Nearly 1,500 seek full initiation
Faithful unite as one community, declare intentions at Rite of Election ceremonies

By Rebecca Bostic, The Catholic Sun
March 15, 2007

Those who seek full initiation into Catholicism must first undertake a journey that lasts for months, culminating at Easter, when they enter into full communion with the Church.

Lent marks the final chapter for those planning to be baptized or to make a profession of the Catholic faith at the Easter Vigil.

One of the final steps along this journey of initiation is the Rite of Election, celebrated by Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted during three ceremonies, Feb. 25-26 at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral.

Close to 1,500 catechumens and candidates — those seeking baptism and baptized Christians planning to make a public profession of faith, respectively — gathered from parishes throughout the Phoenix Diocese to formally request baptism and acceptance from Bishop Olmsted.

In the annual Church ceremony, the bishop accepts the elect by receiving a book of names from each parish that he then signs in the presence of the congregation.

“The Rite of Election gives those present a sense of the community of faith that is the Church,” Bishop Olmsted said.

“At times, conversion or a similar faith decision can seem like a private decision because it is so deeply personal,” he added. “But in fact, God works through others in the Church to touch our individual lives. Liturgies like the Rite of Election broaden our awareness of this communal richness of faith in Christ.”

Chris Sieracki, director of adult religious education at St. Helen Parish in Glendale, enjoyed watching his parish elect realize that they are part of a larger Church community.

“To come together with the bishop at the Rite of Election, they see the larger Church,” Sieracki said. “We have our community, but our community is part of this larger universal Church and it is very exciting” for the candidates and catechumens.

Spiritual preparation

The Rite of Election marks the beginning of the Period of Enlightenment for the catechumens and candidates “where they will formally receive the Creed and will end with the celebration of the sacraments during the Easter Vigil,” said Sr. Ginger Downey, OLVM, interim director of the Office of Worship for the Phoenix Diocese.

The rite always occurs in the first weeks of Lent “so that the remainder of Lent can be seen as a retreat or spiritual grounding before taking the baptismal promise or making a public profession of faith,” Sr. Ginger said.

The crux of the Rite of Election is the presentation of a book signed by every catechumen and candidate from a parish.

As the bishop signs each book, “It is a sign that these people have become part of the Elect and can be baptized at the Easter Vigil,” Sr. Ginger said. “It is the formal acceptance of their request for baptism.”

Allison Gomez, a parishioner at St. Louis the King in Glendale, was excited to attend the Rite of Election.

“It’s the chance to renew and cleanse myself and start my new life with my faith,” Gomez said. “It was really special being part of the ceremony, being in the presence of the bishop, being with all the different parishes and all the other people that want to renew or restore their faith.”

The bishop added, “As Pope Benedict XVI says, the most important decision a person can make in life is to believe in the love of God.”