Photo Caption: Anna Catour, coordinator of RCIA at Christ the King Parish, Moline, presents catechumen Lasse Wilson-Bahoun to Bishop Jenky during the Rite of Election Feb. 26 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Peoria.

By: By Jennifer Willems

Last Sunday wasn’t the first time Tina Lepretre had come to St. Mary’s Cathedral for the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion. She had been there two years ago when she was preparing to be received into the Catholic Church at St. Ann’s Church in Peoria.

She returned as a sponsor, and the catechumen she has been supporting through prayer and presence is her husband of 40 years, Jules. He will be baptized, confirmed and receive the Eucharist at St. Ann’s Church at the Easter Vigil on April 7.

“I enjoy St. Ann’s. They make you feel welcome,” Jules told The Catholic Post after the 6 p.m. prayer service on Feb. 26. “They treat you like family. That’s something I haven’t had in a long time.”

He was among more than 330 people to declare their intention to proceed to the Easter sacraments and receive the blessing of Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, at the Rite of Election. Accompanied by their sponsors, godparents, RCIA team members, family and friends, they made St. Mary’s Cathedral resound with prayer and song at 3:30 and 6 p.m. last Sunday.

“Your presence builds up my faith and fills this holy place with joy and peace,” Bishop Jenky said as he greeted the catechumens and candidates before the evening ritual. He demonstrated how genuine those sentiments were as he welcomed each of them personally during the ceremony and interacted with them while pictures were taken afterward.

Catechumens are those who have not been baptized. At the Rite of Election they were declared “the elect” — chosen by God to be his own.
Candidates are those who have been baptized but have not completed their Christian initiation through the sacraments of confirmation and/or Eucharist. Bishop Jenky called them to continuing conversion as members of the body of Christ.
He also called on the people around them and their parish communities to pray for their new brothers and sisters in a special way during this time of final preparation.

NO DOUBTS
Jules Lepretre’s journey into the Catholic Church began by taking Tina to church because she doesn’t drive. Eventually he started coming in with her and decided it was time to get closer to the Lord.

“Without her around I probably wouldn’t have done it,” he said, citing his wife’s faith and support. He said he has no doubts about becoming Catholic and is ready for Easter.

“It’s helped us to get closer together,” Tina told The Catholic Post. “We talk and I try to answer as many questions for him as I can.”

Going to RCIA sessions with him every Wednesday night is like doing it again herself. “It’s a continual learning process,” she said.

They got involved with the WATCH (We Are The Church) program last year and will do it again this year. Tina also hopes to make a Cursillo weekend and is looking for a Bible study.

“God works in mysterious ways,” she said with a smile.