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Karen Estep shares her experience from the Rite of Election, when she met the bishop of her diocese for the first time.


I feel like I should come with a warning label. I am the worst person when it comes to keeping reverence. I tell jokes at funerals, I tell jokes during serious conversations, I make fun of myself a lot, and just generally prefer laughing (albeit awkward) to being super serious. I even got in trouble for making my mom, cousin, and aunt laugh hysterically at my very much loved great aunt’s funeral. My husband is thoroughly convinced that St. Lawrence is my patron saint. While being burned, St. Lawrence told the leaders that he was finished cooking on one side and could they please flip him over.

So it should come as no surprise to anyone that in my nervousness to meet the bishop during the Rite of Election, I made jokes the entire time. The RCIA group that I am a part of is extremely special. We all get along well, laugh together, and I know once our Sunday morning catechism classes are done, I will miss seeing them regularly. 

We started the Rite of Election teasing one of the candidates about the fact that he could not read the print of the bulletin. It was too small for his eyes. When the cantor got up to sing, I asked the candidate to lead the song as well …that got several laughs. We are just generally fun to be around as a group of people. We were one of the only RCIA groups that interacted together, laughed, and seemed to have a good time at the Rite of Election.

As the night went on and the time came closer and closer to actually step forth and meet the bishop, I got more nervous! We were all forewarned that he would be asking us a question, but not what the question would be. The possibilities of what this could be are endless and all I was thinking was, “He is going to ask me a theology question and I’m not going to know the answer! There goes my chance at Catholicism."

So I did what any person like me would do: I asked silly questions. I noticed the bishop was shaking everyone’s hand. We still live in a time of germs and Covid and to get my neighbor to laugh, I asked if I was allowed to give the bishop a fist bump instead. This idea was shot down, though.Then I nervously fidgeted … until it was my turn to shake the Bishop’s hand.

Drum roll, please, for his big question:

“Well, I noticed you were part of the group that’s already been baptized, can you tell me a bit about your faith journey?”

Oh boy, here we go. See, my faith journey starts out pretty “normal.” I was baptized in the Lutheran Church; however, I was raised in The Salvation Army Church (that’s a longer story) and that always confuses people. And so when I told this to the bishop, I got a very quizzical look. My prompt response was this and I wish I was joking, however, I am not, “But I love God!” This would be a fine response in itself, except add in my Tony the Tiger arm movement (think about what he does when he says, “They’re great!”) and I promptly wanted to walk off and go back to melt in my pew.

My RCIA group is still to this day, making arm hook movements at me and asking if I love God. It’s all in great fun and I’m glad they are the people going through this journey with me.

Click to tweet:
The Catholic community has fully embraced me, even if I’m the worst at keeping reverent. I am one hundred percent accepted, flaws and all. #catholicmom

One thing that stuck out during the bishop’s homily was he wanted us to be very clear that there is no “Catholic Club,” that we aren’t entering into a place of secret handshakes and passwords. Every Catholic whether a cradle Catholic, revert, or convert like me is on the same journey. Now, our roads may look different, the roads may have higher highs, bigger dips, or more curves, but the roads all lead to the same end goal. We are joining a community.

The last few weeks since the Rite of Election have really made me feel grateful to be joining this community. My family and especially my children, are truly loved at our parish. This makes my mama heart filled with immense joy. Through Catholic Mom I have met so many brilliant authors and thoughtful people willing to cheer my family and me on, even when I may not know the right words. Through Instagram’s Catholic circle I have made friends with such talented creators that are praying for me and my family.

The Catholic community has fully embraced me, even if I’m the worst at keeping reverent. I am one hundred percent accepted, flaws and all. People that I have met in this community, well, “They’re great!” (Imagine the arm hook, please).

 

2 women laughing outside of a church


Copyright 2022 Karen Estep
Image: Canva Pro