A total of 727 catechumens and candidates participated in the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion March 13 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland, St. Ann in Hagerstown and St. John Neumann in Annapolis.
The people will enter the Catholic Church at Easter Vigil liturgies across the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Catechumens are people not baptized, for whom the Rite of Election closes the lengthy period of formation. It marks the beginning of the period of final, more intense preparation for the sacraments of initiation.
Relying on testimony of godparents and catechists and of the catechumens’ reaffirmation of their intention, the church judged a catechumen’s state of readiness and decided on their advancement toward the sacraments of initiation. The church made its choice and admission of those catechumens who were ready to receive the sacraments of initiation.
The days of Lent are the final period of purification and enlightenment leading up to the celebration of initiation at the Easter Vigil. During the Easter Vigil April 23, Holy Saturday, the catechumens will receive the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and Holy Eucharist.
Candidates participated in the Call to Continuing Conversion were baptized in another faith and will be received into the full communion with the church. They are preparing for Confirmation and first Eucharist at the Easter Vigil.
They, too, were affirmed by their sponsors and recognized by the church.