Trying to figure out who’s who is a common human activity. We like to know who we are sharing our time with and what relationship they have to us. So it is with the Church that gathers on Sunday for Mass. Many of the faces are as familiar as our own, but as with any healthy group, new faces are to be expected and welcomed.

Some of those new faces may be of persons responding to a call to find out more about Christ and His Church. The Church opens its arms to these seekers with the wisdom and rituals of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (the OCIA; known formerly as the RCIA, Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults).

People who desire to learn more about the Catholic faith and its mission fall into two main groups: catechumens and candidates. A catechumen is someone who has never been baptized; candidates are those who, having already been baptized in another Christian denomination, desire to become fully initiated members of the Catholic Church. Catechumens and candidates undergo a period of formation involving a number of steps and phases. After this formation, usually at the Easter Vigil or in the Easter Season, they receive the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.

For these catechumens and candidates, Lent is a period of intensified spiritual preparation. At the beginning of Lent, the diocese celebrates a special ritual: the “Rite of Election” for the catechumens and the “Call to Continuing Conversion” for the candidates. Based on the testimony given by the sponsors and catechists, Msgr. John McDermott, administrator of the Diocese of Burlington, on behalf of the Catholic Church in Vermont, will declare the catechumens to be “Elect,” chosen by God for the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist at the upcoming Easter Vigil. He also will recognize the desire of the already-baptized candidates for the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist within our Catholic community.

This year, a good number of our parishes have multiple people in the OCIA process seeking the Sacraments of Initiation at Easter. All members of the faithful throughout the diocese are encouraged to pray for and with the catechumens and candidates this Lent, especially for those new faces you may see in your own parishes.

All are encouraged to join us for the Diocesan Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion that will be celebrated on Sunday, Feb. 18, at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Burlington at 3 p.m.

— Josh Perry is the director of the Office of Worship for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington.

Universal Synod Update

Following the Synod Assembly of Bishops in October 2023, each diocese around the world has been asked to continue the conversation by reflecting upon the synthesis report. The US Synod Team is asking each diocese to hold 2-3 listening sessions during Lent to reflect upon two guiding questions. A 3-5 page document synthesizing what was heard at the diocesan listening sessions will be incorporated into a summary from the USCCB to the Secretariat due in April 2024. Synod Zoom Meetings for parish delegates and parishioners have already been scheduled bi-monthly the second Tuesday at 6 pm with an additional meeting added in February at 10 am: Feb. 6 at 10 am, March 12, May 14, July 16, Sept. 10, and Nov. 12. There will also be several in-person Synod listening sessions with more information to come. Registration required: vermontcatholic.org/universalsynod.

—Originally published in the Jan. 20-26, 2024, edition of The Inland See.