Mrs. Isabel Samuels, Mrs. Willie Evelyn Malone (St. Peter Villa)
Jenny Marshall (Willow Bend at Marion Ark Nursing Home)
Mr. Floyd Shavers (Metro Community Care Home)
Ill at Home
Mrs. Audrey Allen, Mr. Herbert Allen, Mr. Joseph Alsandor, Mrs. Annie Hines Atkins, Mrs. Essie Berry, Mrs. Monique Meacham Bethany, Mr. Gerald Bond, Mrs. Lula Crawford, Mr. Robert Crowley, Mrs. Judy Epps, Mrs. Wendy Funches, Mrs. Marshia Gilmore, Mr. Emory Gordon, Mrs. Lottie Gordon, Ms. Jacqueline Guerrero,Mr. William Harris, Mr. Darrell Hollimon, Mr. Willie Hollimon, Mrs. Helen Hoof, Mr. Robert Hooper, Dr. William Johnson, Mrs. Mary M. Jones, Mrs. Teresa Kimbrough, Mrs. Laura Kinchelow, Mrs. Mary Monroe, Mrs. Maurice McDonald, Mrs. Florine McMillan, Mrs. Bobby Redmond, Mr. Frank Reynolds, Mr. Stanley Robinson, Mrs. Allura Tate, Mrs. Forrestine Weed, Mr. Malcolm Weed, Mr. Johnnie Weaver.
Easter Vigil Yields Six New Members to the Catholic Faith
Easter Vigil March 22, 2008
With the Chrism Oil still shining on their foreheads....the newest members of the Catholic Faith pose with Father Geaney and proudly show their Certificate of Initiation. From left to right: Austin Francis Howell, Patricia Maria de Soledad Gray, Angela Merici Malone, Father G, Angelene Therese McGrady, Angela Mary Magdalene Delaney, and Mae Catherine Drexel Cleaves.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults RCIA
Leading the Flock into the Fullness of Communion with the Church
Baptism and Conversion - Faith Formation and RCIA
From the Desk of Bertha Gilmore, RCIA Coordinator
Dear St. Augustine Church Family,
The formation of one's faith is a process. This year, we were blessed to have six Candidates who had been baptized within another denomination, but wanted to convert to Catholicism and unite with us. After a brief period of inquiry, they began the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) journey. It has been a spirit-filled, passionate year of learning. Our candidates for full acceptance into the Church have learned many of the tenets of the Catholic Faith, through the interaction, discussion and reflection in class, as well as in independent learning.
I want to thank each and every St. Augustine member who has encouraged this group. However, I especially thank the Sponsors. Please enjoy the RCIA 2008 homepage, and don't forget to welcome our candidates at the Easter Vigil, Saturday, March 22, 2008, 7:30 p.m.
May God richly bless and keep you,
Bertha
RCIA -
It's a process...not a boot-camp, but we do take it seriously!
If RCIA is a Process...When is The Rite of Acceptance Celebrated?
The Rite of Acceptance may be celebrated at any time of the year. Most often, due to symbolism, it is celebrated at Easter. There is no basis for the misconception that the beginning of Advent is either the required or the most desirable time for beginning the Rite of Acceptance.
A church may celebrate the Confirmation of Candidates more than once per year, even up to three times, should candidates become ready to celebrate the Rite of Acceptance.
The rite should be celebrated in the Sunday Mass, or at some other significant church event in which the parish will be in attendance to give their support, as candidates for acceptance cannot come into acceptance without the community of the faithful in attendance.
The RCIA Class at St. Augustine Church is led by Bertha (Mrs. Desota) Gilmore, a former Memphis School District Principal. The RCIA Class of 2008 will participate in preparing the 2008-2009 Class. St. Augustine Catholic Church is located at 1169 Kerr Avenue, Memphis, TN 38106.
RCIA Journey Rite of Election
Tony Whitlow. Frequent RCIA Presenter and Candidate Austin Howell at IC, 2.10.08
Candidates Angela Malone and Mae (Mrs. John) Cleaves, RCIA 2008, at IC, 2.10.08 Rite of Election.
Sponsor Ann Freeman, with Candidate Angelene McGrady, RCIA 2008, at IC, 2.10.08
Sponsor Doris Lacey with Candidate Angela Delaney, RCIA 2008, at IC, 2.10.08
Helpers for the Journey of the 2007-2008 RCIA Class
The Right of Election: A Sponsored Event Candidates were presented to the Bishop and community of the faithful, by their Sponsors, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, on February 10, 2008 at 3 p.m. It was a moving experience for the candidates and their sponsors.
RCIA Class of March 2008 Listed with Sponsors and Alternates Who Attended the Rite of Election Ceremony: Candidate Mae Cleaves - Sponsor Barbara Brown (photo, top center) Candidate Patricia Gray - Sponsors Marie Mosah; alternate A. Bossier Candidate Austin Howell - Sponsor Joseph Young; alternate T. Whitlow Candidate Angela Delaney - Sponsor Doris Lacey Candidate Angela Malone - Sponsor Carol Jackson Boyd (photo, left top) CandidateAngelene McCrady -Sponsor Ann Freeman
A familiar face was seen among the Altar Servers at the Cathedral. The Lawrence McDaniel, a tuition scholarship winner at Christian Brothers University, and son of member Pam McDaniel and the grandson of member Hildy Lomax, he also serves at the 8 a.m. St. Augustine Mass. (photo, right top) RCIA Candidate Patricia Gray is shown on the far right, in late 2006 photo, as she took photos during the Rite of Election and did not have one on that day.
Giving Before Confirmation
The RCIA Class members and Ms. Gilmore served the Church Parish cake (http://www.justwrightcakedesign.com/), to honor Father G, in celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Paulist Fathers, on Sunday, March 9, 2008 after the 10 a.m. Mass.
Class members are unified; they desire to serve both God and St. Augustine Catholic Church. Recently, some Candidates indicated their intent to serve as follows: Mae--The Social Action Committee; Angelene--S.A.L.T.; and Patricia--Website Ministry and SPC Ladies Auxiliary. More decisions soon!
Blessed Mary's Assumption
A view at the top...at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The beauty of the Cathedral added to the spirituality of the blessed day.
Retreat, Reflection and Renewal at OLQP, Dancyville, TN
Four members of the RCIA Class, along with RCIA Coordinator, Bertha Gilmore, attended a spiritual retreat at Our Lady Queen of Peace Retreat Center in Dancyville, TN, with other Memphis area RCIA participants, on Saturday, February 23, 2008.
Those attending were as follow:
Mae (Mrs. John) Cleaves and her Sponsor, Barbara Brown
Patricia Gray
Angela Malone
Angelene McGrady
The participants enjoyed the fellowship with other candidates and formed many bonds with their St. Augustine team members, as well as those from St. Ann's in Bartlett, St. Therese Little Flower in North Memphis and Holy Spirit in East Memphis.
Of special note: Modean Thompson from St. Therese Little Flower, sister-n-law of Angelene's sponsor, Ann Freeman, also is an RCIA Sponsor. She and her Candidates, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Scruggs ("Mr. Chuck" of TV fame) shared in the retreat session with Patricia Gray.
A special salute to Ms. Gilmore and for her leadership in getting us to the retreat. And, too, to Ms. Barbara Brown, who made the whole group feel as if she was their sponsor too! The St. Augustine participants ended the day with a scrumptious meal of fried fish, breakfast, etc. at the Cracker Barrel. Needless to say, all were fulfilled both spiritually and physically from the day's events.
Angela M.and new Diocesan Retreat friend, The Chapel Where We Prayed
Theresa. resting in the arms of Mary.
Keeping the Old Traditions To Veil or Not to Veil
The Women of RCIA 2007-2008 Have Chosen the Veil... No, It Won't Cover Their Faces...It's the Catholic Chapel Veil
It must be true...the old traditions never really die! In keeping with the pre-Vatican II tradition of women coming to worship with covered heads, the women of this RCIA class will wear veils. The veils are hand-made and dyed by Teresa at Catholic Traditions in Hanceville, AL. (Teresa is shown in the photo.) If you'd like a veil for yourself, check with Patricia Gray. In addition to the RCIA Class, Bertha Gilmore and Joyce Young, also purchased veils for the Easter Vigil.
“One of the natural signs of a true Paulist is that he would prefer to suffer from the excesses of liberty rather than from the arbitrary actions of tyranny.”
Father Isaac Hecker, founder of the Paulist Fathers
