New Catholics praise the Lord
Eucharist, friends cited as factors in conversion
By Chris Donahue
Staff Writer
PISCATAWAY — Although they were newly-received into the Catholic Church, those who attended the Neophyte Mass May 22 in the chapel of the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center showed as much zeal for their faith as any lifelong member.
About 220 people, including the sponsors and priests who guided new members of the faith through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults process and their families, attended the Mass and reception.
The Mass is celebrated to give the newly-received a sense of belonging to the larger diocesan family and an opportunity to join Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski at a celebration of the Eucharist, said Sara A. Sharlow, diocesan director, Office of Rite of Christian Initiation.
Bishop Bootkoski invited those in the diocese who received their sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil April 15 to the At the vigil, about 100 individuals were fully initiated and an additional 200 were received in full communion of the Catholic Church, Sharlow said.
In his homily, the bishop said faith brings the responsibility of being disciples and spreading the good news wherever we are, just as Paul did while traveling to Macedonia (Acts 16:11-15).
“We are called to be evangelizers by the life you live and how you treat each other. It is a lifetime journey,” the bishop said.
While in the city of Philippi, Paul met a woman named Lydia, “a seller of purples . . . whose heart the Lord opened, that she might take heed to those things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her house, she besought us, saying, ‘If ye judge me faithful to the Lord, enter into my house and tarry.’”
Lydia’s baptism is significant because afterward, she began to share her wealth and her home with Paul and others, the bishop explained.
“Hospitality and welcoming, which became her calling, are signs of Catholicism, of Christianity,” he said.
New spiritual home
At the end of the Mass, three neophyte witnesses spoke about their faith journey.
Robin Grossman, 41, a member of Nativity of Our Lord Parish, Monroe, said for many years she investigated different churches, but always felt comfortable in a Mass.
Grossman, whose heritage is Jewish, only celebrated Christmas, Chanukah and Passover with her great grandmother. When she was 14, she followed her mother and sisters by being baptized in the Church of Latter Day Saints, but didn’t feel comfortable in that faith.
Through information she gained about Catholicism from a friend, Silvana Finizio, who became her RCIA sponsor, Grossman enrolled in the process.
“As a Catholic I must not allow evils words to overcome the message of Christ,” Grossman said. “Through his death and resurrection, Jesus overcame the power of evil in the world. As a Catholic it is important to use the gifts of baptism to continue this in our lives. It is my hope that I can work towards unity of love in the world. . .
Memorable anniversary
Marie Piesche, 61, a member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, South Plainfield, said she was baptized April 15, 1945 in Forest Park Dutch Reformed Church on Long Island, N.Y. Exactly 61 years later, she received the Eucharist and was confirmed at the Easter Vigil.
Piesche began attending Mass about 12 years ago with a friend, who would later become her sponsor in RCIA. Feeling a call to receive the Eucharist, she also enrolled in the RCIA process.
“The community of believers, from my friend, Sue, to the parishioners to the parish priests and the bishop, were all people Jesus used to guide and encourage me through this wonderful journey to the Catholic Church,” she said.
Two events that stood out were the chrism Mass and Easter Vigil, when she carried the bread in the offertory procession.
“I had come full circle,” Piesche said. “What had attracted me so many years previous, the Eucharist, I was soon to receive the first time. And I was chosen to bring that gift.”
Youthful perspective
In her address, Charlene Wong, 14, a member of St. Helena Parish, Edison, gave thanks to God for her religious formation.
“I thank God for giving me the opportunity to meet and work with the incredibly motivated members of the RCIA team, whose strong faith in God has inspired me to keep my own Christian beliefs strong in this material world, where the unholy trinity of money, lust and greed reign over so many,” she said.
“Most of all, I thank God for giving us, as undeserving as we may be, the Bible to guide us and the great worldwide community of believers, our brothers and sister in Christ, to support each and everyone one of us throughout our lifelong faith journey.”
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law