Last Sunday afternoon I was sitting in St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton. I had traveled over there for the Rite of Election—an important part of the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) which used to be called Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). As I sat there waiting for the liturgy to begin, I realized just how long it had been since I last participated in that particular ceremony. For many years of my priesthood, I had to skip that rite because I had evening Mass responsibilities. Since coming here, my Sunday afternoons and evenings have been largely free, but we haven’t had catechumens or candidates for full communion until this year. Then it occurred to me it’s been a while for all of us. So, maybe it’s time to remember how this process works—especially in these Lenten days which historically were created to welcome new Catholics.

So, let’s look at the Lenten journey our brothers, Austin Chen and Mike Emerick, are making among us:

The Rite of Election. In this liturgy, celebrated on the First Sunday of Lent, the Bishop, on the recommendation of catechists and godparents, “elects” or chooses the people who are preparing to be baptized, confirmed, and welcome to the Eucharist at Easter. If you were at the 4 p.m. Mass last Saturday, you caught something of the flavor of that rite in the dialog that preceded the Intercessions. At the cathedral those preparing for baptism sign a Book of the Elect—full of allusions to the Book of the Elect in the scriptural book of Revelation—now displayed throughout Lent in our sanctuary.

Penitential Rite. On the Second Sunday of Lent, we pray this rite for those already baptized as Orthodox or Protestant Christians who seek to be welcomed into the Catholic community. These prayers particularly focus on the reception of reconciliation—and it’s not bad for us to listen to these for the sake of our own ongoing conversion. This happens at the 5:45 p.m. Mass this weekend.

Scrutinies. The next three Sundays of Lent we pray over those preparing for baptism. This year this will happen at 4 p.m. Mass. The prayers are matched with special readings—the Samaritan woman at the well, the man born blind, and the raising of Lazarus—that speak to what happens in Christian baptism. These prayers are technically exorcisms, asking God to drive out the darkness before the light of Christ.

Easter Vigil. The most important, one of the most beautiful, and yes, the longest, Mass of the entire year. Here we celebrate the life-giving sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist with the newest members of our parish. Like no other time, we’re called that night to be a welcoming community. Consider taking the time this year to be part of that welcome. Welcome the holy night of Christ’s resurrection. Welcome, these men who have embraced our faith in the risen Lord at the 8 p.m. Mass at St. Boniface Church.