On Saturday and Sunday, faithful from parishes throughout the diocese gathered for the Rite of Election, which was presided over by Bishop Robert Gruss at the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption in Saginaw and also at Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Mount Pleasant. 268 people from the Diocese of Saginaw will come into full communion with the Catholic Church this Easter. This number represents a 219 percent increase from 2023 and a 48 percent increase from 2025.
Each year, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults [OCIA] celebrates the "election" of those catechumens who have been deemed appropriately prepared to receive the Easter sacraments by parish leadership. As a result of this rite, these catechumens, who will be fully initiated at the upcoming Easter Vigil, are called our "elect," meaning those who have been "chosen."
During the liturgical rite, the pastoral leaders, godparents, catechists and members of the faith community give witness to the bishop that the "chosen" catechumens are worthy and appropriately prepared for the Easter sacraments. As part of the Rite of Election, these "elect" are then invited to come forward with their godparents and inscribe their names in the Book of the Elect.
Also present at this liturgy are those who are already baptized in another Christian tradition and who desire to enter into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church and receive the sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation. These candidates, who have been appropriately catechized and prepared within the parish community, are presented to the bishop. He celebrates a rite called the Call to Continuing Conversion to be enacted within their parish as their final spiritual formation during Lent to become full members in the Catholic Church. Those who are non-baptized are referred to as “catechumens”, and those who are already baptized but are not yet in full communion with the Catholic Church are called “candidates.”
Anyone with questions or who would like to be received into full communion with the Catholic Church are invited to contact a nearby parish. A list of local parishes can be found here.