Over the first weekend of Lent, 290 people from 62 places in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois came to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception to take part in the Rite of Election of Catechumens and of the Call to Continuing Conversion of Baptized Catholics. They were accompanied by the priests, deacons, sponsors, godparents, families and friends who traveled with them. Those who came to the see city on Sunday dealt with less than desirable road conditions as several inches of snow fell that day, followed by freezing rain.

Because the Cathedral would be too crowded to hold all the people scheduled to come there, people from Springfield and the immediate surrounding areas took part in the Saturday evening liturgy, while those who live more than 50 miles away were there on Sunday afternoon.

Since many of the visitors had never before been inside the Cathedral, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki both welcomed them and gave a brief catechetical instruction about the building. He explained that the Cathedral gets its name from the cathedra chair, which is the symbol of the bishop's teaching authority in the church.

In this homily Bishop Paprocki spoke of the significance of the liturgies. "So it is important for us to note that there is a significant election taking place at the Cathedral today, 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.'

"The Latin etymology is important to help us understand what is taking place here theologically," he said. "Each of you catechumens and candidates may be thinking, 'I have come here today because I am choosing to become Catholic.' Well, that is true to the extent that you are engaging your free will to accept the invitation to join the Catholic Church, but the invitation itself was first initiated by God by choosing you to follow him. In that sense, God is the one doing the electing or choosing. You are accepting what God has chosen for you, not what you have chosen for God!"

Bishop Paprocki said it was also important to understand clearly the actions of the catechumens and candidates. "Accepting God's call for you to enter the Catholic Church is not a cause for self-righteousness or for seeking admiration or praise for what you are doing. It is not we who are doing God any big favor by choosing to become Catholic, but God who has done us the biggest favor possible or imaginable by calling us into his loving embrace.

"Nor is our accepting baptism or full communion in the Catholic Church merely a label or an accomplishment that we can check off our bucket list, but a true conversion that means we will live a Christian way of life for the rest of our lives," he said. "In short, to be a Christian means to recognize our sinfulness, to repent our sinful way of life, and to place ourselves completely dependent on the grace of God to save us and raise us up to live in his love."

In further explanation, he said, "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.' 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."

He then added, "The whole church rejoices at your presence here today, dear catechumens and candidates. 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."

During the liturgies, in which the assemblies participate, 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 blessed the holy water in the baptismal font and recognized those baptized candidates who will complete their Christian initiation.

Now that the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion has taken place, 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 decisions to join the Catholic Church.

Although they gathered in the Cathedral for these liturgies, 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, March 26.