Preparing for Sacraments this Easter
Despite COVID-19, God has clearly been at work here at our parish. We have many individuals who have responded to a call that God has placed on their heart to draw them closer to Himself and His Church.
Beginning in the Fall of 2020, Fr. Tim, Dcn. Kevin and Fr. Marcus have journeyed with 15 individuals as they entered the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). The RCIA is a formation program that has existed in various forms since the early Church for those preparing to enter the Catholic Church.
Normally, outside of COVID-19 and the various restrictions, we would have had more opportunities to introduce those making their way through the RCIA to the parish at large. We have been encouraging you to pray for these individuals, and we wanted to give you some names and faces.
They fall into four categories:
- Catechumens - Those preparing to enter the Church, but will do so at a later date.
- Elect - Those preparing to enter the Church this Easter.
- Candidates -
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- Those who are already baptized as Christians, but are coming into full communion with the Catholic Church this Easter.
- Baptized Catholics, who were missing Confirmation and/or First Holy Communion.
Of the 15 individuals, most belong to our parish, however we have a few who belong to neighbouring parishes, but their own parishes do not have a RCIA program this year.
Catechumens:
Prabh
Elect:
Jay - Was Baptized, Confirmed and received first Holy Communion on March 4th, 2021. Jay was called to begin service in the military, and could not be present for the Easter vigil, so he received the sacraments earlier. He is currently engaged to Louisa (one of our Candidates). She received confirmation that same night.
Jay being baptized by Fr. Tim.
Fr. Tim, Jay, Louisa and Fr. Marcus.
Paul - Goes to St. John the Apostle Parish.
Sulan - Goes to St. John the Apostle Parish.
Albert - Goes to St. John the Apostle Parish.
Tenny
Tenny
Amanda
Candidates (for Full Communion in to the Catholic Church):
Naomi
Devin
Devin
Kaelynne - Age: 27 From: Ontario. She has lived in Ottawa with her husband for 4 years and they consider this their home.
Kaelynne and her husband.
Sam - Age: 19 From: Cornwall, Ontario. He is an ex-non-denominational Christian, and goes to St. John the Apostle Parish.
Sam
Candidates (for Confirmation and Eucharist):
Louisa - Was Confirmed on March 4th, 2021. Jay, her fiancé was called to begin service in the military, and since he could not be present at the Easter vigil, they both received the sacraments earlier.
Louisa being confirmed by Fr. Tim
Marco
Marco
Quelen
Quelen
Brandianne
Please continue to pray for our catechumens, elect and candidates as they continue to prepare to receive the sacraments at Easter.