Over the first weekend of Lent, 312 people from 61 parishes and two university campuses attended the Rite of Election of Catechumens and of the Call to Continuing Conversion of Baptized Catholics. They came to the see city in spite of nearly a foot of snow that fell early in the day on Saturday and the bitter cold temperatures on Sunday — and they were accompanied by the priests, deacons, sponsors, godparents, families and friends who traveled with them.
Because the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception would be too crowded to hold all who came there, people from Springfield and the immediate surrounding areas took part in the Saturday evening liturgy while those who live some distance away were there on Sunday afternoon.
For many it was their first time inside the Cathedral. That's why, in his welcome, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki gave a brief catechetical instruction about the Cathedral. He explained how the building gets its name from the cathedra chair, which is the symbol of the bishop's teaching authority in the church.
In his homily Bishop Paprocki said there was an election taking place at the Cathedral. "… not a political election, but an election of faith. The word 'election' comes from the Latin word eligo which means, 'I choose,' the past participle of which is electus, which means 'one having been chosen.'" He said an invitation to join the Catholic Church was initiated by God "choosing you to follow him."
"You are accepting what God has chosen for you, not what you have chosen for God," he said.
The whole church rejoices when catechumens and candidates come to the church, he continued. "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," Bishop Paprocki 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."
Speaking to the catechists, godparents and sponsors he said, "You have shared your faith with those who will be, as it were, your spiritual children. I thank you for your credible witness to the truth. You have come to understand that (to quote Pope Francis) 'it is possible to realize something new within ourselves and around us, simply because God is faithful, continues to be full of goodness and mercy, and is always ready to forgive.'"
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."
He then blessed the holy water in the baptismal font and recognized those baptized 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 enlightenment and purification, when they and their parish communities focus on conversion and reflect on their decision to join the Catholic Church.
Although they gathered in the Cathedral for this liturgy, the elect and candidates will become full members of the church through the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and Eucharist at their own parishes' Easter Vigil on Saturday, April 4.