FAIRFIELD—As Lent begins, Bishop Frank J. Caggiano will welcome more than 235 men and women who are on the journey toward full communion with the Catholic Church. The Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion, the next formal step on that journey, will take place Sunday, February 18, 2:00pm at Saint Theresa Church in Trumbull.
This liturgical rite, traditionally held on the first Sunday of Lent, is part of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) process. It closes the period of formation and marks the beginning of the period of final preparation for the Sacraments of Initiation at Easter. This year more than 29 parishes have participants taking part in the Rite of Election Ceremony.
As has often been true in the past, the combined parish of St. Mary-St. Benedict/Our Lady of Montserrat in Stamford has the highest number of people enrolled in its RCIA program: 28 candidates and 10 catechumens.
During the service, every catechumen (non-baptized person) and candidate (those who were baptized but did not receive further sacraments) will come forward to the altar to be personally greeted by the Bishop.
They will then sign the “Book of Election,” to signify their desire to receive the sacraments of initiation and be received into full communion with the Church.
Parishes welcoming candidates and catechumens on Sunday include:
Church of the Assumption Parish, Westport: 4 candidates, 1 catechumen
Our Lady of Grace Parish, Stratford: 4 candidates, 1 catechumen
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Danbury: 17 candidates, 6 catechumens
Sacred Heart, Stamford: 10 candidates, 3 catechumens
Sacred Heart University: 14 candidates
Saint Aloysius Parish, New Canaan: 2 candidates
Saint Ann Parish, Bridgeport: 4 candidates, 2 catechumens
Saint Charles Borromeo Parish, Bridgeport: 17 candidates, 3 catechumens
Saint James Parish, Stratford: 4 candidates
Saint John Parish, Darien: 1 catechumen
Saint Joseph Parish, Brookfield: 3 candidates, 1 catechumen
Saint Joseph Parish, Shelton: 12 candidates, 3 catechumens
Saint Jude Parish, Monroe: 1 candidate
Saint Ladislaus Parish, Norwalk: 16 candidates, 1 catechumen
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish, Shelton: 2 candidates, 1 catechumen
Saint Margaret Shrine, Bridgeport: 2 catechumens
Saint Mark Parish, Stratford: 3 candidates, 1 catechumen
Saint Mary-St. Benedict/Our Lady of Montserrat Parish, Stamford: 28 candidates, 10 catechumens
Saint Mary Parish, Bethel: 6 candidates
Saint Mary Parish, Bridgeport: 12 candidates, 2 catechumens
Saint Mary Parish, Norwalk: 8 candidates, 2 catechumens
Saint Mary Parish, Ridgefield: 2 candidates, 1 catechumen
Saint Matthew Parish, Norwalk: 4 candidates
Saint Michael the Archangel Parish, Bridgeport: 1 candidate
Saint Peter Church, Bridgeport: 1 catechumen
Saint Philip Parish, Norwalk: 2 candidates, 2 catechumens
Saint Rose of Lima Parish, Newtown: 4 candidates, 2 catechumens
Saint Theresa Parish, Trumbull: 4 candidates
Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish, Norwalk: 4 candidates
(For more information regarding RCIA and Adult Formation, contact Rose Talbot-Babey, Coordinator of Family Faith Formation: 203.416.1648 or rtalbotbabey@diobpt.org.)
