This
weekend was full of celebrations- a friend’s birthday, my nephew’s First Holy
Communion and the closure of another year of RCIA. Every year we do a graduation style celebration
for our RCIA students, where we present the Sacrament Certificates in addition
to top student recognitions. We also
hold a potluck style luncheon where students, their families and sponsors are
encouraged to attend. The event is organized
with a commencement prayer and speech, by our wonderful team leader, in which
she explains that graduations are not ends, but the beginning of the profession
studied; thus, receiving their sacraments is only the beginning of their Christian
ministry and lives. Before God sends
them into the world He prepares them through the process of RCIA and their
Sacraments- so we show a short slide show of their RCIA year reminding them of
their great effort and commitment. The
slide show is usually a very emotional moment where laughs, tears and even a
sense of relief is expressed through the reaction of our students. Then we follow with the presentation of the Sacrament
Certificates, where each student comes to the front to receive and shakes
the hand of each teacher in true graduation form. Followed by special recognitions for the top eight
students (Best Test Score, Oral Exam, Attendance, Homework, Community Service,
Participation and Binder Organization).
Then, we open the mic up for anyone that wants to say any closing
words. We had a mom of one of our
students shared how happy she was that her daughter had been in the program
because when her daughter started RCIA her daughter was about to join a gang
and through the grace of God she had a complete change of heart. Now our student respects her mom and the two
of them have joined Jovenes Para Cristo, a parish group. She was not the only mom in tears concerning
kids that participated in the program this year. After the testimonies, we moved into the food
banquet, as usual we asked for a volunteer to lead us in prayer and to our
surprise two people came to the front. A
couple who got married during this RCIA year.
It was beautiful to be led in grace from two souls who united as one and who
through the RCIA process learned that marriage is more than a piece of paper
(smile). Then we ate as one big family
and said our individual good byes. We
had a student straggler that waited until the last minute, and whispered, “I
don’t want to leave, I don’t want this to be over.” SMILE
Beginning of the ceremony.
This year's class of twenty-nine students.
The top eight students.
A healthy cake...
A not so healthy flan/cake.
The team.
Students with teachers.
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