COURTESY PHOTO

RCIA candidates, sponsors and relatives from Dayton’s Pastoral Region Two gather after the evening Rite of Election Feb. 10 at Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church in Dayton. Front row: Cirilo Modi, candidate; Mary Zagar, candidate; Zagar’s sponsor, Becky Saunders; Liza Richardson, catechumen (elect), and Lusta Anderson, candidate. Back row, Geri Wardlaw, Modi’s sponsor; Father Del Staigers; Mary Estep, Richardson’s godparent; and Sandy Myers, Anderson’s sponsor.

In preparation . . .

ARCHDIOCESE — On Feb. 10, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati celebrated the Rite of Election and the Call to Continuing Conversion in four separate ceremonies in Cincinnati and Dayton.

Nearly a thousand persons are preparing to enter the church this year at the Easter Vigil.

The Rite of Election was celebrated with those seeking to receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil, and the Call to Continuing Conversion was celebrated with those seeking reception into the full communion of the Catholic Church, as well as Catholics who are completing their initiation through the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.

The Rite of Election and the Call to Continuing Conversion mark the beginning of the season of Lent. This season of the church year is dedicated in a particular way to the final preparation period of these men, women, and children seeking to celebrate the sacraments of initiation at Easter.

The term "election" refers to the fact that God has chosen these catechumens for membership into Christ’s Body. During this public celebration, the church judges their readiness and affirms their intention to advance toward the Easter sacraments.