2024 Rite of Election

content from Peter Finney, Jr., Clarion Herald

The Catholic Church in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans will get a lot bigger at the Easter Vigil next month.

Nearly 450 men, women and children will enter into full communion with the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil in their respective parishes. On Sunday, at St. Dominic Catholic Church in New Orleans, 326 people participated in the "Rite of Election of Catechumens and of the Call to Continuing Conversion of Candidates" who are preparing for reception into full communion with the church.

Another 110 people on the northshore participated in the Rite of Election on Monday night at 7 p.m. at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Covington.

Archbishop Gregory Aymond told the 157 catechumens – those who have not yet been baptized – and the 169 candidates – those who have already been baptized but in another Christian tradition – that they have taken different paths to the Catholic Church.

"No two people have the exact same fingerprints, not even twins," the archbishop said before greeting each catechumen and candidate individually in front of the altar. "Nor do we have the same story of life. For each and every one of us, our story is different. 

"For the candidates and catechumens, today we recall your secret story of life – and no two are alike. We remember that God told you that he loved you, and you accepted his love. You and God joined together and walked the journey of life. An important chapter of that story is that God invited you to join the Catholic Church, to be a part of our family of faith. And that is what we come to celebrate and to remember today."