ROCKFORD—Two ceremonies of the “Celebration of the Rite of Election of Catechumens and the Call to Continuing Conversion of Candidates” took place at the Cathedral of St. Peter on March 5, one in the English language and the other in Spanish.

 

The beautiful day welcomed catechumens and candidates, their godparents/sponsors and families from throughout the diocese for this formal step before the Easter Vigil when they will be baptized (catechumens only) and receive the sacraments of confirmation and Eucharist.

 

The rite included the Liturgy of the Word, presentation of the catechumens and their enrollment and election, and presentation of the candidates where they were recognized. In both cases the sponsors and godparents agreed to continue to support their catechumens/candidates with guidance and concern.

 

Bishop David Malloy then prayed over those gathered before the final song. A light reception followed both ceremonies where the bishop posed with the various groups and individuals for photos.

 

In the first part of his homily in that “Mother Church of this Diocese,” the bishop expressed his wish that the Cathedral would “become for you, even if it is not a regular place of your worship, still a place in your heart and a real sign of a part of the unity of the Church.”

 

He noted that the gathering included laity, priests, catechists, deacons, seminarians and young people, calling their presence “a sign” of the meaning of the step they were taking that day. “Your bishop,” he added, “is here as a sign of the unity of the Church ... we are seeking to integrate ourselves into that unity that is the Church, the unity of faith ... of charity ... of practice, (the) unity of our search for heaven itself.”

 

This gathering, he added, could be called “the home stretch. Six weeks from today is the Easter Vigil.”