According to the Diocesan Office of Catechetical Ministry, 357 adult catechumens are expected to receive Baptism at Easter Vigil this year. Last year, parishes reported 338 adult catechumens who are ages 18 and over and 1,044 youth catechumens ages 7 to 17.
Beginning this year the Rite of Election for children was transferred to parish pastors. This was done in part because the retirement of Auxiliary Bishop Rutilio del Riego would have required that Bishop Gerald Barnes preside at all nine Rites of Election, a significant logistical challenge. Because of the change, the number of youth catechumens for this year has not been reported to the Diocese.
This year, pastors were also given permission to perform the Call to Continuing Conversion for candidates at their parishes. Maria Covarrubias, Director of the Office of Catechetical Ministry, emphasized that the Rite of Election for children at the parish level is adapted to suit their age but while the Rite remains the same, pastors are strongly encouraged to celebrate it in the context of the Mass on Sunday. The ceremony for adults celebrated by the Diocese is a Liturgy of the Word service.
The catechumens have participated in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) in the past year and were invited to the Rite of Election, a celebration in which the catechumens are introduced to Bishop Barnes and the church community by either their pastor or RCIA coordinator. The bishop asks the catechists and families a variety of questions that would demonstrate that the catechumens are prepared to receive the Sacraments of Initiation.
“We don’t call it a program,” said Covarrubias. “We call it a process because it is a journey that they make in order to take the next step towards receiving the Sacraments.”
After the community validates the catechumens, the Bishop will invite them to sign the Book of the Elect. The Bishop also signs the book as a symbol of acceptance of them as the Elect.
The Elect are expected to receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation at their parishes on Easter Vigil.
Malie Hudson is a freelance writer in the Diocese of San Bernardino.