SAN DIEGO — A massive crowd of more than 4,760 people filled the Jenny Craig Pavilion at the University of San Diego March 1.
The occasion was the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion, the annual diocesan liturgy where those enrolled in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) process are presented to the bishop and declared ready to receive the sacraments of initiation in their parishes during the upcoming Easter Vigil.
Among them were 611 adult catechumens and 1,242 adult candidates; 102 child catechumens and candidates; 1,803 sponsors; 319 parish team members; and 687 guests.
Catechumens are those who are preparing for baptism, confirmation and First Communion. Candidates, who are already baptized Christians, are seeking only confirmation and, if they haven’t already received it, First Communion.
Seventy-six Catholic parishes and faith communities were represented.
This was the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic that the Rite of Election was held as a single ceremony, attended by all participating parishes. In recent years, it had been the practice to hold multiple ceremonies. For example, last year, the diocese held six liturgies altogether – five at Good Shepherd Parish in Mira Mesa and one at St. Anthony of Padua
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