A standing room only crowd filled Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral on Sunday, Feb. 25 for the diocese’s annual Rite of Election.

Catechumens of various ages from parishes around the diocese had their names entered into the Book of the Elect as they prepare to receive the sacraments of initiation, baptism, confirmation, and Holy Communion, in the Catholic Church on Holy Saturday during the Easter Vigil Mass at their respective parishes.

After the names are entered into the book, catechumens are declared by the bishop to be the elect. Each of the elect have a sponsor who supports him/her during the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (formerly known as the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) instructional formation process.

Candidates, who also will become members of the Church at the Easter Vigil, are already baptized and were recognized in their respective parishes on the First Sunday of Lent. They will be receiving the sacrament of confirmation and make their First Communion on Holy Saturday night at the Easter Vigil.

Celeste Einco (left) and Skyler Stamper (right) with their sponsors attend the Rite of Election at St. Joseph Cathedral. Einco and Stamper are coming into the Church at Columbus Christ the King at Easter. CT photo by Ken Snow

The Rite of Election bilingual ceremony included processional and recessional hymns, prayers, Scripture readings, presentation of the catechumens, invitation and enrollment of the names, and the act of election.

Bishop Earl Fernandes offered a homily in both Spanish and English with a large number of Latinos in attendance.

Reflecting on the Gospel reading describing Jesus’ transfiguration, Bishop Fernandes said, “We are sometimes faced with two temptations, especially when we come to church. To say, with Simon Peter, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here.’”

The first temptation is that “sometimes we say, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here for 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how long the bishop or the priest preaches,’ and we check the box, ‘I have fulfilled my obligation.’ But we are not transformed by the encounter with the Lord.

“The second temptation is like we can look outside in our world and see how much poverty there is, how much violence there is, how much war there is, how much terrible loneliness there is. We can look even within our own families and see conflict, division, dysfunction, and we could say, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here, because we’re not out there,’ as if church was an escape from the reality of our life.

“Our problems will never go away, but we must confront our problems with the faith in Jesus Christ. We must confront the darkness with the Light that comes from Christ.”

The mystery of the transfiguration offered an exterior manifestation to Jesus’ disciples the splendor of things to come at His resurrection, the bishop said, “an interior light in those dark moments of life when we do not know what to do, when we are without a job, when we are faced with suffering with the loss of a loved one.”

Scripture instructs the faithful that Christ provides the words of everlasting life and He is the light shining in the darkness, “and so through holy baptism you will be enlightened with the light of faith,” Bishop Fernandes said.

“You will be given new life in Him through these waters and be made a new creation. Your hearts will be filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit with whom you will be sealed in confirmation. He will be poured into your hearts and you will become His temple. 

“And the Holy Spirit is the Consoler, Who also teaches us how to pray when we do not know how to pray as we ought, and Who gives us strength in moments of weakness to confront our challenges.”

Deacon Dave Bezusko of Marysville Our Lady of Lourdes Church places a page with names from the parish into the Book of the Elect. CT photo by Ken Snow

Jesus commanded his apostles to go out and make disciples of all nations, “and so the Holy Church listens to the words and carries them out, and will carry out this commandment over you who will be blessed to be joined to the family of God.”

Just as Christ breathed on the disciples and told them to receive the Holy Spirit, “You will receive the Holy Spirit in baptism and be sealed with Him in confirmation,” Bishop Fernandes said.

At the Last Supper on the night before Jesus was betrayed, He instructed the apostles to “do this in memory of Me” when He instituted both the priesthood and the Eucharist. “And you will receive Jesus in His Body and Blood, His soul and divinity,” the bishop told the elect.

“Yes, the presence of Christ exists in His Church. And God is calling you, choosing you, to be members of His Church,” Bishop Fernandes said. “This is my Beloved Son, listen to Him.

“And I suppose if Jesus were here today, He would say to each of you, ‘Take courage. Finish the race. Know that I am with you. And, one more thing, I love you and you are mine.’”