Rite of Welcome (Teri)

I've heard about this "Rite of Welcome" ever since I first "sat in" on an RCIA class - back when my mom and Tony started their classes. Last night was our night. It was very cool. Twelve of us came forward with our sponsors and Father Clarence (who is from India, which is also cool) gave us each a blessing. Our sponsors crossed our eyes, ears, mouths, hands and feet - along with prayers that we would speak the gospel, take it to others, work for Jesus and so forth. I really want to reprint the words because they're wonderful - so stay tuned. We loved it. It's bizarre to us that this happened on the very same weekend that we met the guy who wrote the book that started the whole thing. And our sponsors are the folks who gave us the book!

Visit with the Rays (Kevin)

We were honored to have Steve and Janet Ray visit our Parish this weekend. Steve gave his testimony on Friday and two talks on Saturday on Peter and the Eucharist. What a great weekend. Here is a pic of us with Janet, Steve, Kristi and Rich:
















To read some of Steve Ray's stuff, go to: Catholic-Convert.com

Myriad of Updates (Teri)

1) In the second week of September, I received in the mail an official Decree of Nullity! Found myself with tears in my eyes. I was relieved that the process was over and that my first marriage was deemed "null and void ab initio". Kevin liked this part the best: "Therefore it is finally declared that the marriage between the above cited parties is and was null and void ab initio;" with emphasis on the "is and was" part. I am so glad for this outcome since now I'll be able to receive all the sacraments.

2) We've been attending RCIA classes since late August/early September. My favorite part has been hearing where other people are coming from as they're entering the church. I like the chances we get to talk to other attendees to hear their stories. This Saturday the 5th is our first rite - the Rite of Welcome. For those of us who are coming to the church but have already been baptized, we get slightly different rites than those who haven't been baptized. I'll report back what the rite includes after Saturday.

3) Steve Ray, author and speaker is coming to Las Vegas today to speak at our church tonight and tomorrow. Kevin and Rich get to pick him and his wife up at the airport - THAT should be an interesting car ride. Steve Ray wrote the book that captivated first Kevin and then me and led us closer to Catholicism. And Rich gave us the book and prayed for us. Rich has also distributed hundreds and hundreds of fliers about these talks to neighborhoods all around us. InterVarsity style, there will be "interest cards" for people to fill out after the talks so we can find out where the attendees are coming from and how they were affected. Tonight's talk is Steve's testimony "From Baptist to Catholic", and tomorrow includes "The Eucharist: You Are What You Eat", and "Peter: The Rock, the Keys, and the Chair". I'm really excited to go.

4) Last night, we hosted our first prayer meeting since being in the Catholic church. It went great. I loved the group prayer, enjoyed Kev's guitar-playing and singing to God, and was glad it wasn't different from prayer meetings in other churches. What did I expect? Not sure - we even prayed a decade of the rosary and it wasn't freaky. Amen.