Every year on the first Sunday in Lent a milestone in the life of a growing Church is celebrated as bishops throughout the world welcome those who are preparing to become Catholic.
On that day, the men and women – called catechumens – gather in their diocese’s cathedral or co-cathedral for the Rite of Election, a time when they are formally acknowledged by the bishop, or his delegate, for their readiness to receive the Sacraments of Initiation – Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist – at the Easter Vigil. Over the course of many months, even years, the catechumens have been learning about the Catholic Church through their studies, faith experiences and participation in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults in their parishes.
In the Diocese of Trenton, the Rite of Election will take place Feb. 22. At that time, more than 390 adults and youths from Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties – along with their sponsors, families and OCIA team members – are expected to gather with Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., beginning at 3 p.m. in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold.
The ceremony will be livestreamed on the diocesan Youtube channel at www.youtube.com/trentondiocese.
The Rite of Election, which coincides with the first Sunday of Lent, is a formal step along the path of those catechumens journeying toward reception into the Catholic Church. During the rite, upon the testimony of sponsors and catechists and the catechumens’ affirmation the Easter Vigil, which will be celebrated April 4.
The Rite of Election stems from the Christian practice for those preparing to be initiated into the Church to declare their intention at the start of the Lenten season. The “election” refers to the covenant by God with his chosen people of Israel. The rite is the beginning of the final phase of preparation for those participating in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, the process through which adults enter the Catholic Church.
During the ceremony, the catechumens will be formally acknowledged by Bishop O’Connell to receive the Sacraments. In turn, the Church affirms that the catechumens are prepared and worthy to be admitted into the faith. Their sponsors also testify to their worthiness and eligibility for admission by the Bishop. Once accepted by the Bishop, the catechumens are publicly declared as “the elect.”
The rite also includes the official enrollment into the Book of the Elect of the names of those requesting Baptism at the Easter Vigil. The signing of the Book, which occurs during the Rite of Sending, takes place in a separate parish ceremony prior to the Rite of Election.
Others who will be taking a significant step in the life of the Diocese are those who have been baptized as Catholics or in other Christian faiths, but have not yet celebrated the additional Sacraments of Initiation – Confirmation and Eucharist. These individuals, referred to as candidates for full communion in the Church, will make a profession of faith, be received into the Church and complete their Sacraments during the Call to Continuing Conversion, a ceremony that may be celebrated in the OCIA candidates’ home parishes on the Sunday before or the First Sunday of Lent.
There are a total of 626 candidates, of whom 531 have been baptized Catholic and another 151 who were baptized in another Christian faith tradition.