t eanc VOL. 41, NO.8
II
Friday, February 21, 1997
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A MOST WONDERFUL "FIAT"! 90 catechumens and candidates and their families and sponsors gathered Feb. 16 at St. Mary's Cathedral, Fall River, to say "Yes" and declare their intent to become full members of the Catholic Church. Here, one candidate adds her name to the list as her sponsor and Father Richard E. Degagne look on. (Anchor/Jolivet photo)
90 catechumens gather at Cathedral to express desire to join Catholic Church
SecotufSutUfay
, Of
Lent Index
Church & World
12
Daily Readings
6
Editorial
4
Necrology
7
Saluting Seniors .. 10 Steering Points
16
Youth News
14
By Dave Jolivet Anchor staff B'shop Sean O'Malley OFM Capl" was the presiding c~lebran~ for the Rite of Election and the Call to Continuing Conversion held at St. Mary's Cathedral, Fall River last,Sunday afternoon. The event: held on the first Sunday of Lent in the context of a Liturgy of the Word, is a celebration for candidates preparing for confirmation and the Eucharist and for nonCatholic candidates preparing for reception into the full communion of the Catholic Church. 90 catechumens and candidates from throughout the diocese gathered with their sponsors, families and friends before the bishop to express their desire to be fully initiated members of the Church. The rites are part of the Rite of Christian Iniliation of Adults (RCIA), There are three categories for whom the rite is designed: I.) Catechumens ~ persons who have never been baptized into any faith and who come to the Church seeking the sacraments of initiation: baptism, confirmation and Eucharist. 2.) Candidates preparing for confirmation and/or Eucharist - persons who have been
baptized into the Catholic Church, but have not been fully initiated, persons who have, for some reason, fall~n away from the practice of th,e f~lth and are, thus called t? contlnumg c,onverslOn. 3.) Candldates prepanng .for reception int,o the full communion ofthe Catholic Chu~ch -: persons who have, b~en baptl~ed Into a~other Chnstlan eccleslal commu!ll~~ who now seek to become fUI.ly Initiated members of the Catholic Church. During the ceremony, Father Richard Degagne, director of the diocesan RCIA, read the names of the catechumens and candidates to the bishop, who in turn asked that they and their sponsors present themselves to the filled church, Bishop O'Malley asked the sponsors if the catechumens and candidates were sufficiently prepared to be enrolled among the elect forthe coming celebration of Easter; if they have faithfully listened to God's Word proclaimed by lhe Church; if they have responded to the Word and begun to walk in God's presence; and if they have shared the company oftheir Christian brohters and sisters and have joined them in prayer. The sponsors answered affirmatively, and
the bishop asked if the catechumens and candidates wished to enter fully into the life of the chur~h throug~ the s~craments of baptls~, confirmatIOn and the
With that completed. the bishop declared the catechumens and candidates to be members of the Elect, to be ,initiated into the Sa~r~d Mystenes at the next Easter V!gll. Eu~hans,t. Theprese~tees~nswered ,As part of,the Call t~ Contlnuafflfmatlvely, at which time they mg Convers1o,n, the bishop told were asked to come forward and the elect, candidates and sponsors write the!r names in the Book of that the Christian life and demands the Elect m the front of the church. Turn to Page 13
INITIAnON CANDIDATES listen carefully as Bishop O'Malley offers his blessing upon them. (Anchor/Jolivet photo)