219 Candidates and 157 Catechumens to receive Sacraments at Easter Vigil

By Sister Lois Paha, O.P., Director of Pastoral Services, Diocese of Tucson

Throughout Lent, those who have been preparing to become new members of the Catholic Church are recognized in prayer at Masses and through two combined Diocesan celebrations of the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion in Tucson and in Yuma.

The Rite of Election is for those who are preparing to receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil Mass. The Call to Continuing Conversion is celebrated for those already baptized who will make a Profession of Faith and receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist at Easter. We refer to the first group as the catechumens who were be declared “the elect” during the Rite of Election and we call the second group the “candidates” for full communion in the Roman Catholic Church.

This Lent, we welcomed 157 catechumens and 219 candidates from across the Diocese of Tucson. They will receive the sacraments later this week at the Easter Vigil Mass.

These rites have been celebrated for the past four decades, since the Second Vatican Council prescribed the revision of the Rite of Baptism for adults and decreed that the catechumenate for adults, divided into several steps, should be restored. The catechumenate is usually referred to by its initiations, “RCIA,” which means, Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. The periods and celebrations during the RCIA include well-suited instruction and liturgical rites at successive intervals of time. At first, all are name inquires until the first ceremony entitled, the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens for the non-baptized inquirers. This Rite is essential since it is the first part of the Rite of Baptism, calling them by name, asking them their intention, and signing them with the cross for the first time.

For the catechumens, before coming to the Rite of Election, they celebrate the Rite of Sending at their parish wherein they have inscribed their names in the Book of the Elect. These names are then presented to Bishop Weisenburger in the procession of the Book of the Elect at the diocesan celebration of the Rite of Election. The sponsors are also questioned and give testimony to the readiness of the catechumens to continue their preparation for Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.

For the candidates completing their call to full initiation in the Roman Catholic Church, their experience is similar in that they have found comfort, strength, support, and the continuation of their journey of faith within the Catholic community.

A significant experience for all who attend this ceremony is the knowledge that there are so many people on a similar journey. Each story of conversion is unique, and each story gives witness to the tremendous love God has for the human community. It is remarkable to learn of the obstacles people have had to overcome to make this choice and to follow the Lord. In his homily, Bishop Edward Weisenburger emphasized this call of love from God. He quoted the words of Jesus in the Gospel of John, “It is not you who chose me, it is I who chose you!” (John 15: 16)

As the names of each catechumen and candidate are called, we hear the litany of those who have generously responded to the call of Christ Jesus to be his disciple at this time in their lives. The community accepts and supports that call and agrees to walk with these people in love and support.

We pray in the final intercessions of the service for the catechumens who are now called the Elect, the candidates for full communion, their teachers, godparents, and sponsors and for the gathered community that together we may grow in charity and be constant in prayer.

During Holy Week, let us keep these elect and candidates in prayer.