R.C.I.A. candidates continue their faith journeys
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
In the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, the holy season of Lent marks a significant milestone in the faith lives of the men and women who have already been baptized either as Catholic or in other Christian faith traditions.
Known as candidates, they are seeking to come into full communion in the Catholic Church through the reception of the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist. This year, the Diocese of Trenton has a total of 499 candidates, 128 of whom are non-Catholic and 371 who have been baptized as Catholic.
Many parishes in the Diocese look to or near the First Sunday of Lent as a time to celebrate the Call to Continuing Conversion, a rite that recognizes those adults who have already been baptized as Christians and now wish to profess their faith as members of the Catholic Church. These Christians are called to ongoing conversion as they prepare to complete their sacramental initiation.
For William Eric Horbatt, it was a myriad of circumstances including a “near-death” experience that led him to the Catholic faith.
“I had always had Christian beliefs but I did not participate in the religion other than to believe,” said Horbatt, an R.C.I.A. candidate in Precious Blood Parish, Monmouth Beach.
Horbatt, 36, shared that for 12 years he struggled with drug and alcohol addictions, but “six years ago, God’s grace separated me from those substances,” he said, recalling that he was hospitalized for liver failure and was in a coma.
His long-term recovery was through a 12-step fellowship and learning the spiritual principles of the 12 steps. “It was through those steps that I found a belief, faith and trust in God that I had lacked my whole life,” Horbatt said. “From that foundation I formed a personal relationship with my Creator and became a servant. Through all of that, there was always a yearning within to become a part of an organized faith.”
Horbatt, who is now engaged and preparing for marriage, said that he and his fiancé wanted to marry in the Catholic Church and make the Catholic faith a part of their life. They learned of Precious Blood Parish through Maire Merritt, pastoral associate in Precious Blood Parish and a long-time friend of his fiance’s mother.
“My experience with RCIA thus far has been a positive one,” he said. Each week I see the hand of God working in the lives of other trusted servants in ways that warm my heart and reaffirm his love for us. What I've learned is that we are all children of a loving God, each with a purpose; to be of service to others, to be living examples of God's love in this world and attract others to faith.”
To see photo gallery of the Rite of Sending and Call to Continuing Conversion in St. Rose of Lima Parish, Freehold, click here.
To see photo gallery of the Rite of Sending in St. James Parish, Pennington, click here.
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In the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, the holy season of Lent marks a significant milestone in the faith lives of the men and women who have already been baptized either as Catholic or in other Christian faith traditions.
Known as candidates, they are seeking to come into full communion in the Catholic Church through the reception of the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist. This year, the Diocese of Trenton has a total of 499 candidates, 128 of whom are non-Catholic and 371 who have been baptized as Catholic.
Many parishes in the Diocese look to or near the First Sunday of Lent as a time to celebrate the Call to Continuing Conversion, a rite that recognizes those adults who have already been baptized as Christians and now wish to profess their faith as members of the Catholic Church. These Christians are called to ongoing conversion as they prepare to complete their sacramental initiation.
For William Eric Horbatt, it was a myriad of circumstances including a “near-death” experience that led him to the Catholic faith.
“I had always had Christian beliefs but I did not participate in the religion other than to believe,” said Horbatt, an R.C.I.A. candidate in Precious Blood Parish, Monmouth Beach.
Horbatt, 36, shared that for 12 years he struggled with drug and alcohol addictions, but “six years ago, God’s grace separated me from those substances,” he said, recalling that he was hospitalized for liver failure and was in a coma.
His long-term recovery was through a 12-step fellowship and learning the spiritual principles of the 12 steps. “It was through those steps that I found a belief, faith and trust in God that I had lacked my whole life,” Horbatt said. “From that foundation I formed a personal relationship with my Creator and became a servant. Through all of that, there was always a yearning within to become a part of an organized faith.”
Horbatt, who is now engaged and preparing for marriage, said that he and his fiancé wanted to marry in the Catholic Church and make the Catholic faith a part of their life. They learned of Precious Blood Parish through Maire Merritt, pastoral associate in Precious Blood Parish and a long-time friend of his fiance’s mother.
“My experience with RCIA thus far has been a positive one,” he said. Each week I see the hand of God working in the lives of other trusted servants in ways that warm my heart and reaffirm his love for us. What I've learned is that we are all children of a loving God, each with a purpose; to be of service to others, to be living examples of God's love in this world and attract others to faith.”
To see photo gallery of the Rite of Sending and Call to Continuing Conversion in St. Rose of Lima Parish, Freehold, click here.
To see photo gallery of the Rite of Sending in St. James Parish, Pennington, click here.
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