More than 400 people who seek to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church will attend special ceremonies to be held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena in Allentown on Saturday and Sunday, February 24 and 25.

Because of the large number of people involved, three separate ceremonies are held: at 7:30 PM Saturday for people from Northampton County, at 3 PM Sunday for people from Berks and Schuylkill Counties, and at 7:30 PM Sunday for people from Carbon and Lehigh Counties.

The ceremony is called the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion. The Rite of Election is for people not yet baptized. The Call to Continuing Conversion is for people who are baptized but wish to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church.

The Most Reverend Edward P. Cullen, D.D., Bishop of Allentown will preside at all three events, which are held annually on the first weekend of Lent.

Carole C. Chuk, director of the diocesan Office of the Catechumenate said the ceremonies "celebrate the call of God experienced in the life of the individual and the recognition of that call on the part of the community." She calls the ceremonies "a witness of the on-going growth and renewal in the faith of the Church."

After the ceremonies the 400 plus people will return to their parishes and spend the six weeks of Lent in final preparation for the initiation sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist celebrated in their parishes at the Easter Vigil, which this year is April 7.

Copyright 2003 The Catholic Diocese of Allentown
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