By Pamela Seal
Diocese of Lake Charles
LAKE CHARLES — Growing in knowledge of the Catholic faith can be a lifelong journey for many baptized Catholics. For others, the search for answers in the “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church” does not begin until they are adults.
Immaculate Conception on February 18, the First Sunday
of Lent, for 56 Catechumens throughout the Diocese of
Lake Charles. The Catechumens will celebrate the Sacraments
of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist at the
Easter Vigil on Saturday, March 30.
Every year during the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday (this year on March 30), thousands of those who have been searching, and learning, will enter fully into the life of the Church through the Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist.
On the First and Second Sundays of Lent, Bishop Glen John Provost welcomed 168 Catechumens and Candidates going through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults process (formerly known as Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults).
The Rite of Election, for those who have never been baptized (Catechumens), took place on February 18. The Rite of Continuing Conversion, for those who have been baptized in a Christian faith but are not Catholic (Candidates), followed on February 25. Both rites took place in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
During his homily to the Catechumens, Bishop Provost reflected on the Gospel for the First Sunday of Lent — this year from Mark 1:12-15 — noting that at the beginning of every Lent, the Church presents us with the account of Our Lord in the desert and the temptations by Satan.
during the Rite of Continuing Conversion held February 25, the
Second Sunday of Lent, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate
Conception. The Candidates — those preparing to receive the
Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Eucharist at Easter,
participated with their sponsors during the liturgy.
“Our Lord Jesus Christ came for one reason alone, that is, to do the salvific will of His Father,” he said. “He is to redeem and will do this by suffering, dying, and rising.”
In speaking directly to the Catechumens, Bishop Provost continued, “This is the Paschal Mystery, and it is this that you, my dear brothers and sisters, are preparing to experience at the Easter Vigil in your baptism.”
The bishop shared that someone had asked him recently why we do penances during Lent, to which he could have given many reasons but chose one.
“I answered that we do penance because we need discipline. The society we live in is undisciplined,” Bishop Provost remarked. “This is why Lent exists. These 40 days remind us of the importance of being resolutely fixed on what is good, right, and just.”
Among the Catechumens excited to be approaching their initiation into the Catholic Church are husband and wife, Jeremy and Shellay Citizen, who recently celebrated their fifth anniversary of marriage. They are going through the OCIA process at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Lake Charles.
“My dad left the Catholic Church when I was young, and I was raised in the Oneness Pentecostal faith,” said Jeremy, who has been in the process for two years. “As an adult, I started praying, studying, and seeking God, even had some dreams, that led me back to the Church.”
Shellay, who grew up surrounded by Jehovah’s Witnesses, said that she did not know anything about the Catholic faith.
“While I was not baptized Jehovah’s Witness, most of my family is. I was attracted to the Catholic faith because of my husband and his family,” said Shellay, who has been in the process for a year and a half. “I started the inquiry phase and was learning things that I had not l learned before. I felt called to continue. I still learn something new every day.”
Both Jeremy and Shellay said that they are most excited about becoming Catholic so they can receive the Eucharist. Shellay added that she is looking forward to receiving many of the sacraments since they are all channels to receive God’s grace.
Following his homily, Bishop Provost declared the Catechumens to be members of the Elect, and their names were recorded in the Book of the Elect. One by one with their godparents, they greeted the bishop, who then signed the Book of the Elect for each church parish represented.
The Rite of Election closes the period of the Catechumenate and begins the preparation for Baptism at Easter known as the Period of Purification and Enlightenment.
The Rite of Continuing Conversion for baptized Candidates — those preparing to receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Eucharist — included a time of questions from the Candidates to Bishop Provost. Rev. Samuel Bond, Director for the Office of Liturgy, presented a reflection on the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Please keep all the Catechumens and Candidates in your prayers during these final days to their Easter sacraments.
For more information on the process of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults in the Diocese of Lake Charles, contact Sister Maura Clare Mayock, R.S.M., Director of Religious Education, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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