Bishop Dennis Sullivan presided at the annual Rite of Election at Our Lady of Hope Parish, Blackwood on March 10. In all, more than 142 future Catholics in full communion with Church were present.
This is a very significant and important step in the Rite of Christian Initiation. Typically celebrated on the first Sunday of Lent, led by the bishop, all of the catechumens and candidates in the diocese, their godparents (for catechumens), and sponsors (for catechumens and candidates) gather together on this day. The Church formally ratifies the catechumens’ readiness for the Sacraments of Initiation and the candidates’ readiness to be received into full communion with the Catholic Church. In turn the catechumens – from now on known as the elect – publicly acknowledge their desire to receive the Sacraments of Initiation, and the candidates their desire to be received into full communion with the Catholic Church, which will occur in their parishes during the Easter Vigil Mass.