Despite continuing threats to religious liberty, Catholics around the Diocese of Peoria will have cause to celebrate next Sunday when more than 200 people come to St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria to declare their intention to proceed to the Easter Sacraments.

The Rite of Election and the Call to Continuing Conversion will take place at prayer services at 3:30 and 6 p.m. on Feb. 26, the First Sunday of Lent. During the ceremonies, Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, will recognize 116 catechumens and 220 candidates and greet them individually.

He will also seek assurances that their sponsors, family members and RCIA coordinators, as well as all the faithful, will pray for these women, men and children as they begin their final preparation to be received into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil on April 7.

Catechumens are those who have not been baptized. At the Rite of Election they will be declared “the elect” — chosen by God to be his own.
Candidates are those who have been baptized but have not completed their Christian initiation through the sacraments of confirmation and/or Eucharist. Bishop Jenky will call them to continuing conversion as members of the body of Christ.

The services are expected to fill the cathedral twice, according to Dr. Vincent McClean, director of the diocesan Office of Catechetics.

“As a Catholic community it is good to support this because, first of all, it is the future of the church,” he told The Catholic Post. “As the established members of the church, we need to encourage new members, we need to encourage young members. . . . Those catechumens and candidates that come forth on Feb. 26 are the people who are going to carry this diocese through many years.”

STANDING TOGETHER
For some of the catechumens and candidates it has been a difficult journey because the decision to be received into the Catholic Church is not always popular with their families or society in general, McClean explained. By standing with them, members of the Catholic community can demonstrate their care and concern for their new brothers and sisters.

“In a time when Catholic consciences are being violated by the federal government and religious freedom is in question, this support is even more essential,” he said. “If we stand together, we will overcome.”

While some are calling the church and her teachings archaic, McClean added, “people today are looking for something that gives them meaning, gives them strength and consolation. The church does that.”