Bishop Paprocki welcomes elect, candidates to journey through Lent to Easter Vigil

As is the norm the first weekend of Lent, catechumens and candidates attended the Rite of Election of Catechumens and of the Call to Continuing Conversion of Baptized Candidates at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield on Feb. 25 and Feb. 26.

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki presided at the liturgies, which were held on Saturday evening for people living within 50 miles of Springfield and on Sunday afternoon for those who had to travel some distance.

"The Ritual Book sets the first Sunday (of Lent) as the weekend to celebrate that Rite," said Eliot Kapitan, director of the diocesan Office for Worship and the Catechumenate. Kapitan organized the liturgies and was on hand to read the names of the participants, which included catechumens (unbaptized), Christian candidates for full communion and Catholic candidates for confirmation and Eucharist.

Altogether about 380 catechumens and candidates of all ages, hailing from 60 parishes and one university came to the see city with their sponsors, godparents, family and friends. For many it was their first visit to the Cathedral.

In his opening remarks, Bishop Paprocki said goodness in life comes from God. "You are here because God has called you. Any action and goodness in our life comes from him. The Rite of Election means you have been chosen by God and that is what we celebrate today," he said.

In his homily, Bishop Paprocki continued that theme. "Today we have gathered to celebrate an ancient ritual of Holy Mother Church in which those seeking the sacrament of baptism 'give in their names,'" Bishop Paprocki said. "We have also gathered today to call those who have already received the grace of baptism to a life of deeper fidelity to Christ and to an ongoing conversion to prepare to be received into the full communion of the church which the Lord established on the rock of Peter."

Bishop Paprocki spoke to the catechumens and the candidates about their decisions to move forward in the church and then said, "The whole church rejoices at your presence here today, dear catechumens and candidates. There are many who would like us to believe that the church is diminishing, that faith in the western world is weakening, that Christianity will soon have vanished.

"Your presence among us and your desire to enter into the full communion of the church demonstrates quite the opposite," he said. "Through you, we see in a clear fashion that activity of the Holy Spirit present in the world, stirring the hearts of men, women, and children to turn to the One who has not only given them life but who also gave his life for them."

In concluding his homily, Bishop Paprocki said that during Lent the Catholic faithful would accompany the catechumens and catechists in the works of increased prayer, fasting and alms-giving that complete faith. "Your desire for a deeper conformity of your life to the teachings of the Master spurs each of us to the same desire," he said.

"Lead us well, dear friends," Bishop Paprocki said, "that we might all enter deeply into the passion of our Lord so as to celebrate with joy unbounded the great joy of his resurrection and of your full reception into the church."

During the liturgy, in which the assembly participated, Bishop Paprocki ratified the enrollment of the names of catechumens in the parishes' Book of the Elect. From now until they are baptized, these individuals will be referred to as "the elect." Bishop Paprocki then recognized the candidates who will complete their Christian initiation.

Following the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion, nothing stands in the way of these people becoming Catholic. For them, Lent is a period of purification and enlightenment, when they and their parish communities focus on conversion and reflect on their decision to join the church.

Although they gathered in Springfield for this liturgy, the elect and candidates will become full members of the Catholic Church through the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and Eucharist at their own parishes' Easter Vigil on Saturday, April 7.