What is the Rite of Election? 

When we hear the word election, we immediately think of political office or ballot measures. In the context of our faith, the word election refers to Divine election—it is God who elects us by calling each of us to a relationship of love. Once elected by God, then, it is our decision to accept or not. We celebrate this election in two rites in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults or the OCIA process. 

If you were at the 9:30 mass on March 9, 2025, you witnessed the Rite of Sending for Election. At this Rite, sponsors give testimony on behalf of their catechumens that they are ready to become Catholic Christians. The catechumens, both children and adults, sign the Book of the Elect as a symbol of their commitment and readiness to be baptized in the Church. Finally, the parish community prays for the catechumens and formally sends them to the celebration of the Rite of Election at the Cathedral. 

Our adult and children catechumens were presented to Bishop Oscar Cantu. The Bishop received the catechumens and declared them to be members of the Elect of God to be initiated at the Easter Vigil. 

Why is this important to the community of Holy Spirit? 

These catechumens have heard God’s call and have chosen us, the Catholic community of Holy Spirit, to be the community where they will answer God’s call. We thank them for enriching our faith community. We pray with them that our Lenten experience may bring us all closer to Christ and to each other. Finally, we look forward to celebrating the Sacraments of Initiation with them at the Easter Vigil on April 19th.  

As the Elect move forward toward the waters of Baptism, we, as church, will now celebrate the three Scrutinies with them over the next three Sundays.  

The Scrutinies are three special rites that help prepare the Elect, those participating in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), to enter the Catholic Church. They take place during the period of OCIA formation known as Purification and Enlightenment, near the end of their formation. These are the times for the Elect to ask that they be given a spirit of repentance, a sense of sin, and a true freedom of the children of God. 

The season of Lent involves a more intense period of examination and preparation for the Elect, and hopefully for those of us already living the Catholic faith. Though they are meant for the OCIA Elect, the Scrutinies can help all Catholics seek to live a life of continuous conversion.