by Father Joseph Gibino
In the Catholic tradition, the journey toward spiritual initiation is not merely a private academic pursuit but a communal and liturgical pilgrimage. The peak of this journey occurs during the Rite of Election, usually celebrated on the first Sunday of Lent.
This year’s Rite of Election was scheduled to be celebrated by Bishop Robert Brennan on Feb. 22. However, God had scheduled a blizzard for that day, and the Holy Spirit suggested that Bishop Brennan delegate the pastors of the Diocese of Brooklyn to celebrate the ritual either during the week or at the March 1 parish Sunday celebration of the Eucharist!
The Rite of Election serves as a formal recognition by the Church that a person is ready to receive the sacraments of initiation — baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist — at the upcoming Easter Vigil. The word “election” in this context does not refer to a political vote, but rather to the biblical concept of being “chosen” by God.
Up until this point, those preparing for baptism are known as catechumens. They have spent months, sometimes years, studying Scripture, Catholic doctrine, and deepening their encounter with Christ. During the Rite of Election, the emphasis shifts from the individual’s search for God to God’s search for the individual.
On March 1, the worshipping community at the Cathedral Basilica of St. James celebrated the Rite of Election, during which two catechumens publicly acknowledged their desire to be baptized. Their godparents and the entire assembly testified to their preparation and their willingness to journey with them.
This testimony regarding the candidates’ readiness confirms that the “signs of God’s call” are present in their lives. The Church, acting through the bishop’s delegate and the faithful, paused to acknowledge that God has called these specific people by name: Raghav and Dian.
A central, symbolic moment of the ceremony is the enrollment of names. The catechumens are invited to come forward and sign their names in the “Book of the Elect.” This physical act of writing one’s name represents a public commitment to the Gospel and a “signing over” of one’s life to Christ.
It echoes the theological belief that their names are being written in the “Book of Life.” From this moment until the Easter Vigil, they are no longer called catechumens, but “the elect.”
The Rite of Election also signals the beginning of a period of intense spiritual preparation. Because it coincides with the start of Lent, the elect join the rest of the Church in a 40-day period of “purification and enlightenment.” This is not a time for more textbooks; rather, it is a time for interior reflection, prayer, and the “scrutinies”— rites intended to heal what is weak and strengthen what is good in the soul.
This year, the Rite of Election may have been done differently than in years past. However, it is a powerful reminder that faith is a dialogue. It begins with a human heart seeking truth and concludes with a divine invitation.
By gathering with their parish families, the elect realize they are part of something much larger than themselves — they are part of a universal family of believers. As they move toward the saving waters of baptism, the Rite of Election stands as the threshold between their old life and their new identity in Christ.
We pray for all the elect as they continue in their journey of faith.
Father Joseph Gibino is the pastor of St. Charles Borromeo in Brooklyn Heights and the vicar for evangelization and catechesis in the diocese.