977 candidates, catechumens ready to enter church this Easter in Detroit Archdiocese

DETROIT (OSV News) -- Nine hundred and seventy-seven people continued their spiritual journey toward full communion in the Catholic Church during four Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion ceremonies at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit March 8 and 9.

During the ceremonies, catechumens -- those who have never been baptized in the Christian faith -- and candidates -- baptized Christians who are seeking to enter full communion in the Catholic Church through the Eucharist and confirmation -- were presented by their sponsors to Detroit's bishops to affirm their desire to join the church.

This year, 400 catechumens will be baptized in parishes all across the Archdiocese of Detroit during the Easter Vigil, and 577 candidates will complete their conversion to the Catholic faith. The total number of catechumens and candidates is the largest class in the Archdiocese of Detroit since 2017.

The catechumens were invited to the front of the cathedral to write their names in the Book of the Elect, and the presiding bishop questioned them about their formation and desire to receive the sacraments.

Afterward, the candidates were invited to stand with their sponsors when their name was called by parish representatives. The bishop then asked the sponsors whether the candidates had received the proper religious instruction and desired to join in full communion the church.

Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Arturo Cepeda celebrated one of the Saturday rites, March 8, commending the catechumens, candidates and their sponsors for saying "yes" to God's calling.

"Brothers and sisters, as we begin this season of Lent, it is with great joy we come here to this cathedral as people of faith, recognizing that Christ is Lord," Bishop Cepeda said in his homily. "That these candidates and catechumens are presenting themselves to be claimed by Christ.
"It is also with great joy that we welcome their sponsors, who testify today for our church," Bishop Cepeda continued. "They give witness to each one of these catechumens and candidates, their witness to respond to God's calling. We as people of faith here at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament are all witness to what God has done for His people."

The rite features a reading from the Book of Genesis on God forming man out of the clay of the ground and placing him in the garden in Eden, where God placed the tree of life as well as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

The Gospel reading from St. Matthew described Jesus being tempted in the desert, in which Christ tells the devil, "One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God."

Bishop Cepeda told the candidates and catechumens to remember that the Lord is with them throughout the Lenten season amid all the temptations they will face in the days leading to their reception into the Church at Easter.

"When Jesus went into the wilderness to pray and fast for 40 days, he was not alone; the spirit of God was with him in the desert," Bishop Cepeda said. "The evil one tempted Jesus to find out if he really was the Son of God, and we hear this first temptation, 'Turn these stones into bread.'"

"Remember, Jesus was fasting for 40 days; Jesus was hungry," Bishop Cepeda continued. "He's fully man, and he gets hungry, like you and me. He knows this temptation. And the tempter said, 'If you are truly the Son of God, he can command the stones to become bread.' And Jesus responded, 'Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

Bishop Cepeda encouraged those about to enter the church this Easter to turn to Scripture often as they continue their Lenten journey.

"The power of the word of God gives life," Bishop Cepeda said. "We will face temptations like what we hear in the Gospel -- the temptations of worldly desires, power, all temptations. We need our strength so we can face those temptations, and that strength comes from the Gospels."

"In this passage, the Lord gives witness to this," he added. "He really lives through those temptations, brothers and sisters, because he remains faithful to the word of God, to God's will. So, too, we must remain faithful."