1,577 Taking Part in Rites of Election, Continuing Conversion During Lent

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In a sign of the Church’s growth and mission of evangelization, 1,577 candidates and catechumens will take part in the Rites of Election and Continuing Conversion in the archdiocese during Lent.

On the First Sunday in Lent, Feb. 14, catechumens seeking to enter the Church at the Easter Vigil will sign the Book of the Elect. Catechumens have participated in the Catechumenate, or Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), at a parish and are ready to receive the sacraments of initiation at Easter: baptism, confirmation and First Holy Communion.

During the Rite of Election, which will take place at St. Patrick’s Cathedral at 2 p.m. on the 1st Sunday of Lent, Cardinal Dolan will declare in the presence of the community the Church’s approval of the 461 catechumens from 89 parishes in the archdiocese.

The Call to Continuing Conversion is for candidates who have already been baptized, who have participated in their parish Catechumenate and who are preparing to complete their initiation in the Church. They will receive the sacraments of First Holy Communion and confirmation at Easter.

On Sunday, Feb. 21, the 2nd Sunday of Lent, 1,116 candidates representing 103 parishes will participate in the Rite of Calling Candidates to Continuing Conversion.

The cardinal will preside at the Rite of Calling Candidates to Continuing Conversion at 2 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Cathedral with 732 candidates from 56 parishes.

The Rite of Continuing Conversion will also be offered at 3 p.m. that day at:

St. Kateri Tekakwitha, LaGrangeville, led by Auxiliary Bishop Peter Byrne, episcopal vicar of Dutchess, Putnam and North Westchester, for 148 candidates from 18 parishes.

Our Lady of Pity, Staten Island, led by Auxiliary Bishop John O’Hara, episcopal vicar of Staten Island and South, East and West Manhattan, for 175 candidates from 18 parishes.

Transfiguration in Tarrytown, led by Auxiliary Bishop Gerald Walsh, episcopal vicar of Central Westchester, Yonkers and South Shore, for 61 candidates from 11 parishes.