. Be willing to make the commitment to join them in the journey and then savor the sweetness of the sacramental grace they will receive at Easter and throughout the rest of their lives.”