by Maureen Murray
Special to The Leaven
LAWRENCE — The Lion of the Tribe of Judah roared at the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center here on the campus of the University of Kansas this past Easter Vigil, when director Father Luke Doyle baptized, confirmed and gave first Communion to a record number of new Catholics.
On the first night of OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), Father Doyle offered students a path to becoming “authentic Jayhawks; witnesses to true freedom and life,” reminding all gathered that God is not only real but reveals himself in love to those who honestly seek.
He encouraged students to come open and ready to be honest with both their minds and their hearts, and to immerse themselves in the greatest story that has ever been told. He offered those who attended a perspective they had perhaps never considered; the church, her priests, and God himself, all viewed them as her greatest treasure. They were — and are — the reason Christ — and every priest — gives up his life: that others might come to know how much their lives and their stories matter to God.
Whether brought by friends active at the campus center, missionaries or through private study, the power of the Holy Spirit drawing many hearts and minds to Christ was evident.
“My neighbors invited me to Mass,” said Anabelle Merten, an education major. “They are coming for my confirmation!”
“My parents wanted to leave me free to decide for myself,” explained KU freshman Ugo Oyefa, “so I wasn’t baptized. My aunt, though, she told me it was time now to decide.”
Graduate student Trevor Good, meanwhile, found “The beauty of the sacred liturgy and the universal call to holiness means a lot to me.”
The Rite of Election on Feb. 22 was a turning point for the group. Meeting Archbishop Shawn McKnight, standing as one of the successors to the Apostles, made real both apostolic succession and the call to commit. A few more classes, spring break and the OCIA retreat had arrived.
The Easter Vigil was soon to follow. The excitement and joy of becoming Catholic was written all over the faces of the new Catholics. Jack Halligan, a freshman engineering student, said, “I grew up Evangelical and I truly loved Jesus. . . . I was blessed with the opportunity to attend Mass with my friend Patrick, and that kicked it all off! I realized how much I had been missing, above all the Eucharist. . . . And now that I am confirmed, I truly believe I am experiencing the fullness of the faith!”
That sentiment resounded among the group.
“Usually Easter is just a day,” said William Hunt, “but I drew closer to Jesus by experiencing the intensity of all the Holy Week liturgies.”
“It was surreal,” added Ellie Moore, “going from crossing my arms for a blessing to receiving Jesus in the Eucharist and feeling the love of the community.” Others agreed.
Caroline Clarke spoke of the joy she experienced going into Mass and of the happiness of being called by her saint’s name.
Christine McCubbins, a nursing major, summed her experience up this way.
“This was the hardest — but best — thing I’ve had to do,” she said.
