Dioceses across the US welcomed thousands of people into the Catholic Church at Easter Vigil Masses on the evening of April 20. As the culmination of the Easter Triduum, the Vigil celebrates the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
While people can become Catholic at any time of the year, the Easter Vigil is a particularly appropriate moment for adult catechumens to be baptised and for already-baptised Christians to be received into full communion with the Catholic Church. Parishes welcome these new Catholics through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).
Many of the dioceses across the nation have reported their numbers of people who intend to become Catholic on Saturday to. Based on the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) reports, more than 37,000 people were welcomed into the Church at Easter Vigil Masses.
Prior to beginning the RCIA process, an individual comes to some knowledge of Jesus, considers his or her relationship with Jesus and is usually attracted in some way to the Catholic Church.
Then during the RCIA process, which typically lasts nine months or more, a person learns the teachings of the Catholic Church in a more formal way and discerns that he or she is ready to commit to living according to these beliefs. Thousands of people had already passed through this process and were ready to take this step on Saturday past in parishes throughout the country.
Groups
Two distinct groups of people were initiated into the Catholic Church. Catechumens, who have never been baptised, received Baptism, Confirmation and first Communion at the Holy Saturday Easter Vigil. Candidates, who had already been baptised in another Christian tradition, entered the Church through a profession of faith and reception of Confirmation and the Eucharist.
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the largest in the US, welcomed 1,560 catechumens and 913 candidates; the Archdiocese of San Francisco welcomed 174 catechumens and 175 candidates; and the Diocese of San Diego welcomed 306 catechumens and 806 candidates.