Right now this page will be a bit out of order, as I am posting the notes from my journal about the awesome day of my Rite of Election into the Catholic church as well as the Easter Vigil of 2003 and my Baptism, Conformation and First Communion, however this leaves out a considerable portion of this journey. As Time permits I will try to 'fill in the blanks'.
First was Mass @ Immaculate Conception....a 'sending forth' {to the Bishop}....Nadine, my co-worker {@ the hospital} & sponsor came to meet me for Mass....we had, along with the two candidates reserved seats @ the front of the church..
What awesome readings today!!!! After the Homily, Marj.. the RCIA rep @ IC, called Nadine & I up... Father asked the questions re my preparedness to be presented to the Bishop...I was pretty shaky, but Nadine had her hand on my shoulder... she knew I was shaking.. but I managed to keep the tears @ bay til near the end....
Then.. the communion Hymn right after we went back to the pew.. .was On Eagles' Wings.. then.. I 'lost it'. luckily... Nadine had kleenex......What an awesome mass.. please know. .the tears were not sad tears.. just a sense of overwhelming....
Then came the actual sending forth.. I went right in front of Father on the way out.....
I had to go right from there to get Marcy to got to La Crosse for the Right of Election w/ the Bishop.. a 2 hour drive from here. Forgot maps.... got lost in La Crosse, but luckily were there in time to find our way...
As an 'aside note', Spirit was in the van all day, so that I could give her food & meds when we got to La Crosse. She did great.
Sister JoAnn had had a meeting in another town on the way to La Crosse, so got there late.. but in plenty of time.. .I guess, I was actually supposed to have signed the 'Book of Life' {also called 'Rite of Election', I think} back @ IC, but since that had not been done.. I did it there before the Ceremony began. I was a bit shaky but 'holding up' ok...
This is just such an incredible awesome experience!!! The Mass began pretty much the way I am familiar with.. .thru the Bishop's Homily... Then the RCIA reps, or the Priest called the catechumens forward to meet the Bishop. I must have been about 4th or 6th in line...Sister called me up, & Marcy followed....we climbed the steps together & came toward Sister... & waited in line as the Bishop signed each book ,& shook hands with each catechumen & sponsor....then we had to form a line again & the Bishop began to question our Godparents {& of course Sister JoAnn} re our readiness to continue... in the process I was getting more shaky & Marcy put her hand on my back, to help stabilize me... while we were waiting.. across from where we stood was A stained glass window.. the Writing on the window was... 'And All Things Are Made New'!.. then I started to cry a bit.. & then I read the window just below.. said 'Your Sins Are Forgiven'!!!
Sister opened up the book for me to see again.....I really couldn't keep back the tears then...
The Bishop then asked of the God Parents & sisters & Priests.. re our readiness & then we had to answer ourselves @ the end.. 'I do' re continuing conversion....Sister & Marcy helped me back to our pew & we waited thru the lengthy process for the Candidates, tho this Rite is less formal there were more of them, & took up more time...
Sister kind of wanted to show us around the Cathedral, but time was short, & Marcy needed some sleep b4 she went to work....we left to come back home.. what an awesome day!!!!!!
April 10, 2003
Our last RCIA class before Easter. A sense of need/desire has arisen that I need to o go to St Bede’s for @ least an hour a day to meditate & pray.. I commit to this, & began this, this afternoon….. I find a sense of peace after my time there, tho tears roll down my face many times….
April 11, again I spend time @ St Bede’s and as the days draw shorter, my heart is so full…
April 13, Palm Sunday, is so very precious & wonderful…..@ St Bede’s
Thursday April 17th, I asked Father Klimek @ work re: the possibility of receiving a blessing from him on Friday, knowing how very busy Saturday would be….
April 18th Good Friday, I began the day with prayer @ St Bede’s, & then went in ot see Father Klimek @ 11AM for his blessings, & he had some advice for me re the fact that there will be dark times along the way…. thankfully I was able to be @ the service @ St Bede’s. Never having been @ this before…it was truly reverent & meaningful service, in particular the veneration of the cross.
After the service I did some last minute errands….& came home, to prepare for the morrow.
April 19th dawned grey & cloudy….I talked to Marcy early, then Vicki to see if she was on her way ok… then called Nadine for wake-up & proceeded to spend some prayer time… @9:10 AM I left to meet Vicki, stopped to order corsage, & off to rehearsal, rehearsal lasted about 45 minutes, was very shaky….
We left my Baptismal Robe @ the church so as to keep it clean & wrinkle-free. Vicki, Nadine & I said a prayer in the confessional/waiting room …….actually Vicki said it & we all cried {smile}.Then went to get hair done, Vicki began the process of getting ready for the gathering @ the Heartland Inn {meeting room in motel.. Vicki also stayed overnight there} in the afternoon….
After Hair appointment went to pick up high school classmate {she is Lutheran, but the only high school classmate I have stayed in contact with} for the gathering….
Got back to Heartland Inn… my corsage, beautifully done, was there when I got there….finished arranging fruit & veggie trays etc, then friends began to come a couple @ a time.. it was very nice………think about 14 people actually total… …Vicki brought my dress & stole in….for all to see…..Sister Clarita came, she & Sister Monica got my a beautiful study Bible & case….all went very nicely.. the guests said more than once that I ‘looked radiant’ {smile} then was soon 5 PM. Vicki & Kathy began putting things away, I ran home to let my furbabies out & give Spirit her meds.
Back to motel to prepare for Easter Vigil……. Vicki’s wedding dress fit so nicely,… the corsage was made with the option of being worn on the wrist, & because of the Baptismal robe, I wore it on my wrist for the evening.
We left for the church about 7:10 PM……was a lot of pre-jitters @ that point…..Brigit & Hope, who were being confirmed, were also there.. There were corsages for each of the God-Parents & Sponsors…I was already shaking…..
The fire was lit in the back of the church, as it was raining quite hard by this time….Father began the Mass…with the Blessing of the fire & lighting of the Easter candle, & then he lead the procession to the front of the church, with us.. meaning Brigit,Hope, their sponsors, then Nadine, Marcy, Vicki & I ahead of him to the reserve pew just in front of the font. Then each candle was lit from the Easter Candle… Vicki had bought special candles for Marcy, Nadine, herself & I to keep…
Then the lights came on in the church… & the Liturgy of the word began with the first reading from Genesis,& thru another 4 readings, with responses between each….
Skipping thru the homily here… will add later…..
Pam, the RCIA representative… called me, Marcy, Vicki, & Nadine up to the front of the church….
We stood to the left of the Cross, now draped in white, & @ the base, covered with flowers….& the invitation to prayer was given… then the Litany of saints was read…
This was followed by the blessing of the Water….all the time, my knees were shaking, & my eyes kept filling with tears…
Here is where my part really began.. with the renunciation of sin & Satan…. Followed by the profession of faith.. I had Vicki on the right side of me, Nadine behind me & Marcy on the other side…. I was nearly sobbing @ times.. Marcy & Nadine were holding on to me or I would have fallen to my knees I think….
We then went to the baptismal font on the right of the sanctuary…with Father, Vicki next to him, Nadine & Marcy on my left….when Father Baptized me first in the Name of the Father, & then the name of the Son. .I held up pretty well, but when he said in the name of the Holy Spirit with the third time.. I really started to cry…
The next awesome moment came with the Baptismal Robe being placed on me, & Father’s words… ‘You have become a new creation & have clothed yourself in Christ. Receive this baptismal garment & bring it unstained to the judgment seat of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that you may have everlasting life’…. I had a hard time controlling the sobs @ that point….
The next poignant moment was when Father lit the baptismal candle, Gave it to Marcy who then handed it to me…I was shaking soo hard. .the candle was trembling.. .. .’You have been enlightened by Christ. Walk always as a child of the light & keep the flame of faith alive in your heart. When the Lord comes, may you go out to meet him with all the saints of the heavenly kingdom..
Then came the renewal of baptismal promises….thru which I began to get weak…..& I truly thot I would pass out.. my arms & legs went totally numb… Nadine was holding my by the waist& Father{from behind}, Marcy had her hand on my shoulder, & I was holding Vicki’s hand.. like I couldn’t let go………….Marcy whispers.. Sister JoAnn is up in the back……somehow.. that calmed me a bit, tho I was still shaky…..
Then came the celebration of reception for Brigit, & Hope…..after their profession of faith, was the celebration of confirmation…Father held his hands over us, & prayed.. then anointed us individually with the oil, & said as he did so… ‘be sealed with the gift of the Holy spirit’, & I started to cry again, …. & Peace be with you…..
The three of us, & sponsors & God Parents went back to the pew, & the Mass continued with the collection, then, Brigit, Hope, Pam & I went to the back to bring Father the gifts.. I carried the carafe of water because I was afraid I would spill it, as shaky as I was, I didn’t want the hosts falling on the floor…
I was then first to received the Body of Christ, with Hope & Brigit following me.. what an awesome experience!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There is soo much more to tell but you have waited sooo patiently I wanted to share @ least this much now….
Sunday Morning we .. Vicki & I went to St Bede’s for Mass… Sister Monica, & of course Sister JoAnn were thrilled to see us… Mass was awesome, we then had a bit of a brunch in the reception area, & had a few pix taken… as soon as I can I will share.
However, I also needed to go to the 5pm mass Saturday night & sit near where I had sat a week before, & ‘relive’ from there’… my feelings etc…..
I have never been a more firm believer in Catholicism than I am now!!!!!!
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