Fully members of the Church at last

By Tom Tracy - Florida Catholic

Photography: TOM TRACY | FC

MIAMI | Fourteen-year-old Christopher Asuar said he was nervous and excited at the same time about becoming a full member of the Catholic Church through the initiation sacraments of confirmation and first Communion.

“On Wednesdays, I have been going to church, where they have been preparing us and teaching us what to do and what to say, and practicing together,” said the youngster, a member of Mother of Christ Parish in southwest Miami-Dade County.

One of more than 100 local Catholics who participated in the annual Rite of Reception ceremony at St. Mary Cathedral May 4, 2025, Christopher attended with his parents, Aleph and Madelyn Asuar, and his younger sister, Melany.

The Rite of Reception is the culmination of a journey to full Communion with the Catholic Church for both youth and adults Catholics who, until now, have not completed their faith journey.

“I am very proud of him because most kids do this because their parents ask them to do it or it's the proper thing to do, but he wanted to do this and he asked to go to church,” said Madelyn Asuar of her son’s two years of weekly preparation.

“He has always been a very faithful child since he was little, and intrigued and curious about religion — I think that is pretty cool for someone his age,” his mother added, noting that he attends a local public school.

The Rite of Reception is for “candidates” who are validly baptized in a Christian denomination and now receiving confirmation and first holy Communion after completing their period of preparation, according to Sister Karen Muñiz, member of the Miami-based Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary and director of the Office of Catechesis for the Archdiocese of Miami.

They are generally accompanied by their sponsors, who walk with them through the preparation until reception of the sacraments.

The formal name for the process through which adults enter the Catholic Church is called the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, culminating with the initiation sacraments after a period of faith formation.

Among the candidates at the Rite of Reception was Christopher Diaz, Assistant Fire Chief for the City of Miami, who was joined by other candidates from St. Brendan Church in Miami.

Diaz, 38, said his wife inspired him to formally complete his spiritual journey and that she, although raised Protestant, walked with him through the process along with their children.

“She agreed to take this journey and leap of faith with me and do (religious education) together. She is the glue that keeps our family together,” Diaz said.

“I am very blessed to have her in my life and to have a family that walks together in faith, who call ourselves Catholics.”