Bishop James Ruggieri celebrates annual Neophyte Mass
Some of the newest members of the Catholic Church in Maine, as well as some of those newly confirmed, gathered with Bishop James Ruggieri at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland on Saturday, May 31, for the Neophyte Mass.
Held annually, the Mass is an opportunity for the bishop to meet with and welcome those who received the initiation sacraments during the Easter season.
“Neophyte is a word that comes from the Greek word that means newly planted, newly planted. How appropriate because, through the sacraments of initiation that you have received, you are indeed newly planted in your parish communities, in the life of the universal Catholic Church,” the bishop said during his homily. “My hope is that you feel welcomed, that you feel a sense of being spiritually and personally at home in your communities."
During the Mass, the bishop blessed the neophytes and newly confirmed, asking God to “protect the new birth you have given them; deepen their faith and understanding; and through your saving mysteries, bring them one day to the glory of your heavenly banquet table.”
The neophytes who attended the Mass came from several different parishes and, while their paths were different, all said the time felt right to receive the initiation sacraments.
Kristy O’Donnell from St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Westbrook said she wanted to receive the sacraments that she was missing because her daughter is a first grader and will soon be doing sacramental preparation.
“It was time for me to become a part of the Catholic faith with my family so that we could raise our daughter in the faith and be active and have a community. And the second I said it and the second I did it, it just felt like home. It was just right,” she said. “It has been an unbelievable experience for me. I feel like I have finally found God for real. He's a part of my life now. It’s just been a complete journey. I've made that connection now, and he is just a part of my life now, and it's overwhelming and fulfilling, and I am so grateful.”
“It means a lot to me, especially because I've been going to church since I was little, but I've never been able to receive Communion. I really enjoy being able to go to church with my grandmother now and going up with her to take Communion,” said Aaron Remulla of All Saints Parish in Brunswick. “Me and my twin brother were baptized, but we never completed our initiation. I just graduated from college last year, and for my internship, I work for a non-denominational ministry. Throughout that ministry training, it really inspired me to start going back to church.”
“For me, it was a completion. I’ve come to church with my grandparents and my mom ever since I was a little baby and so this was kind of my step to take to be a part of the Church, and now I'm that good example for my son, who is going to be doing it as well soon,” said April Mayo from Corpus Christi Parish in Winslow. “It was crazy how much more I learned in the classes now than I did when I was little. So, it was very refreshing and eye opening.”
The neophytes are currently in a period known as mystagogy, which is a time of ongoing catechesis that occurs from the Easter Vigil to Pentecost. It is time of continuing formation as the newly initiated Catholics settle into their parish communities.
