The Archdiocese of Baltimore is preparing to welcome 640 new Catholics at Masses this Easter weekend bringing the total number of catechumens (the un-baptized) and candidates (already Baptized in another Christian Church) receiving the sacrament of initiation since last Easter to nearly 700.
During Saturday’s Easter Vigil Masses, the catechumens will receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist and the candidates will be received into the full communion of the Catholic Church.
Last year, 106,485 joined the Catholic Church in the United States. There are 76.7 million Catholics in the United States (22% of the U.S. population) and nearly 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide.
Archbishop William E. Lori will celebrate the Easter Vigil Mass at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in North Baltimore Saturday at 8 p.m.
For more information, including the complete Holy Week schedule for the Cathedral and Basilica, visit www.archbalt.org.