Bishop Thomas John Paprocki presided at two liturgies the first weekend of Lent, welcoming catechumens (the unbaptized), Christian candidates for full communion and Catholic candidates for confirmation and Eucharist to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield.
Altogether 295 candidates and catechumens of all ages, hailing from 61 different places attended the Rite of Election of Catechumens and the Call to Continuing Conversion of Baptized Candidates with their sponsors, godparents, family and friends. To allow enough room in the cathedral church, those who lived within 50 miles of Springfield came for the Saturday evening (Feb. 16) liturgy and those who had to travel some distance were there for the Sunday afternoon (Feb. 17) liturgy.
In his homily, Bishop Paprocki said, "Dear catechumens, you who seek the grace of baptism and a share in the life and love of the Blessed Trinity, we who have already been baptized into Christ set out with you into the spiritual desert of faith, to beg the Lord to 'increase our faith.' (Luke 17:5).
"In the quiet of your hearts you have heard the Lord invite you to enter into his friendship. I am grateful for your willingness to open yourselves to his life-changing love," he said. "Let your anticipation of the coming Easter spur you on to give yourselves ever more completely to Jesus Christ, holding nothing back from him."
To the candidates Bishop Paprocki said, "You who have already been washed clean in the waters of baptism, you seek to be received into the full communion of the Catholic — the universal — Church. You seek to do so during an historic moment in the life of the church.
"I will soon call you to a deeper and more intentional conversion under the papacy of Pope Benedict XVI; on the holy night of Easter, you will be received into the full communion of the church under — God willing — the papacy of a new Supreme Pontiff.
"Let these historic days serve to teach you — as they teach even those of us who are 'cradle' Catholics — that the church is not our church but God's church, which remains under our Supreme Pastor, Jesus Christ, even when a pope renounces the Office of the Bishop of Rome."
During the liturgy, in which the assembly participated, Bishop Paprocki ratified the enrollment of the names of the catechumens in the parishes' Book of the Elect. From now until they are baptized, these individuals will be referred to as "the elect." He 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, March 30.