Entering the Divine Love Story: Northern Colorado Comes Home to the Catholic Church
- Guest Contributor
- 18 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Hundreds gathered for a Rite of Election ceremony in Windsor last month, encouraged by Bishop Jorge Rodríguez to enter the story of God's love for each person.
By Joe Donelson
Last month, Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Windsor was filled to the brim with Northern Colorado as catechumens and their sponsors celebrated the annual Rite of Election, a sort of public announcement of their desire to be baptized and received into the Church through the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults. It is a vital period in the process of an elect’s conversion that will culminate in their receiving the sacraments at the Easter Vigil.
The large number of catechumens was a sign of great hope to Denver Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Rodríguez, who greeted and received them on behalf of the Church.
“You know, I think God is telling us that he’s the one in control,” the bishop told the Denver Catholic. “Conversion to Jesus Christ is all the work of grace. So this is very clear: this Rite shows us the work of grace in the hearts of the men and women who are responding ‘yes.’ This is very, very encouraging.”
Devan Hurley, a catechumen hailing from Nativity of Our Lord Parish in Broomfield, feels the same encouragement.
“It was the first Ash Wednesday Mass I went to this week. I just felt a bunch of peace and love, it felt like home,” Hurley said. “When I did the Rite of Entrance, I had a very similar feeling. I know that each step of the way my faith grows stronger, and this Rite of Election is another step of verification that this is where I’m supposed to be.”
While Hurley grew up in a non-religious family, she had Christian relatives who exemplified a faith-based way of life for her. Coming from a family of six also helped develop goals and values that are family-oriented and in line with the teachings of the Church.
(Photos by Joe Donelson/Denver Catholic)
“Growing up, I had always felt a connection to the Catholic Church,” she said. “Which is weird because I had only ever been to one Catholic church, and everything was in Vietnamese. My grandma is from Vietnam. We were little and had no understanding of what was happening, but it was interesting to me.”
Hurley’s conversion follows the reconversion of her husband’s family to the Catholic Church last year. Through their return and the alignment of values she already held dear, she’s found her way to Catholicism.
“Last year, when we started going to church more, nothing was super pressured for me towards religion, which I think was so great, and I was exposed more and realized a lot of the values are the same as mine,” Hurley reflected. “I really resonate with the teachings of love. If you’re going to act with kindness and show kindness, it’s not about getting that back in return, but you are expected to be a good human and good person.”
Hurley is currently working towards becoming an occupational therapist, inspired in part by her desire to embody the goodness and kindness expected of a follower of Christ. The process of her conversion has helped expand that desire and her ability to follow through.
“I feel like I’ve become more patient,” she said. “I really try to take a step back with the kindness that is taught in the New Testament: no matter if it was inconvenient for Jesus, he always tries to help everybody. Showing my kindness can help other people, and I would want that in return as well.
“If I want to be a part of a religion, I want to go all in,” she continued. “It’s in the Bible: you get on your knees to pray, and you give it your all. I feel like a lot of the teachings in Catholicism are about love with no restraints. It makes it feel like home.”
Addressing the soon-to-be fully initiated, Bishop Rodriguez reminded Hurley, her fellow catechumens and the whole of the Church to remember the core truth of our faith.
“What I would like to say and to insist: this is a love story,” the bishop said. “Unless we keep Christianity as a love story between you and God — the God who called you, the God who is now electing you to be loved by him — well, I don’t think we’ll ever find joy, and the story won’t be as colorful as it could be. But if this is the base of what you are now entering, which is a personal relationship with the Lord, I assure you, you are going to be very joyful and happy in your life.”
