Rite of Election: 140 take important step in their faith

By Phil Brown
Contributing Writer

GREENSBURG – Inspired by a hunger to draw closer to God, 140 pilgrims in faith passed through the massive steel doors of Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greensburg Sunday, March 9,  for an important step on their journey to full Communion in the Catholic Church.

Inside the towering structure packed with family, sponsors, priests, and skilled musicians, catechumens and candidates from the Diocese of Greensburg were greeted warmly by Bishop Larry J. Kulick who presided over a Celebration of the Rite of Election of Catechumens and of Calling the Candidates to Continuing Conversion.

Catechumens participate in the Rite of Christian Initiation and are preparing for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist at the Easter Vigil Mass at their parishes.

Candidates, who have already been baptized, participate in the Call to Continuing Conversion and will also be received into full communion with the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil Mass.

During the Rite of Election, Bishop Kulick enrolled the names of catechumens in the Book of the Elect. Known now as the Elect, they will continue with prayer, study and spiritual direction in preparation for the Vigil Mass.

During his homily, Bishop Kulick said he was delighted to see the church full in the Lenten season.

“Indeed, we gather together with great joy,” the Bishop said. “It is an affirmation of all the hard work in proclaiming the Word of God.”

Drawing from the liturgy’s Gospel lesson written in Luke 4:1-13, Bishop Kulick talked about the hunger Jesus experienced after praying and fasting in the desert for 40 days. The Lord’s hunger, rooted in his humanity, is experienced by all of us, he said.

But another meaning of hunger can be found in the words of the evangelist, the bishop said.

“The Gospel reminds us of how Jesus was hungry to do the will of God, hungering for his ministry, hungering to do and fulfill the vocation God called him to do,” Bishop Kulick said.

“You, too, are hungry,” he said. “That began when you felt the emptiness that needed filled by God.

“You knew there was something more, and with faith, took the first step to ease the hunger through discernment, questions and prayer,” he said.

Bishop Kulick said catechumens and candidates were hungry for the sacraments of the Church, unity and are hungering for God’s salvation through Jesus Christ.

“The hunger will increase when you leave here today,” Bishop Kulick said, alluding to increased longing for the Vigil Mass and full communion with the Church. “The Church is here to fill all of her children.”

Bishop Kulick warned catechumens and candidates that they face temptation as Jesus was tempted in the wilderness.

“It’s there for all of us,” he said. “The grace of the sacraments will never erase temptation, but it will give us what we need to overcome it.”

The turnout of catechumens and candidates for the liturgy was the largest seen in the Diocese of Greensburg in many years, said Vincent Reilly, diocesan managing director for Faith, Family and Discipleship.

Reilly said many factors contributed to growing interest in joining the Catholic Church.

He said being able to place regional directors of Faith Formation throughout the four counties of the diocese has been a big factor in the growth through improved evangelization efforts.

“The church is vibrant and alive,” Reilly said.