BRIDGEPORT—With months of formation and perhaps years of discernment behind them, close to 200 men and women assembled at St. Augustine Cathedral on Sunday, February 18 for the Rite of Election and the Call to Continuing Conversion. Bishop Frank J. Caggiano, assisted by Deacon John DiTaranto, celebrated this final step for those preparing for the Sacraments of Initiation. During the Easter Vigil, they will fully enter into the life of the Catholic Church.
“You, my dear friends who are the Elect—the catechumens and the candidates—you have been discerning what the Lord wants from you, and I am so thankful that you have followed the prompting of the spirit in your heart,” Bishop Caggiano told them.
During this ceremony, traditionally held on the First Sunday of Lent, the bishop welcomes the catechumens (those who are not baptized) and the candidates (those who are baptized but have not received Holy Communion or Confirmation), along with their godparents and sponsors. They demonstrate their wish to become fully initiated members of the Catholic Church through a series of questions and responses before the congregation, including pastors, friends, and family.
For many of them, like Confirmation candidate Kevynn Lima, family was the inspiration that prompted this decision.
“My family is my role model,” said the young man from St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Bridgeport. “They always go to church and take me with them. Now it’s my turn. I’m getting closer to God each time I pray.”
Following a reading from the Gospel of Mark which told of Jesus being tempted by Satan in the desert, Bishop Caggiano in his homily said that despite that temptation, Jesus refused to be separated from his father.
“In his heart, there was no question, no doubt, only one singular desire to be faithful whatever the cost,” he said. “His heart was pure in that one great desire that nothing could change.”
The bishop related the Gospel to the period of formation that the catechumens and candidates have experienced with the support of their parishes and families.
“You have gone through a process of purification to learn the truth of the faith and to dedicate yourselves to deliver the truth every moment of our lives,” he said. “You are also trying to purify your will so you may see goodness and to live a life of virtue obedient to follow the example of Christ himself.”
Focus on one thing only, the bishop told these men and women: “To love God above all things and to love him by loving your neighbor. This is a lifetime of work.
“I commend all of you who are here, for God has chosen you,” he continued. “He has elected you before you are elected by us. He has chosen you, not because you are perfect, but simply because he loves you.”
At the conclusion of the homily, Deacon DiTaranto read the names of the 73 catechumens and 103 candidates. Bishop Caggiano then invited the catechumens, standing beside their godparents, to declare in both English and Spanish their wish receive the sacraments of Baptism, Holy Communion, and Confirmation. To the godparents, he said, “You spoke in favor of these catechumens. Now continue to sustain them in your loving example.”
Upon the bishop’s recognition of the candidates, they responded, “Thanks be to God.” To their sponsors, the bishop asked several questions, including, “Have they advanced in a life of love and service to others?” to which the sponsors answered, “They have.”
Candidate Chris Santana from Bridgeport said he is grateful for the guidance that his sponsor—a special aunt—has given him.
“I am very ready for this and feel blessed for the opportunity,” he said. “I am lucky to have this gift of life, and I want to serve. I will take this opportunity that God gave me and serve others.”
In closing, Bishop Caggiano thanked the many people who have assisted these elect on their journey, including spouses, siblings, friends, pastors, sponsors, and godparents as well as the deacons, seminarians, and those in the music ministry who made this celebration especially joyous.
He said, “Together as brothers and sisters, reborn in the sacraments of Easter, let us show the world what a life can be lived when a heart is given to Jesus.”
By Emily Clark
List of Candidates and Catechumens
Cathedral Parish, Bridgeport
- Catechumens: Lizangel Almonte, Adonis Cruz Velverde, Marelyn B. Morocho, Miguel Angel Lugo
- Candidates: Karolis Almonte, Jose de la Cruz Espinoza, Crecencia Morel, Agustin de la Cruz Santos, Brayan Casarrbias, Wilda Luz Guzman, Madelena Aline Texeira, Alberto Joel Mendoza, Valentine Yauri, Sandra Yauri Dubon, Citalli Cabrera Hernandez, Abigail Cabrera Hernandez, Rene Maldonado Garcia
Our Lady of Good Counsel Quasi-Parish, Bridgeport
- Catechumen: Ashley Monplaisir
St. Ann Parish, Bridgeport
- Candidates: Nicolas Ascencio, Martina Marcos Bautista , Pablo Oswaldo Torres, Maria Yolanda Rosas
St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Bridgeport
- Catechumens: Ademir Miranda daSilva, Fernando Alves Sena Neto, Jean Araujo Dos Santos, Carlos Melara, Keilyn Erazo, Lino Chumbi, Lucila Funes, Roger Ortiz, Waldemar Rodriguez, Centauri Cotes
- Candidates: , Lavinia Gabriela de Almeida, Riberio, Amanda da Silva Santos Souza, Henry Gusma Pavie, Keynn Edward da Silva Lima, Alberto Piedro, Angel Cruz, Blanca Soto, Carmen Alvarez, Olga Castro, Tomasina Martinez, Victor Garcia, Christopher Santana, Santiago Santos, Higinio Cuya
St. Margaret Shrine, Bridgeport
- Candidate: Nancy Kidwell
St. Mary Parish, Bridgeport
- Catechumen: Alberto Munoz Flores
- Candidates: Maria Maldonado, Daniel Sanchez, Arianna Serrano, Camila Serrano
St. Peter Parish, Bridgeport
- Catechumens: , Jennifer Barahona, Hyacinth Saunders, Saif Benjamin Huaracha, Ariana Huaracha, Leonardo Arroyo Cortes, John Coyt
- Candidates: Jose Manuel Veliz, Brenda Ayora, Daisy Ayora, Angel Cabrera
St. Gregory the Great Parish, Danbury
- Catechumens: Anna Amorando, Martin Watson
- Candidates: Jamie Merlo, Amanda Cullmer
St. Joseph Parish, Danbury
- Catechumens: Douglas Nadig, Heavenlee Maldonado
- Candidates: Brenda O’Shea, Emily Palmer, Lindsey Orozco
St. Peter Parish, Danbury
- Catechumens: Sypaseuth Khounvongsa, Alyanna King, Mixli Suarez
St. John Parish, Darien
- Catechumens: Charlotte Huang, Sally Cohen
- Candidates: Kate Pongracz, Christian Holdt
St. Thomas More Parish, Darien
- Candidate: Jonathan Joseph Vranesh Neal
St. Pius X Parish, Fairfield
- Catechumen: Clara De Jesus
- Candidates: Hannah Peck, Nicole Proffitt, Linda Versea
St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Fairfield
- Candidates: Aliaina Seccura, Felicia Seccura
St. Aloysius Parish, New Canaan
- Catechumens: Delia Pettu, Maddox Hoffman, Samul Omari, Amy VanBuren
- Candidate: Brandon Ferraro
St. Edward the Confessor Parish, New Fairfield
- Catechumens: Reed Oetinger, Julia Oetinger, Nicole DeRocco, Johanna Pedersen, Margaret Simonsen
- Candidates: Matthew Greco, Jennifer Correia, Nicolas Correia
St. Rose of Lima Parish, Newtown
- Catechumens: Roberta Avila, Pedro Gonzales, Rachel Grudenizi, Andrew Kaplan, Thomas Lajoie, Keith Neidig, Carter Wallace
- Candidates: Ethan Hanna, Rodney Smith, Johanna Perry, Jennyfer Julca
St. Joseph-St. Ladislaus Parish, Norwalk
- Catechumens: Adeli Chaco, Dina Lopez, Geyry Zuleta
- Candidates: Elio Rosa, Nelson Acevedo, Keilin Aguilar, Raymundo Agusto, Jorge Aspajo, Kevin Figueroa, Candy Garcia, Marlon Sciamarelli, Guadalupe Reyes, Blanca Garrido, Jennifer Alvarado, Olga Gutierrez, Hector Gonzalez, Jonathan Duran, Joel Reyes, Anthony Gomez, Marco Contreras, Beatriz Aristizabal
St. Mary Parish, Ridgefield
- Catechumens: Farah Fehring, Steve Stromberg, Laura Maher
- Candidates: Scott Johnson, Megan Salamone
St. Lawrence Parish, Shelton
- Catechumen: Mark Cameron
- Candidates: Lori Vano, Jennifer Naylor, Jeffrey Winslow, Raymond Boratko, Chloe Martin
Notre Dame du Perpetuel Secours Quasi-Parish, Stamford
- Catechumens: Love Darlie Joseph, Clijovesky B. S. Clerfond, Braensley L. T. Clerfond
- Candidate: Ralph Labarre
Sacred Heart Parish, Stamford
- Candidates: Candido M. Molina, Michael A. Ajila, Stephanie Hernandez, Gustavo A. Lopez
St. Bridget of Ireland Parish, Stamford
- Candidate: Darrell Lansiquot
St. Leo Parish, Stamford
- Catechumen: Camille Woodbury
St. Mary Parish, Stamford
- Catechumens: Edwin Elias, Chelsea Valenzuela, Jonathan Ayala, Marling Arauz, Sofia Moreno
- Candidates: Sabrina Giron, Jorge Ramirez, Chloe Tolentino, Lauren Tolentino
St. Maurice Parish, Stamford
- Catechumen: Heriberto Rios Jr.
Our Lady of Grace Parish, Stratford
- Catechumen: Sarah Pickel
St. James Parish, Stratford
- Catechumens: Ashley Singer, Shanel Rankin, Stephen Wideman, David King
St. Mark Parish, Stratford
- Catechumen: Shanelle Davila
St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Trumbull
- Candidate: Evan Cartell
St. Theresa Parish, Trumbull
- Candidates: Amanda Babb, Karen Valentino, Jessica Young, Jessica Henry, Jessica Torelli
Assumption Parish, Westport
- Catechumen: Ariana Gonzales
