Pittsburgh Catholic Newspaper - News and Features

News & Features

Rite of election marks conversion process
archived from: 2013-03-08
by: John Franko

Catechumens, candidates move toward Easter Vigil

Some 600 people expressed their desire to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church during two rite of election ceremonies at St. Paul Cathedral in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood.

Catechumens and candidates from pastoral vicariate regions 2 and 3 took part in a Feb. 17 ceremony, while those from vicariates 1 and 4 gathered March 3. In all, 203 parishes were represented.

“It’s an exciting day,” Bishop David Zubik told the Feb. 17 gathering. “You can feel the electricity.”

The rite of election marks the beginning of the final phase of the preparations for the catechumens (those not baptized) and candidates (those baptized but not confirmed) before they enter the church at the Easter Vigil.

As part of the celebration of election, the catechumens were called forward with their godparents. Bishop Zubik asked the godparents if the catechumens were sufficiently prepared to be enrolled in the Book of the Elect. He then asked the catechumens if they wished to enter fully into the life of the church through the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and Eucharist.

Following their affirmation, Bishop Zubik invited them to the altar to sign the Book of the Elect. He added his signature and showed the book to the assembly.

He then declared the catechumens to be members of the elect, and he asked the godparents to support them until they received their sacraments.

For the celebration of the call to continuing conversion, the candidates were called forward with their sponsors. The bishop asked the sponsors to affirm the candidates’ preparation to enter the church, and he asked the congregation if it was willing to include the candidates in their prayers.

Bishop Zubik told the candidates that the church recognizes their desire to be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit, and he asked them if they would listen to the Lord’s call to conversion and be faithful to their baptismal covenant. With their affirmation, he welcomed them to the final stage of their journey. In his homily, the bishop related the story of two men whose wives had died. Both grieved, but one was tormented even more because he confessed that he had never told his wife how much he loved her.

Many of us, the bishop noted, know the regret of the man. We often don’t tell someone how much we love them, or do something for them.

He pointed out that the rite of election highlights how we respond to Jesus Christ. It shows how we all come to meet him, and how important it is that we live like him.

The bishop thanked the catechumens and candidates for becoming more deliberate in their faith. In recalling his own baptism, Bishop Zubik said that, like the husband, we often don’t recognize how special our faith is, and we allow our relationship with Jesus to become routine.

Lent began, the bishop noted, when catechumens and candidates couldn’t contain the joy they were experiencing in their journey to become members of the church. Those who were already members became jealous and they wanted a period that could help them once again get serious about their faith. “Never underestimate what you are doing for us — calling us to never take for granted the Lord Jesus Christ,” he said to those coming into the church.

Bishop Zubik praised the catechumens and candidates for showing what it means to be excited about embracing the faith. Their example, he noted, should be a witness for all to show their love for God and avoid the regrets of the husband.

“We learn much from you,” he said. “Thank you for calling us to the love of the Lord.”

E-mail this story