Diocesan officials were facing what they called a good problem as planning progressed for the annual Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion on March 9: too many people to fit in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.
“We had 117 (of 185) parishes participate. There were 431 catechumens (unbaptized people who will be fully initiated in the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil on April 19) and 381 candidates (those already baptized who will be received into the Church or complete their sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil),” said Mary Hrich, director of the diocesan Office for Worship. Hrich and her assistant, Christina Harrison, planned the event.
Because of the large number of people — nearly 3,000 attended — the liturgy was moved from its normal location in the cathedral to Public Auditorium, a short walk away and also in downtown Cleveland.
(See photo gallery above.)
In previous years, two separate afternoon liturgies took place in the cathedral, but Bishop Edward Malesic wanted to return to one major celebration. Hrich worked with dozens of people, including volunteer ushers, seminarian servers, singers in the choir and musicians, as well as parishes throughout the eight-county diocese to make the event a reality. Tom Fielding, director of music at the cathedral and music coordinator for the diocese, arranged for the singers and musicians and directed them throughout the liturgy.
Hrich said even though the liturgy was in a secular location, it was regarded as a sacred space that afternoon.
As the 2 p.m. start time approached, people representing the participating parishes lined up with the Book of the Elect. The catechumens, also known as the elect, signed the book at their parishes prior to the event, signaling their intent to be baptized and to become members of the Catholic Church. Parishes had a Rite of Sending before the Rite of Election. Catechumens, candidates and their sponsors, along with other parish representatives — in some cases, religious education directors and/or pastors, parochial vicars, deacons or parish life coordinators — were assigned blocks of seats on the auditorium floor. A few parishes were assigned seats in the lower balcony.
During the solemn entrance procession, the book bearers walked up the main aisle of the auditorium displaying the Book of the Elect, then moved into their assigned seats. Ministers participating in the liturgy took seats on the stage, including Bishop Malesic and Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost.
The first part of the ceremony included two readings, a responsorial psalm, Gospel and a homily by Bishop Malesic.
In his homily, the bishop shared some of his faith journey, noting he always knew he was Catholic because he was raised that way, “but I didn’t know why I was Catholic. I was a cultural Catholic — Catholic just because that’s what my parents said I was. Catholic out of habit.”
He had a difficult time his freshman year in college, and then someone gave him a Bible. He read the four Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke and John— and realized “Jesus was no longer a character in a book written long ago. He wanted me to share my sins with him and he wanted to forgive me … Jesus lifted a spiritual weight from my shoulders.”
Bishop Malesic reminded those in attendance that “Our happiness, our contentment, our peace lies in our relationship with Jesus, God among us.”
The Catholic faith in Jesus has been preserved, protected and proclaimed by the apostles and their successors, he said. “It is very humbling for me to say that I am one of the successors of those original apostles, unworthy though I am. So is Bishop Woost, who is with us today. That you are with me today is a sign that you are not only joining a local parish, but you are being joined with me to become members of the diocesan Church, and united to the larger universal Church, currently with Pope Francis as our supreme shepherd as the successor of St. Peter.”
As he looked over the assembly, the bishop commented, “Wow! The Church is alive and filled with faith. This very public space has now become sacred because it is filled with the belief that ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”
The bishop reflected on the reasons some of the catechumens and candidates decided to join the Church. “Many of you have been brought to the threshold of the Catholic Church by someone who loved you: a spouse, a friend, a godparent or a sponsor. Someone loved you into the Church. Of course, the primary reason you are here today is that Jesus has called you by name … You are saying ‘yes’ to this call of Jesus to your life.”
He noted the auditorium was filled with joy as the Church embraces those who will become its newest members at the Easter Vigil. “I know you are hungering for him in the Eucharist. Let me assure you, we have made reservations for you at the Lord’s table in a few weeks. We will join you around that altar. We can’t wait for all of you to be one with us at God’s table, sharing our faith and celebrating God’s great love for us.”
He urged the catechumens and candidates to let the joy of their faith permeate their homes, places of employment and schools and to let it extend to their parishes, helping “to build them up to be places of lively worship, lively faith and selfless service.”
But he also cautioned that faith can be fragile, warning them to watch out for the devil. “He will want you to give up on God. But I urge you, don’t ever stop walking forward with Jesus in faith, filled with hope and love.”
After the homily, there was a procession of catechumens, their godparents and the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) team from each parish. Each group was led by a candle-bearing seminarian server. Prior to the procession, there was an affirmation by godparents and the assembly and the bishop posed question to the group of catechumens.
As Hrich announced the parish name, Bishop Malesic placed his hand on the Book of the Elect and greeted the catechumens, who then looped around and returned to their seats.
After all catechumens were presented and greeted, the bishop posed questions to the candidates. They then processed to the front of the auditorium with their sponsors in a continuously moving line. The bishop sprinkled them with holy water and they returned to their seats.
The liturgy concluded with intercessions for the elect and candidates, a prayer over them, the final blessing and dismissal.
As the elect, candidates, sponsors, family and friends left the auditorium, many stopped to take photos with the bishops and to reflect on the moving ceremony.
Click here to listen to Bishop Malesic’s complete homily from the Rite of Election.