Bishop Earl Fernandes will celebrate the Rite of Election for the Diocese of Columbus at Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral on Sunday, Feb. 25 at 2:30 p.m.
The liturgical rite is within the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA), also known as the catechumens model for formation that brings individuals who are unbaptized or baptized but not Catholic into full communion with the Catholic Church.
The Rite of Election marks the beginning of a final preparation period for individuals preparing to become Christians in the Catholic Church through receiving the sacraments of initiation – Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion – at the Easter Vigil, which falls this year on Saturday, March 30.
The Rite of Election is for catechumens, unbaptized adults and children who have reached what the Church considers the age of reason (usually age seven) and are preparing to receive the sacraments of initiation.
Candidates are Christians already baptized but not Catholic and who seek full communion with the Church at the Easter Vigil.
“The Rite of Election is a particular rite at which the bishop, as the chief shepherd of the diocese, claims for the Church all those who have been assessed as adequately prepared to receive the sacraments of initiation,” said Father Paul Keller, O.P., S.T.D., the director of the diocese’s Office of Divine Worship. “It’s a rite by which he spiritually enrolls them as belonging to the Church in a new way.”
This year, during the celebration of the Rite of Election, also known as the Enrollment of Names, Bishop Fernandes will claim, or enroll, approximately 200 catechumens for initiation. Through the action of enrollment by the bishop, they are invited to receive the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil.
“It’s a very beautiful, spiritual, fatherly act of the bishop to claim these souls for the Church as they make their final preparation,” Father Keller said.
The celebration will include the Liturgy of the Word, which will be the readings of the Sunday Scriptures, and Bishop Fernandes will preach. Each parish will present their catechumens’ names to the bishop for election.
Catechumens are accompanied by their sponsor as well as the parish OCIA coordinator and possibly a parish priest, Father Keller said. Catechumens come forward to be presented to Bishop Fernandes.
“Once everybody has been presented to the bishop, he elects them – hence, the Rite of Election,” Father Keller said. “He elects, or chooses, them to enter into their final preparation.”
The catechumen, now known as an elect, will begin a final intensive preparation period for the weeks leading up to their reception of the sacraments of initiation. The Rite of Election concludes the formation period, known as the catechumenate stage.
The elect must go through a period of purification and enlightenment. The period focuses on spiritual preparation, interior reflection and repentance.
Father Keller encouraged all the faithful to remember in their prayers their brothers and sisters who will be invited to become Christians in the Catholic Church.
“This is a major event,” he said. “We ask people to pray for the catechumens not just up to the day that they’re baptized but even afterward.”
The Rite of Election is typically celebrated on the First Sunday of Lent. In the Diocese of Columbus this year, the rite will be celebrated on the Second Sunday of Lent due to scheduling.
