CV NEWS FEED // The Archdiocese of Baltimore recently celebrated the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion liturgy to welcome 320 catechumens and 458 candidates set to enter the Catholic Church during Easter Vigil Masses at churches across the archdiocese.
The Catholic Review reports that the archdiocese celebrated the liturgy March 9 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore.
The Rite of Election, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) explains, is part of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), and is usually celebrated on the first Sunday of Lent. During the rite, the bishop records the names of all the catechumens seeking baptism, and they are called the Elect.
The Call to Continuing Conversion is for candidates, baptized Christians seeking to receive one or more of the sacraments of initiation. This liturgy formally recognizes and affirms the candidates’ journey toward full communion with the Catholic Church and calls them to deepen their commitment to Christ and continue their formation.
The Catholic Review adds that catechumens and their godparents, as well as candidates and their sponsors, stood before Archbishop William Lori and answered questions about their intention to join the Church.
During the homily, Archbishop Lori spoke about hope, noting its special significance this year both to the Universal Church and to the candidates and catechumens.
“Pope Francis has declared 2025 to be a jubilee year dedicated to hope,” he said, according to the outlet. “Candidates and catechumens, in presenting yourselves today in freedom and in joy, as candidates for baptism and reception into the church, you are making a profound act of hope.”
According to the Catholic Review, 1,500 people attended the Rite of Election in support of the catechumens and candidates. The packed cathedral was standing room only. .
The Catholic Review shared the stories of several of the converts.
One of them is Alecia Herald, a catechumen from Our Lady of Hope Parish in Dundalk who was raised Southern Baptist. She said her best friend introduced her to the Catholic faith last year. Herlad found that attending Mass gave her the strength to heal her difficult relationship with her father, and she took care of him when he was very ill before he died of cancer.
“He apologized for everything we went through,” Herald said. “(God) allowed me to be with my dad. It was the first time in my adult life I really saw God’s work.”
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