The Catholic Sun :: Phoenix Diocesan Newspaper

FLAGSTAFF — More than 50 catechumens and candidates gathered with Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted from three northern Arizona parishes for the annual Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion Feb. 27 at St. Pius X Chapel.

For catechumens — people not yet baptized — the event marked the final part of their journey into the Catholic Church. Candidates, who are already baptized Christians, participated in a Call to Continuing Conversion.

“God uses this time to purify His people and prepare them for a special purpose,” Bishop Olmsted said in his homily. He reflected on the occasions Catholics take time to prepare for God.

He spoke of the Lenten season as a time to seek a deeper awareness of the Church’s mission and of the reality of being tempted. The Holy Spirit, he assured the congregation, would be the source of strength.

“Every word Bishop Olmsted spoke about temptations had a special meaning for me,” said Dennis Teach, a San Francisco de Asís parishioner.

“That’s exactly my experience when I was being received into the Church five years ago,” he said. “God saw me through that trial and I proceeded with the RCIA process.”

Through RCIA — the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults — catechumens prepare for the three sacraments of initiation.

The program for candidates is different because they are already baptized. Yet it parallels the RCIA process and members of both groups often meet together for classes.

At the Easter Vigil, catechumens will receive baptism, confirmation and first Eucharist while candidates will enter full communion with the Church by receiving confirmation and first Eucharist.

Barbara Nabours, RCIA director at San Francisco de Asís, said the process concludes with Mystagogia, a time for developing closer relationships in the parish community and committing oneself to parish ministries.

This is the first year the Rite of Election was held in Flagstaff. It provided the opportunity for more parishioners to witness the proceedings and welcome prospective converts, Nabours said.

“Each person has a unique story about their journey of faith and their call by God,” said Marsha Seervers, RCIA director at St. John Vianney Parish in Sedona. “The entire day was faith-filled.”