Our OCIA Candidates Celebrate Rites at the Parish and the Cathedral

On Sunday, March 9th, our OCIA Catechumen (who is to be baptized) and Candidates (those who will enter into full communion with the Catholic Church and receive the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation) went to Holy Name Cathedral for the Rite of Election and the Call to Continuing Conversion.

They were presented to Cardinal Cupich, along with hundreds of other Catechumens and Candidates from various parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago who are on the same journey, for the first of four celebrations of this Rite. Cardinal Cupich, in the name of the Church, called them to the Easter Sacraments of Initiation.

Earlier that morning, the Catechumen and Candidates attended the 10:30 AM Mass in the upper church to celebrate the Rite of Sending. Fr. Nick was the presider for the Mass and the Rite. During the Rite, their sponsors, along with our parish sponsors, affirmed that the Candidates were ready to be presented to the Cardinal. They also received encouragement and support from the parishioners attending the Mass.

The OCIA Candidates will enter into full communion with the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. They will be joined by adult Catholics who are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at the Easter Vigil.

Please keep our OCIA Candidates and our adult Confirmandi in your prayers as they journey through this intense final period of preparation leading up to the Easter Vigil.

Have a blessed Lent,

Beshar Bahjat