It was a stiflingly hot day on 22 February, but St Mary’s Cathedral was standing room only at this year’s Rite of Election. A record number of nearly 460 candidates and catechumens – a 20 per cent increase on last year’s numbers – affirmed their desire to enter fully into the life of Christ and his Church.
In a day of great joy and celebration, over 1200 people, including those preparing for initiation, their priests, godparents and sponsors, filled the pews.
Keith Neems, a 78-year-old former Baptist, said: “You’re never too old to accept Christ. God accepts all sorts of people and it’s lovely to see so many here from all walks of life.”
Adelina Schneider, a former Muslim from St Joseph’s parish in Enfield, attended with her husband and two young daughters. “It’s my first time at the cathedral. It’s so beautiful. I’m in awe,” she said before the ceremony began.
In his welcome, Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP proclaimed with encouragement: “Your presence is a profound sign and a wonderful vitality of our local Church, and proof that the Holy Spirit is alive and active in our city.”
His Grace noted the joyful signs of growth and the boom in numbers entering the faith. “For the last six years in a row, year by year, more and more of you have been saying ‘accept’ at the Rite of Election here in Sydney.”
On the cost and beauty of becoming Christian, the Archbishop said: “Newcomers to the Church know they not only have to learn the Christian faith, they must sometimes go against the grain. It’s costly, but its reward is eternal life.”
“It’s a very special day,” said Cameron Beard from St Fiacre’s parish in Leichhardt. “It’s a long time coming, the years of thinking about it and then started going to church more and then started to speak to the people in our parish, to starting the RCIA course. It’s just been great having so many supporting you,” he said.
Solly Beheshti, also a former Muslim from Holy Family parish in Mosman, was in awe of the sheer numbers in attendance. “I didn’t expect be joined by so many people wanting to be Catholic,” she said. “It’s like I’m a newborn again, a new life and a new journey.”
Simon Yeak, RCIA co-ordinator for the Life, Marriage and Family team within the Sydney Centre for Evangelisation, said the growth of Sydneysiders coming to the faith just in the last five years has been exponential: “In 2021, when I first came into the role, we had 93 converts. Today it is almost 460. Praise be to God,” he said.
Fr Dan McCaughan from St Patrick’s parish in Sutherland has been guiding 10 new elects from his parish through the RCIA process. He believes the signs of a “second spring in faith” show no signs of abating. “Sometimes we can be tempted to be a bit discouraged, given the fact we live in such a secular culture,” he said. “But then you turn up to a day like this and go, you can never, ever, ever doubt the action of our Lord. He’s always calling people.”
New catechumen Rebecca Whiteman from Our Lady of Fatima parish at Peakhurst shared: “it’s just so encouraging to see so many people, turning towards faith. This time is very unsettling, so it’s great that we have a beautiful church to turn to, and our church family as well,” she said.
Sione Halaapiapi, from All Saints parish in Liverpool, said the fraternity and sense of community he felt at this year’s Rite of Elections was overwhelming and profound.
“Today takes you to another level of understanding. In the beginning, you feel that you are taking this alone. And then you join the RCIA group with more like 15 people and today to see hundreds! It makes you more committed to the journey,” he said.
Daniel Ang, Director of the Sydney Centre for Evangelisation, called the numbers “quietly extraordinary.”
“While this is the greatest number we have seen in the archdiocese, 20 per cent more than last year, this isn’t about numbers. It’s about grace,” he said. “There’s a genuine spiritual hunger in our community, in our culture, and these men and women are responding to it with courage and sincerity. For all of us, it is a moment of deep gratitude and real hope.”
