The Rite of Election for RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) candidates was held recently in St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney. The twelve candidates from St Brigid’s Marrickville were up the front, and so we had a close view of the sanctuary and by craning our necks backwards, we could view the almost unending line of candidates and their sponsors. There are 384 people enrolled to become Catholics in the Archdiocese of Sydney this year – and they were obviously all there.

I am privileged to be sponsor for Holly Isemonger. We are finding the RCIA programme a joyful experience, and we share a great interest in the work of René Girard which gives some other avenues for exploration of the Catholic faith. Girard’s work teaches the people of the world about our constant tendency to copy each other. This is all very good as it’s the clearest way to learn anything, but it has its down sides. We can imitate the good, but it’s very easy to copy the revengeful, the violent, the greedy. Christianity proposes the imitation of Christ. Following Jesus channels our imitation towards what is good. No wonder Girard himself became a Catholic once he realised what the gospels were saying.

The ceremony for the Rite of Election was led by Archbishop Anthony Fisher. In his sermon he spoke about a new book called, A Knock at the Door by Rob Parsons. It’s about a successful young couple who open their door to a homeless man holding a frozen chicken. They offer him shelter for the night and share the chicken. The story relates how these people’s lives are all changed as the homeless man stays for 45 years and the relationship blooms in mutual kindness, pain, hope and love.

Archbishop Fisher drew the obvious and necessary parallels. Commitment to the Gospel requires the willingness to imitate Jesus, who welcomed all. The community and the sacraments of the Church are designed to enliven in each of us the daily desire to imitate Jesus in whatever circumstances we live. A very full Cathedral testified to the vitality of many parishes where people are welcomed into communities that take Jesus’ example seriously.

May the celebration of Easter 2025 be a joyful one for the whole Church and may those who are to join us, including Holly, dive into the bottomless pit of energy, refreshment, joy and purpose that is the Body of Christ.

Susan Connelly rsj