On 9 March, the Archdiocese of Sydney joyfully embraces a remarkable milestone, welcoming a record 380 converts and catechumens into the church at the Rite of Election.
The RCIA program prepares new Catholics to be received sacramentally into the church and the Rite of Election marks a more intense preparation period, during which the “elect” are encouraged to follow Christ with greater generosity. With 380 to be received into the church this Easter, it’s a number that has more than tripled in the last four years.
“The church in Sydney is truly blessed to welcome a record number of catechumens and candidates this year.
“It is a joy to witness the fruits of our parish and RCIA communities, their faithful and tireless efforts in evangelisation is an inspiration for all of us,” said Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP.
In the weeks ahead, The Catholic Weekly will illuminate the vibrant tapestry of conversion within our parishes.
This week we discover the profound connections formed within the warm community of St Raphael’s parish in South Hurstville.
Ruby and Thomas’ Journey: How their children’s curiosity sparked conversion
It was the daily prodding questions from their children that saw Chinese Australian couple, Ruby and Thomas Chen, embark on their profound RCIA journey together.
They met as university students in Sydney after Ruby emigrated from China in 2010 and initially found solace in a Chinese Presbyterian church.
But after Covid, they drifted away from the Presbyterian faith.
The couple had started a family and moved to the Hurstville area. They found the best education option for their children, John (10) and Joanna (8), was to be found at St Raphael’s Catholic Primary school. This was to be the spark for their conversion.
As the children immersed themselves in Catholic teachings and sacraments, they would return from school with questions Ruby and Thomas struggled to answer.
It lead to a quest to dig deeper into the faith their children were immersing themselves in.
“I can understand the faith and then better my support my children’s growing faith,” Ruby said.
For Ruby, the Catholic Church’s historical lineage resonates deeply.
“I believe that’s the source of truth,” she shares, referencing the church’s connection to the apostle Peter. This sense of authenticity, combined with a commitment to their children’s religious education, inspired the couple to embark on the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) process together.
“I would like to be part of the community,” Ruby recalls telling her husband. “Me too,” he replied.
Their journey reflects a growing tide of Australian Chinese converts, affirming Chinese Catholics are among the fastest growing powerhouse Catholic communities in Sydney.
Ruby observes that many of her Chinese Australian friends are Catholic.
“They are either Christian or Catholic. A lot of the parents are Catholic as well. I feel like everyone around me is part of the same faith,” she said.
As they prepare for the upcoming Rite of Election ceremony, Ruby and Thomas embody the significance of unity in their spiritual journey.
“We always do things together,” Ruby affirms, “we can share this growth with our children as we will now soon all be in the faith together. I can answer those questions from our children now.”
May’s Journey: Near-death experience strengthens transformation
As she sat in shock in the wreckage of her car, reaching out for son, Lucas, and realising they had both escaped death, mother of two May Lui looked to the heavens and said a silent prayer of thanks that she was becoming a Catholic.
“I felt God and I knew we would be okay. I was scared but knew he was with me. And so was my church, my new friends and my family,” May confides.
The 39-year-old from Hurstville believes her near-death experience when a car nearly totalled her vehicle as she was driving her son to school, confirmed she had made the right decision to become a Catholic.
It’s why the upcoming Rite of Election is like joining a new loving family for May.
Growing up in China, faith was never a part of her life. After marrying Fei, also a non-believer, they migrated to Australia in 2015 in search of new opportunities.
In this unfamiliar land, devoid of family support and grappling with limited English, May found it challenging to forge new friendships.
A profound sense of community eluded her, leaving her feeling isolated. Her days were often spent in solitude while Fei worked, and May juggled night shifts at a Chinese-speaking nursing home, which only intensified her feelings of loneliness.
As life became busier with the arrival of her two children, Lucas and Chloe, May and Fei worked tirelessly to provide their children with the best schooling possible, enrolling them at St Raphael’s in Hurstville—a decision that would unknowingly ignite a spiritual spark within May.
It was during this time that May’s daughter, Chloe, began to ask profound questions about God and Jesus. “I became curious,” May recalls.
These innocent inquiries opened the door for May to explore her own beliefs and the possibility of faith for her family.
Fortuitously, in 2024, the RCIA program was being offered in her parish.
“It was hard at first, but everyone was so nice, so patient with me. I could feel God and began to know about him. And I grew to love him,” she recalls.
“I’m so excited about what lies ahead. Now I know Him, everything is good. I’m very happy to try to be joining my Catholic family that knows and loves God.”
Michelle’s journey: A decade-long path to faith
Michelle Alifano’s path to becoming Catholic began over a decade ago, when she met the Catholic priest who would celebrate her wedding ceremony.
Michelle was baptised Presbyterian as an infant due to her Scottish grandfather’s wishes. However, after her parents divorced, she attended Catholic services with her mother, who was born Catholic, without developing any real connection to the faith.
“I just went to church with her when we went. My mum remarried, and my sisters got baptised, they were Catholic. They all went to Catholic school. I didn’t, but I grew up not doing the sacraments or anything,” said Michelle.
The desire to convert first sparked when Michelle met with a young priest at St Gabriel’s Church to discuss her upcoming wedding.
“When we got married, it was going to meet the priest at the church and just talk. He was a young priest at the time, that was at St Gabrielle’s where we got married.
“I wanted to learn about it. I wanted to know about it. The more we talked, the more I wanted to experience doing all of things that everyone else was doing, I guess,” Michelle recalls.
This encounter ignited a curiosity to learn more about the Catholic faith and a longing to fully participate in the rituals she had observed from the sidelines for years.
However, life had other plans. Shortly after her marriage, Michelle became a mother to two children born two years apart.
The demands of raising young kids put her conversion plans on hold. The following years brought more challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and a stressful home renovation project.
“We renovated our house. And life just got in the way. But my children were enrolled in St Raphael’s when everything fell into place,” said Michelle.
Last year, a chance conversation at a school welcome barbecue connected Michelle with Earl Lappen, who coordinates the RCIA program. This fortuitous meeting set her conversion journey in motion.
For Michelle, this 10-year journey to Catholicism has been worth the wait, coinciding with the loss of her stepfather to cancer.
“I feel like it’s all happened for a reason, and it’s happened at the right moment. I think it did take 10 years, but I feel like it’s all happened for a reason.”
Earl Lappen Leading a New Generation of Catholic Converts at St Raphael’s
After nearly four decades as a dedicated parishioner at St Raphael’s in Hurstville, 65-year-old Earl Lappen took a huge leap of faith to take charge of the largest group of adults ever to participate in the RCIA program.
The 10-month experience has been transformative, both for the candidates and for the proud Hurstville man.
“It is obviously an important responsibility to journey with these candidates along their faith, and a humbling experience to share it with them through their sessions and their growth.”
As the Rite of Election approaches, excitement within the growing parish community of St Raphael’s is palpable and Earl believes they are now ready to take the next step on their spiritual journey.
“They have all been so attentive and so keen to learn and grow in their faith. It’s been a real joy. I’ll be like a proud father on the big day,” he said.
