Rejoice and Enter
by Bishop Thomas J. Tobin

As we approach the celebration of Easter, my thoughts and prayers are with you as you prepare to receive the sacraments of the Church and become a member of our Catholic family. I’d like to share with you a few thoughts about the Church you are about to join.

What kind of Church will you find when you enter our door? Well, first of all, you will find a Church that is thoroughly human, because its members are thoroughly human. Sometimes we fail to live as we ought; we sin as individuals and stumble as a community. The Church has made plenty of mistakes through history and is certainly imperfect today.

And yet, isn’t that exactly why we join the Church—because we know we are weak, that we need the loving support of other people and the powerful grace of Almighty God? It is for that reason we begin every Mass with the words, “Let us call to mind our sins and ask for God’s forgiveness.” The Church is composed of human beings, not angels. You need to be very comfortable with the human dimension of the Church or you will become disillusioned very quickly!

Keep in mind, however, that the Church you are joining is also divine! The Church is much more than just another social club or fraternal organization. We believe that the Church is established by Jesus Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit. That’s why we refer to the Church as the “People of God” and the “Body of Christ.” Because of its divine characteristics, we always maintain a special respect for the Church, even in those moments when we are aware of its human failings.

Every work of the Church, then, is a combination of the human and divine. This is true whether we speak about religious education, evangelization, recruiting vocations to the priesthood, fund-raising, or anything else. From a human perspective we work very hard, we do our very best, but then we turn everything over to the Lord knowing that, in the end, He is still in charge!

As a Catholic, you have certain rights in the Church. For example, you have a right to expect that the Church will preach the authentic Gospel of Christ, in good times and in bad, “whether convenient or inconvenient.” You will learn that the Gospel is not always popular, not always socially acceptable, but that’s okay. It was like that for Jesus too! What is important is that the Church remains faithful to its perennial task of preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ.

You have the right to expect that when you attend Mass on Sunday or any other time, you will find the liturgy of the Church as it is meant to be celebrated—no alternatives, no experimentation. Catholics believe, you see, that the liturgy is the “public prayer” of the entire community, regulated by the Church according to certain laws and directives.

In the Church you should expect to find people who share your Christian values, values such as respect for human life, the dignity of every person, the sanctity of human sexuality, the permanence of marriage, a sincere concern for the poor, honesty and integrity in daily life, and the willingness to forgive and be forgiven. You will find, in short, a Church that accompanies you in life’s journey, a Church that responds as much as possible to your spiritual, personal, and material needs.

As a Catholic, your primary experience of the Church will be your parish. Every Catholic belongs to a specific parish. It is within your parish that your faith will be expressed and nourished most often. At the same time, however, you also belong to a diocese, under the leadership of the bishop. And you also belong to the Universal Church under the leadership of the Pope, the Vicar of Christ on earth. You are called to love and respect the Universal Church, its teachings and traditions.

Now . . . what does the Church expect of you? Well, the Church expects that you will be a faithful, active member of the community, that you will pray with us and participate in Mass every Sunday and holy day, that you will receive the sacraments frequently, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation. 

The Church expects that you will listen attentively to the Word of God and that it will become normative in your life. The Church expects you to learn and understand the teachings of the Church about faith and morals, and that you will strive to be obedient to those laws.

The Church will ask you to support its work financially. The material resources of the Church have but one purpose, and that is to sustain its mission of teaching, serving, and sanctifying God’s People for the sake of salvation. You need to be a part of that effort by generously sharing your time, talent, and treasure.

I hope that you will become very familiar with those teachings that are rather specific to the Catholic Church. Catholics believe that, along with Sacred Scripture, the Tradition of the Church is also a source of revelation.

And so, for example, Catholics believe that there are seven sacraments; in the primacy of the Pope; in the Communion of Saints; prayers for the dead; and the existence of Purgatory. Catholics believe that the Mass is the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary, and that the Eucharist is truly and substantially the Body and Blood of Christ. Catholics observe certain holy days of obligation, and days of penance when fasting and abstinence are required.

Catholics have a very special devotion to the Virgin Mary. While Catholics do not worship Mary, we do venerate her. We believe that Mary is the Mother of God; that when she was conceived she was free of original sin, and that she remained sinless throughout her life; that she was a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Christ; and that at the end of her time on earth, she was assumed body and soul into heaven. In your prayer you will find in Mary a true spiritual mother, one to whom you can turn in times of sorrow and need.

I hope that you will also become familiar with other very beautiful Catholic customs and devotions. For example, develop a friendship with the saints and angels, and “adopt” some favorite patron saints. Learn to say the Rosary, a prayer that has been a spiritual powerhouse for Catholics for many generations. Attend the devotional services of the Church: Stations of the Cross, Novenas, and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Don’t hesitate to use holy water, make the Sign of the Cross, light vigil candles, and display a crucifix in your home. These practices are part of our Catholic heritage, our “family traditions” you might say. They are the little things that make the Catholic Church so unique, so personable, so lovable!

My friend, congratulations on becoming a member of the Catholic Church. I am proud of you and grateful for your faith. Your desire to join us in the Church is very encouraging and a source of great pride and joy for your family and friends. I will pray for you in this Easter Season and in the days to come. I hope you will pray for me as well.

Most Rev. Thomas J. Tobin is the Bishop of Youngstown, OH, and an episcopal advisor to CUF. This article is a letter of welcome from Bishop Tobin to new members entering the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Youngstown.

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