Easter a time for renewing faith as 800 in metro Detroit become Catholic

When Charles Wesley underwent knee surgery last month, he was anxious about what it could mean for his health and mobility as a left guard for the football team at Wayne State University.

But at the same time, the 21-year-old Detroit student was taking religious classes and reconnecting with his faith over a period of several months as he worked toward becoming a confirmed Catholic. Wesley's spiritual journey has helped him not only become part of the Catholic Church, but also deal with worries about his personal health and challenges.

"I got knee surgery a couple of weeks ago," said Wesley, a junior at Wayne State. "I was sad about that, but I feel that through my faith and through church ... I could get through that so much easier and just still be happy to understand: God has a plan for everyone. You might not know why this happened now, but, eventually, you're realizing something so much greater than what you've gone through."

Leading up to Easter Sunday, Wesley was among about 800 others in the Archdiocese of Detroit preparing to become Catholics in a monthslong process called the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA), previously known as Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults until a couple of years ago.

They have engaged in discussions with priests and others about Christianity and the mysteries of their faith, along with learning the steps needed to become Catholic. The 800 metro Detroiters were set to formally become Catholics on Saturday night during Easter vigil services, joining 1.1 million Catholics — down from 1.3 million a decade ago — in the archdiocese that includes Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Lapeer and St. Clair counties.

"It is a yearlong process of formation and conversion that leads to them being baptized at the Easter vigil," explained the Rev. Matthew Hood, chaplain for Detroit Catholic Campus Ministry, which Wesley is part of. "The Easter vigil is the most solemn liturgy that we have. It's when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, and the opportunity to share in his life."

Depending on their previous religious life, some will be baptized and receive the Eucharist for the first time this weekend. Others will be confirmed for the first time in a ceremony that takes place in churches across Michigan and around the world.

"This is the pinnacle of ... the year, our highest point," Wesley said.

While he has celebrated Easter before, studying theology in recent months has helped him better understand its significance.

"This is the first time I'm going into Easter truly understanding what it means to me," he said.

On Thursday evening, inside Our Lady of the Rosary, a historic church on Woodward Avenue in Detroit near Interstate 94, Wesley joined other worshippers in the Mass of the Lord's Supper led by Hood on what is called Holy Thursday. During the Mass, which recalls the origins of the priesthood and how Catholics take part in the Eucharist, Wesley was one of 12 men who had their feet washed by Hood to symbolize the love of Christ for his apostles and others. Assisted by altar servers, Hood used a metal pitcher to pour water on their left feet and then rub it dry with a towel as an organ played, its music reverberating inside the church with stained glass windows depicting Christ's life. The smell of incense smoke floating from a thurible filled the sanctuary.

During the homily, Hood spoke about the Jewish commemoration of the Passover meal, which Jesus led during the Last Supper. This year, the weeklong Passover holiday and Easter happen to take place at the same time.

"They call to mind the events and to remember that God has been faithful to them, in hope that God will continue to be faithful to them," Hood said to the crowd inside the church, the sound of cars rushing by on the highway heard outside. "We should enter into these days with the same intensity, the same devotion because ... Jesus gathers together with his apostles ... saying, 'This celebration of God's providence and care for us is being brought to fulfillment in the Last Supper.' "

Wesley is one of five students with the campus ministry who will become Catholic this weekend, Hood said. Last year, they had only one. Religious communities are engaging more in person as concern about the pandemic fades, resulting in more opportunities to reach out and bring people to the faith. Four of the five students have Christian backgrounds and one is a Hindu man who is converting. Two of them, including Wesley, were baptized earlier in their life, but haven't received other sacraments.

More: Pope Benedict shaped Catholics in metro Detroit amid cultural clashes

More: Detroit Muslim leader remembered for faith and outreach

Wesley grew up in Clinton Township and was raised Catholic, attending St. Peter's Catholic Church.

"I was born and baptized Catholic, and I went to catechism until just right before middle school," Wesley said.

He drifted from his faith as a teenager, but in college, he had classmates who read the Bible and renewed his interest in Christianity. His father told him about classes he could take to learn more and formally become part of the Catholic Church.

"It's very helpful just to have someone to help me read through it and be there to explain things and answer questions," Wesley said.

After the Mass, he and others walked in a procession led by Hood carrying a box that contained the Blessed Sacrament, what is believed by Catholics to be the body and soul of Christ, into a dimly-lit chapel behind the main area of the church.

Kneeling in front of what's called the altar of repose, they held lit candles in their hands. Joey Muzljakovich, 23, of Traverse City, was seated next to Wesley as they reflected in the chapel.

"I'm very excited" about becoming Catholic, Muzljakovich said.

While his mom and many of his friends were Catholic and he attended a Catholic high school, "I never took that next step into becoming Catholic," he said.

The OCIA process that he started in October "has really opened my eyes," Muzljakovich said. "God opened my heart a little bit."

Hood said the process to become Catholic allows worshippers to ask questions and engage in discussions that continue after Easter. After Sunday, they are called neophytes and continue to reflect for 50 additional days.

"The process of 'becoming Catholic' really doesn’t end at baptism," explained the Archdiocese of Phoenix in a description of OCIA. "Becoming Catholic is a process we do our whole lives as we continue to grow deeper in faith and love for God and his people."

Hood said "it's really an opportunity of real intense joy and excitement to to be a part of these coming days."

He hopes that excitement will continue for new Catholics and others.

"This significance of Easter is that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead," Hood said. "He has conquered our greatest foe as human beings, which is sin and death. And he offers to us his own divine life. We look to the joy of Easter as the joy that — like God has invited us into a relationship with himself, and desires to share his love with others so that we might share that love with as many people as possible."

Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com or Twitter @nwarikoo.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Catholic converts finalize process during Easter week