Choreographing the Catechumenate

Prior to the Easter Vigil, there is rich attention given to the candidates (those baptized people preparing for confirmation and Eucharist or reception into the full communion of the Catholic Church). The candidates mark a moment in their preparation for the great Vigil, and the community is invited to do so as well. The rite is named “Celebration of the Call to Continuing Conversion.” When this rite is done with the celebration of election (with the catechumens), the church has preserved and reclaimed profound elements of hospitality and inclusion from the early church.

It is easy to focus on someone who is brand new. It is less likely we will focus on the person undergoing sacramental accumulation, the candidate, with the same intensity. The rites say that this focus is needed.

The focus is found in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (547). The suggestion is that the rite take place on the First Sunday of Lent, presided over by the bishop (548), and that “care must be taken to maintain the distinction between the catechumens and the baptized candidates” (549). The homily “should address not just the catechumens and the candidates, but the entire community of the faithful” (550). These opening remarks indicate the ritual needs of the event. First, it must occur at a powerful moment in the liturgical year and move the relationship from a parochial church level to the universal church level. Second, “distinction” must be acknowledged. Third, all people must be challenged by the Gospel call this day. This is the wisdom of the church speaking in a particular time, a particular place, with a particular person, to a particular person, in a particular community. There is nothing generic or old or redundant or boring. It is all new again. The challenge for the bishop or delegate is to preach to this specific moment.

The rite calls for the catechumens, if there are any, to be marked by the celebration of election first (551). The catechumens become “the elect” and are admitted to this new status by the candidates and the entire assembled community. It is a moment the candidates have every right to participate in by their baptism, for they truly are the church. The rite of election needs to be punctuated by a song of affirmation and commitment. “Open My Eyes” by Jesse Manibusan might serve as a song to sing the elect and community into the continuing conversion.

Next a separate and second rite begins: celebration of the call to continuing conversion (555). Now all attention and focus are on the candidates. “Open My Eyes” could continue as background to the presentation of the candidates.

The “priest, deacon, catechist or representative of the community” is invited to present the candidates (555). It should be someone who knows these candidates and their stories, someone who can honestly introduce them to the bishop. The relationship must be a genuine introduction, ideally by someone who knows both the candidates and the bishop. If the person does not know both, it will be formal and names will be read off sheets of paper. It is appropriate for the person who does the introduction of each person to literally communicate that sense of “I’d like for you to meet Rosalie Gonzales” and the bishop’s response to each person to literally communicate that sense of “Good to meet you, Rosalie Gonzales.” These are two members of the Christian community meeting. The introduction is different than calling up the catechumens, who have never been with a bishop before. The relationship and the “distinction” should be felt. For the candidates, the bishop should stand in the front of the central aisle and greet each candidate with a handshake or hug or sign of peace. This greeting can communicate the difference between the candidates and catechumens.

The person who knows everyone’s name actually facilitates the presentation. The sponsors and candidates fill in the sanctuary, turning out to face the community. Next, the bishop turns around and faces the candidates from the main aisle of the church, preferably about halfway down the aisle. Music is played as background to the presentation.

The bishop asks the sponsors the four questions. The questions can be rewritten to echo the four verses of “Open My Eyes.” Have they opened their eyes to Christ? Have they opened their ears to the Gospel? Have they opened their hearts in service? Do they now live in the spirit of prayer and church? The sponsors respond. Then the bishop asks the community if they are willing to open their eyes, ears, hearts and lives to support these candidates. The community responds. The bishop offers the act of recognition (557). The bishop “recognizes a desire to be sealed (as he walks over to the repository of the oils) and to have a place at Christ’s eucharistic table (as he walks over to the table). … Join with us this Lent in a spirit of repentance (as he walks past the reconciliation room). Hear the Lord’s call to conversion and be faithful to your baptismal covenant (as he walks to the baptismal font and touches the waters or dry empty space).” This connection of the sacraments to the candidates is also an act of recognition for the assembly. The sponsors place their hands on the candidates. The community extends their hands in blessing. The bishop missions the sponsors and community to continue conversion and by their example lead these candidates to their place in the church and community.

The bishop invites the sponsors and candidates to take their places in the church and community. The last verse of “Open My Eyes” is sung as the candidates and sponsors travel back to their places. The intercessions begin for the catechumens and candidates. The community begins the Lenten pilgrimage of continuing conversion.

Since individual attention is often impossible at the diocesan level, the parish needs to celebrate the rite of continuing conversion with such clarity and vision and distinction that the call is felt personally at the diocesan celebration. Care and hospitality and inclusion are communicated when this rite is done well.