On the First Sunday of Lent, 558 catechumens and candidates entered the home stretch toward full communion with the Catholic Church.

On Feb. 17, 138 catechumens, those who have never been baptized, gathered in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, with Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., for the celebration of the Rite of Election. The rite marks the beginning of the final preparation of catechumens – those women, men, teens and children (who are above the age of reason – age seven) to receive the Sacraments of Initiation – Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, at the coming Easter Vigil which this year will be March 30. The catechumens have been preparing for their Christian initiation through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults in their parishes.

Also taking place in parishes earlier that day, or in some cases, the week before, was the Rite of the Call to Continuing Conversion for those candidates who have been baptized Catholic or in another Christian faith tradition other than Roman Catholic. They are called candidates for full communion in the Church, and they are preparing to make a profession of faith, be received into the Church and complete the Sacraments of Initiation by receiving the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil.

During the Rite of Election, which is celebrated throughout the world on the First Sunday of Lent, the catechumens, along with their godparents (Baptism), sponsors (Confirmation), and RCIA team members, gather in the in the cathedral where the catechumens publicly express their desire for Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist to the diocesan bishop.

In his homily, the bishop reminded the catechumens about how the Rite of Election marked a significant milestone. The bishop explained how the focus of the Rite of Election is on the name of “Christian – Catholic Christian which means follower of Christ.”

“It’s an important name and you have been elected to become part of his Church, to be a Catholic, one of God’s chosen ones.”

Following the homily, the pinnacle of the Rite of Election occurred when JoLynn Krempecki, associate director for the diocesan Department of Lay Formation, on behalf of the diocese, presented the catechumens to the bishop. As the names of the catechumens, who hailed from every corner of the four-county diocese, were called from each parish, the catechumens stood with their godparents to be recognized by the bishop. The godparents were asked to publicly testify to the preparation and worthiness of the catechumens for the act of admission or election by the bishop. The rite also included the official enrollment of the catechumens’ names in the Book of the Elect, which they had signed during the Rite of Sending ceremonies earlier in their parishes. The signing of the Book of the Elect symbolizes the catechumens’ commitment to God to live a life as a Catholic Christian. The Book of the Elect is then presented to the bishop at the Rite of Election.

The RCIA candidates are called candidates for full communion in the Church, and they are preparing to make a profession of faith, be received into the Church and complete the Sacraments of Initiation by receiving the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. Of this year’s 420 candidates, 114 have been baptized in other Christian faith traditions and 306 have been baptized Catholic.