“Called by Name” – 39 Catechumens and 13 Candidates Take a Sacred Step at the Rite of Election
March 11, 2025
Pilgrims of Hope Jubilee, Liturgy, Bishop Brian Mascord
Across the Diocese of Wollongong parishes, men and women, young and old, have heard the quiet but persistent call of Christ and responded with open hearts. Now, as the season of Lent deepens, 39 catechumens and 13 candidates have stepped forward in faith, preparing to receive the sacraments this Easter.
A catechumen is someone who has never been baptised but has encountered Christ and desires to enter the Catholic Church. Through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), they have spent months—sometimes years—preparing, learning, praying, and growing in faith. Their journey reaches a defining moment at the Rite of Election, where the Church affirms that they are ready to take the final steps toward the Easter sacraments. At the Easter Vigil, these 39 catechumens will receive the Sacraments of Initiation—Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist—fully entering into the life of the Church.
Alongside them are candidates, those who have already been baptised in another Christian tradition but now seek full communion with the Catholic Church. Unlike catechumens, candidates do not need Baptism but will receive the sacraments of Confirmation and the Eucharist, which may take place at the Easter Vigil or on another Sunday during the year. The Church recognises the grace already present in their Baptism, and through their journey of formation, they have been drawn ever deeper into the mystery of Christ and His Church.
The Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion, celebrated at St Francis Xavier Cathedral last Sunday, was a moment of profound grace. In a moving rite, each catechumen stepped forward to inscribe their name in the Book of the Elect, signifying their readiness to become part of Christ’s body, the Church. The candidates, too, were recognised and affirmed, their own journey of faith nearing its beautiful fulfilment. They were surrounded by family, God-parents, and the wider faith community, the 52 were embraced by the prayers of the Church, a reminder that faith is never walked alone.
As the Diocese of Wollongong prepares to welcome these catechumens and candidates into the fullness of the Church, we give thanks for their yes to Christ. We pray that the weeks ahead will be filled with grace, courage, and deepened faith as they continue their journey towards Easter. May God bless our future brothers and sisters in Christ, and may their witness remind us all of the beauty of our own baptismal call.
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Our diocesan logo is theologically rich and very succinct. As a hand, it depicts our mission as a diocese and as individuals within the diocese, of bearing (bringing, carrying) Christ’s love to one another and to the world around us. In this, we are the hand of Jesus Christ, and we are offering ourselves to him so that he might work through us.
We can be the bearers of his love only as a response to his call and in the strength of his grace. We are reminded of this in two ways—through the symbol of the dove (the Holy Spirit) also present in the logo, and by the incorporation of the cross that segments the logo. The presence of the cross is a reminder that bearing the love of Christ will inevitably cost us if we live it authentically. However, in the way that the Cross is the portent of redemption and life—an echo of the tree of life in the book of Genesis—so becoming bearers of the love of Christ will also bring us to life.
The four fingers of the hand also represent the four regions of our diocese. The first is bluerepresenting the beautiful water of the Shoalhaven. The second is a blue and green combination representing the waters and escarpment of the Illawarra. The third is greendepicting the hills and plains of the Macarthur. The fourth is dark green illustrating the forests of the Southern Highlands.
