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rcia group reaches out to those in need

Story by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

Churches were filled with the faithful at Easter Vigil services across the diocese and around the world, and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Herrin was no exception.

The parish generally has a substantial number of catechumens and candidates, and this year was no different: Catechumens and candidates numbered 22 in all. Some belonged to the same families with parents and children joining the church together; some were spouses or soon-to-be spouses who joined the church to bring their families closer to God and each other.

The groups continue to be large, pastor Msgr. Kenneth Schaefer said, because those who join the church one year invite their friends and relatives to “come and see” what the Catholic church has to offer. Or, in some cases, they see a difference in their relatives and friends after they have joined the church, and they want to know more about it.

About 15 years ago, Crystal Lukens was a member of the parish RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) process that came up with the idea of filling Easter baskets for children and families that would otherwise have nothing on Easter, Lukens said.

Those in need are remembered at Thanksgiving and Christmas, but not too many people reach out to others at Easter time. Lukens didn’t want that to happen.

Msgr. Schaefer said the journey to Easter was certainly about prayer, fasting and almsgiving, but it was also about reaching out to do something for someone else.

Fifteen years later, Lukens continues to help assemble the baskets and make sure they are delivered, in this case to Williamson County Crisis Center and to the Southern Illinois Coalition for the Homeless. In all, about 35 baskets were assembled, most of them for children but some, which included food, for families.

Assembling the baskets is not only an act of kindness and love on the part of the RCIA group, it also sends an important signal to the recipients that people care about them no matter what their circumstances are.

This year, candidate Leah Bechtel said putting together the baskets was “a great idea, a way to give back to the community.”

With the children’s baskets, Lukens told the group: “Make sure the baskets are full, something that child will not forget.”

When the baskets were finished, Lukens took them to their destinations, making sure each basket said “Happy Easter” to the child or family that received it.

Marlene Koerner, RCIA team leader for 15 years, has watched the baskets being filled by each group and talked about the reasons she has remained involved in the RCIA process for so many years.
“I learn so much from the people (in each group),” Koerner said.

On the night of the Easter Vigil when the new fire is lighted and the light is brought into the church, it becomes a new experience every time, Koerner said.

“When I see the people going to be baptized and receiving their first Communion, it feeds me” and strengthens everyone’s faith.

Candidate Herb Cutsinger said he “felt this was the right time” to join the church.

Catechumen Randy Steinmetz said he wanted to be baptized. His fiancé encouraged him, and Steinmetz said: “I’m meant to be here; everything happens for a reason.”