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OCIA Class of 2026
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- Rite of Entrance & Welcome, December 7, 2025
- Call to Continuing Conversion
- Rite of Sending -February 22, 2026
- Penitential Rite - March 1, 2026
- What are Scrutinies?
- First Scrutiny March 8, 2026
- Second Scrutiny March 15, 2026
- Third Scrutiny - March 22, 2026
- Sponsor/Godparent Form
- Digital Binder Info
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Rites of Entrance & Welcome, December 7, 2025RITE OF ENTRANCE INTO THE ORDER OF CATECHUMENS
The Rite of Entrance is the first formal step for catechumens—those who are unbaptized—on their journey toward becoming members of the Catholic Church. In this liturgical celebration, catechumens publicly declare their intention to follow Christ and are formally received into the Order of Catechumens, marking a clear shift from initial inquiry to intentional preparation. The Church, in turn, recognizes their desire for faith and promises to support them with prayer, teaching, and example.
During the rite, catechumens are often signed with the Cross on their forehead and senses, symbolizing their call to embrace the life of Christ. From this point forward, they are considered part of the household of the Church, though not yet fully initiated. They now enter a more focused period of catechesis, spiritual growth, and participation in certain liturgical rites leading to Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil.
RITE OF WELCOME
The Rite of Welcome is for candidates—those who are already baptized, either in the Catholic Church or in another Christian tradition, and who now seek full communion through Confirmation and Eucharist. This rite acknowledges the grace already present in their lives through baptism and affirms their desire to grow deeper in faith. It also publicly celebrates their decision to continue the journey toward full participation in the sacramental life of the Church.
In the celebration, candidates are welcomed by the parish community and may be signed with the Cross as a sign of their commitment to Christ. Unlike catechumens, they do not enter a new order but rather deepen the faith life begun at baptism. Following this rite, they enter a period of formation and spiritual preparation, often participating in catechesis alongside catechumens, until they are ready to complete their initiation or be received into full communion.
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Rite of Election & Call to Continuing Conversion
February 22, 2025RITE OF ELECTION
The Rite of Election marks the formal transition of catechumens—those who are unbaptized—into the final phase of their preparation for Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. Celebrated around the First Sunday of Lent, typically at the diocesan cathedral, the liturgy is presided over by the bishop. At this gathering, catechumens publicly express their desire for the sacraments, and their readiness is affirmed by their godparents and the broader community. Their names are recorded in the Book of the Elect, and through the Church’s proclamation, they are now officially known as the “Elect,” chosen by God for initiation into the Christian life.
This rite signifies not only the individual’s commitment but also the Church’s trust in their readiness for Christian initiation. It inaugurates the Period of Purification and Enlightenment—a time of intensified conversion and spiritual formation during Lent, leading to the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil. Throughout this period, the Elect engage in practices such as the Scrutinies and presentations that deepen their interior readiness for new life in Christ.
CALL TO CONTINUING CONVERSION
The Call to Continuing Conversion is the complementary rite reserved for candidates—those who have already been validly baptized in another Christian tradition and now seek full communion with the Catholic Church through Confirmation and Eucharist. Celebrated at the same liturgy as the Rite of Election, usually on the First Sunday of Lent, this rite formally recognizes their intention and ongoing conversion. Here, the bishop affirms their desire to be sealed by the Holy Spirit and receive the Eucharist, and their sponsors and the assembly publicly support their journey of faith.
Unlike catechumens, candidates do not sign the Book of the Elect, as they are already incorporated into Christ through baptism. Instead, the Call to Continuing Conversion acknowledges their continued formation in faith and their readiness to be fully integrated into the life of the Church. It sets them on a path of deeper repentance and spiritual growth—a journey that runs parallel to the Elect’s, especially throughout the Lenten season leading to their respective celebrations of initiation and full reception into the Catholic community
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Rite of Election (Sending)
onThe celebration of the Rite of Election (or Enrollment of Names) closes the catechumenate period. In this ancient rite of the Church, the Bishop listens to the testimony of the sponsors, godparents, and assembly. Based upon this testimony, he judges their state of readiness and "elects" or "chooses" them to receive the sacraments of initiation at the coming Easter Vigil.
The Cathedral is located at 2535 Collingwood Blvd. Toledo, Ohio. The Rite begins at 3:00 pm. Once you arrive at the Cathedral, please take a seat, there is not reserved seating
Please arrive at your parish at the Mass time designated below with your sponsor. You will have reserved seating.
St. Paul the Apostle/St. Mary:Please plan to arrive by 8:30am so we have time to practice before Mass begins.
Seats will be reserved for each candidate or catechumen and their sponsor. If you have small children who need to sit with you, they are of course welcome to do so.
We kindly ask that other family members sit with the general parish assembly, as candidates and catechumens will be dismissed after the Rite, while family members will remain for the remainder of the Mass. We will be sure to reconnect everyone after Mass concludes.
Order of the Morning
The Rite will take place within the context of Mass and will follow this order:
Opening Song
Liturgy of the Word
Homily
Rite of Election
Dismissal of the OCIA candidates, catechumens, and team
Family members will remain in the church for the rest of the Mass—please don’t worry, we will reunite you afterward!
We look forward to sharing this beautiful and important step with you.
Please use this link to see a sample of the Rite: Rite of Election
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Penitential Rite, March 1, 2026The Penitential Rite (Scrutiny for Candidates) is a liturgical celebration for baptized candidates who are preparing to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church. It is usually celebrated during Lent, often on the Second Sunday, as a way to strengthen candidates in their ongoing conversion and prepare them for the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist. Unlike the scrutinies for the unbaptized (Elect), which focus on freedom from sin and the influence of evil, the Penitential Rite for candidates emphasizes healing, reconciliation, and deeper union with Christ, acknowledging that they have already received the grace of baptism.
During the rite, the community prays for the candidates, asking God to continue purifying their hearts and minds as they prepare to complete their initiation. The celebration may include the laying on of hands by the priest, signifying the Church’s prayer for God’s mercy and strength, and often leads to the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time since beginning their journey into the Catholic faith. It serves as a moment of spiritual renewal and commitment to deeper conversion, helping candidates enter more fully into the mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection celebrated at Easter.
Candidates - You can view the Rite HERE: /documents/2026/2/Scrutiny%20for%20Candidates%202026.docx
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What are the Scrutinies?On the third, fourth, and fifth Sundays of Lent, the newly named “Elect” participate in three successive rites called “the Scrutinies.” These rites, with roots dating back to the early Church, take place during the Sunday Mass, each thematically linked to the Gospel reading for that Mass. The three passages from St. John’s Gospel for these Sundays were selected around 500 AD as powerful depictions of the hidden transformation God accomplishes in the Elect through each Scrutiny. Each proclamation emphasizes repentance and conversion as the Light of Christ comes to pierce the darkness of sin and to bring life where there is death.
The “Elect” along with their sponsors, kneel before the celebrant and the assembly, who pray for them silently with a series of intercessions. It culminates in a prayer of cleansing and protection (exorcism) with the laying-on-of-hands. Each Scrutiny is a step in preparing the Elect for the celebration and initiation soon to come.
The Scrutinies are God’s way of taking a close, loving look at the Elect. God does not scrutinize the Catechumens in order to find what’s wrong with them but to celebrate all that’s beautiful, good, and true in them. Jesus “scrutinizes” us with Divine Light, revealing all that is valuable within each of us. He also reveals to us the ways in which we are hurting, or sick, or sinful. This is not to reject us, but to call us to new life and to healing.
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The First Scrutiny
March 8, 2026The Scrutiny will take place during the 9 am Holy Mass at Saint Paul. OCIA Participants from other parishes must connect with their parish OCIA leader to determine when their Rite will take place.
This Scrutiny leads the Elect to focus on conversion and on the new life that will begin through the sacraments. In the Gospel, Jesus encounters the Samaritan Woman at Jacob’s well (John 4:5-42). Our Lord is the Light who alone is able to examine and scrutinize the hidden places of our hearts. When He encountered the Woman at the Well, she was moved to acknowledge her sinfulness. In the presence of the Divine Physician, she exposed the festering sores of her soul and began to experience healing. So also the Elect are encouraged through the prayers of this rite to open their souls to the Divine Physician, to allow Him to bring light where there is darkness and healing to any and all wounds. The prayers of exorcism, which conclude the ritual, beg God to deliver the Elect from the deceits of the Devil.
Just as Moses once struck the rock with a staff in the desert to quench the thirst of the Israelites, so Christ, the New Moses, promises the Samaritan Woman “a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” In fact, the New Moses is Himself the spiritual Rock (see 1 Cor 10:4), for blood and water flow from His pierced side as He hangs on the Cross. The twin streams, flowing from that pierced side, are the sources of eternal life, made tangibly accessible through the sacraments.
Tradition gives us the name of the Samaritan Woman as Photina, which means Light Bearer (Lucina in Latin). Soon the Elect will receive the Living Water and will become radiant bearers of the Light of Christ. Let us continue to hold them in prayer during these final weeks of their journey.
A sample text of the First Scrutiny can be found HERE.
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Second Scrutiny
March 15, 2026The Scrutiny will take place during the 9 am Holy Mass at Saint Paul. OCIA Participants from other parishes must connect with their parish OCIA leader to determine when their Rite will take place.
From the first moment of Creation, when God spoke the word “Light” into the dark void, the Divine illumination has infused ultimate meaning into the visible universe. The account in St. John’s Gospel of the gradual healing of the man born blind is proclaimed to the Elect, as they learn to accept the Light of divine meaning (Logos) into their lives.
Each of the sacraments has a visible sign that imparts invisible grace. What is seen with the natural eye is a mere shadow of the wonders of grace—made visible only to an eye enlightened by faith. Jesus takes the man who has been in natural darkness his whole life and places a mixture of saliva and clay onto those unseeing organs of sight. With the command “Go and wash” the Lord uses these outward signs and words to effect a miracle as the man experiences natural light for the first time.
The more significant miracle, however, is the gradual transformation of the man’s spiritual sight. His faith is tested by the unbelieving religious authorities, who interrogate him, ridicule him, and eventually end up throwing the man out of their assembly. The Lord approaches him. At the moment of healing, this man saw Jesus physically, but now, after bearing the cross of social pressures, he sees Jesus’s identity more clearly. “‘I do believe, Lord’ and he worshipped him” (John 9:38). Calling him “Lord” (Kyrios in Greek), the man proclaims faith in the Son of God, the Word of Light who gives ultimate meaning to life.
We are invited to pray for our beloved Elect in a special way through this Scrutiny. Conscious of the constant struggle between Light and darkness, Mother Church teaches her Elect that the first stirrings of faith they experience will not be without a share already in the Cross; embracing faith means encountering misunderstanding, ridicule, and even being rejected. We pray for a renewal of that vision imparted to the man born blind, to be able to see the Divine meaning and purpose implanted in this visible universe and to reject the pull of the powers of Darkness into error, doubt, and unbelief.
While the Candidates (those already one with us in Christian faith due to their shared baptism) will not be called up during this Mass they are part of the dismissal. Reserved seats for Catechumens, Candidates and their families will be available at St. Paul on the Joseph side.
(Scrutiny descriptions used with permission of St. John Cantius, Chicago)
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Third Scrutiny
March 22, 2026The Scrutiny will take place during the 9 am Holy Mass at Saint Paul. OCIA Participants from other parishes must connect with their parish OCIA leader to determine when their Rite will take place.
Mother Church leads the Elect by means of the Scrutinies to consider stark contrasts: thirst and water (the First Scrutiny with the Samaritan woman); blindness and sight (the Second Scrutiny with the Man Born Blind). The account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-45) forms the Third and Final Scrutiny, as our Lord enters the ultimate contrast: from death, he calls forth life.
Our Lord comes to Bethany, near Jerusalem, knowing that his presence there and the miracle he works will lead soon to his own Passion and Death. St. Thomas, ever a realist, says to the others: “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (John 11:16).
The scene is filled with emotion. When Jesus, the one who came to give us life in abundance, encounters death, he is deeply disturbed and greatly troubled. For four long days, Lazarus had lain in the earth—four days, which in the Jewish understanding meant that he had decayed beyond recognition, fully overcome by the power of death. And yet, the one who proclaims to Martha “I am the resurrection and the life,” is not restrained by the decay of death. “Lazarus, come out!”
Through this Third Scrutiny, the Elect begin their final journey toward the font of baptism. There, they will “die with him;” there also they will embrace new life in the risen Christ. May we all, who accompany our brothers and sisters on this journey, renew our faith in the Son of God, who embraced our death, in order, by the power of his Resurrection, to bring us new and eternal life.
While the Candidates (those already one with us in Christian faith due to their shared baptism) will not be called up during this Mass they are part of the dismissal. Reserved seats for Catechumens, Candidates and their families will be available at St. Paul on the Joseph side.
(Scrutiny descriptions used with permission of St. John Cantius, Chicago)
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Sponsor/Godparent Forms
Catechumens: Those who are to be baptized at Easter Vigil may choose two godparents.
Candidates: Those who are to be welcomed into full communion with the church will choose one sponsor following the same guidelines.
The following form is required for all sponsors/godparents. Godparent/Sponsor Form
Please use the following guidelines in choosing each godparent:
• You may choose up to two godparents.
• If you choose to have only one godparent, they may be male or female.
• Godparents can be relatives but not parents or legal guardians.
• Godparents must be at least 16 years old.
• Two godparents do not need to be married to one another.
• Two godparents may consist of one male or one female, two males or two females together are not allowed to be godparents.At least one of the Godparents must be a Catholic who:
• has received all of the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation).
• is living out their faith through prayer, going to Mass and Confession, and being part of their faith community.
• is either married within the Church or unmarried, divorced or widowed and not living with a partner.For the second godparent, you may choose a non-Catholic Christian. Designated as a "Christian witness,” they will participate in the baptism with the other godparent. A Christian witness is permitted as long as you have one Catholic godparent.
The Christian witness must be:
• baptized
• attempting to live out their faith through prayer, going to church and being part of their faith community, and loving one another, including those in need.If a godparent cannot be present at the baptism, they may be represented by proxy. The proxy can be Catholic or a Christian of another denomination. The godparent may designate the proxy on the Godparent Form.
The selection of godparents may not be changed after the baptism.