300 to Participate in Rite of Election at St. Patrick’s Cathedral Sunday

Three hundred catechumens preparing to enter the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil will participate in the Rite of Election at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on the first Sunday of Lent, Feb. 18. 

Cardinal Dolan will celebrate the Rite of Election at St. Patrick’s Cathedral at 2 p.m.

Men and women who have not been baptized or confirmed, and have not received First Holy Communion—the sacraments of initiation—take part in the Rite of Election during which they sign the Book of the Elect. 

The 300 men and women enrolled as of Feb. 13 are from 85 parishes throughout the archdiocese. Known as catechumens, these men and women have participated in the Catechumenate, or Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), and are preparing to enter the Church at the Easter Vigil. 

Also, the Rite of Calling the Candidates to Continuing Conversion will be celebrated at parish churches by the local pastor near the beginning of Lent. The rite is for men and women who are already baptized and who will receive the sacraments of confirmation and first Holy Communion during the Easter season.