Catechumens continue preparation

Photos by Jane Winstead

Catechumens preparing for entering into the fullness of the Catholic Church are in the final preparations, which end with the celebration of the Sacrements of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.

Catechumens participate in the Rite of Elections

Photos by Jane Winstead

Catechumens preparing for entering into the fullness of the Catholic Church participated in the Rite of Elections Sunday during the 9:30 a.m. Mass. The Rite of Election closes thePeriod of the Catechumenate, during which the catechumens receive catechetical, ascetically and liturgical training. The Catechumens inscribed their names in the Book of the Elect to pledge their fidelity to the Church and their intention to join it. They now enter the final preparation, which end with the celebration of the Sacrements of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.

Heather Early becomes a Catholic

Photos by Jane Winstead

Father Tim blesses Heather Early during Confirmation Sunday.

Heather Early has been active in St. Raphael Catholic Church for the past seven years. On Sunday, February 27, she was formally received into the Catholic Church.

She was confirmed by Father Tim and received her first Holy Communion at 11:30 a.m. Mass.

She was supported in her faith formation by her husband, Mark, and her two daughters, Sarah, 5, and Kaitlyn, 4. Her sponsor was Barbara Alderfer.

In September, Heather made a Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) weekend, and with the encouragement of her husband and her CRHP “sisters” who made the weekend with her, she decided to make her commitment to the Catholic Church official.

Heather is on the team giving the next CHRP weekend, March 19-20, and is looking forward to sharing her new Catholic faith with those women who will attend.

Heather Early (center) pauses with her CRHP “sisters” to share the joy her Confirmation and First Holy Communion.

Catechumens receive a blessing

Photo by Jane Winstead

Catechumens at St. Raphael Catholic Church received a blessing from Father Dominic at the 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday. The catechumens are being instructed in Catholicism in Faith Formation classes. They are preparing for being received into the Catholic Church during a ceremony officiated by Bishop Robert Lynch at the Easter Vigil at St. Raphael.