From catechumen to Catholic

This past weekend, adults who have been preparing for entry into the Catholic Church for a number of months and possibly even years were baptised or received into full communion with the Church.

This is not always an easy journey. It necessitates many levels of questioning on the part of the one who is considering the change, and at least a few dedicated souls are required to answer the myriad of questions that often accompany such a change in life, belief and value structure. In some cases, conversions can not only be traumatic for family and friends who try to understand the process with the intellect. Conversion can even mean the probability of estrangement from one's family members due to the extreme differences in value systems that result.

Take for example the journey of Magdi Allam, a Muslim who was baptised this past weekend during the liturgy of the Easter Vigil held in the Vatican. Mr. Allam is the deputy director of the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Serra and explained his conversion in a letter he addressed to the director of that same newspaper.

Originally from Egypt, Mr. Allam was one of seven people who were baptised by Benedict XVI during the Easter Vigil. In additon, these seve n also received the Eucharist for the first time on Saturday evening. In fact, the Holy Father spoke of the reality of baptism as the gift of a new identity during his homily at the Easter Vigil. This new identity is shared with all who are baptised, but may particulary be a propos for Mr. Allam who has faced persecution and even death threats from Muslim authorities in the past.

In the weeks following their baptism and reception into full communion with the Catholic Church, it is customary that neophyte Catholics are invited to participate in at least one encounter to discuss, explore and deepen their understanding of the mysteries they lived during the Easter Triduum. We refer to such meetings as part of the Mystagogia or 'unpacking' of the experience.