In anticipation of an impending winter storm Feb. 22, Archbishop William E. Lori has canceled the Rite of Election liturgies that had been planned for that afternoon at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland and the Basilica of the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg.
According to a message sent to pastors by Christian Kendzierski, archdiocesan communications director, the rites will not be rescheduled this year at the archdiocesan level. He noted that Archbishop Lori has delegated to all pastors the faculty to hold the Rite of Election at their individual parishes “effective immediately, given the extraordinary weather situation.”
“This permission allows the pastor to hold the rite beginning today (Feb. 21) or tomorrow (Feb. 22) or at a more convenient time and to subdelegate another priest, as necessary,” the message said. “This faculty is limited to this Lenten season only. Please contact the Chancery if you have any questions regarding this delegation.”
The Rite of Election and the Call to Continuing Conversion are part of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), the process by which adults are formed and initiated into the Catholic Church through stages of catechesis, prayer and community life. The rites, typically celebrated on the First Sunday of Lent, mark the beginning of the final period of preparation for those who will enter full communion with the Church at the Easter Vigil.
During the Rite of Election, the Church formally recognizes and “elects” unbaptized catechumens as ready to receive the sacraments of Christian initiation – baptism, confirmation and Eucharist – at the Easter Vigil. The Call to Continuing Conversion is celebrated with baptized candidates preparing for full communion in the Catholic Church. It publicly acknowledges their desire to continue growing in faith as they complete their initiation through confirmation and Eucharist.
This year, the Archdiocese of Baltimore is projecting a more than 67 percent increase from last year in the number of candidates and catechumens coming into full communion with the Catholic Church. More than 1,280 catechumens and candidates had been set to participate in the Feb. 22 rites.
The National Weather Service forecasts heavy snow Sunday afternoon and evening with accumulations of up to five inches in the Baltimore metropolitan area. The weather service anticipates up to three inches in the Emmitsburg area in Frederick County.
Email George Matysek at gmatysek@CatholicReview.org
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