THE FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT : DAY OF THE RITE OF ELECTION.............

This 1st Sunday of Lent, we journey into the Desert with Jesus, to face our temptations, struggles, sufferings, and necessary sacrifices, by focusing on those the Lord endured during His forty days sojourning in the Wilderness.  We are liturgically, scripturally, and spiritually, presented with the example and inspiration of Christ as the path to follow, as this penitential season of renouncing sin and rendering our hearts and minds by answering the Call to Continuing Conversion.  Today is also the occasion each year when Catholic parishes and Faith communities send their Catechumens and Candidates for Christian Initiation, to the Rite of Election, to be received by the Diocesan Bishop, as they become the Elect for Initiation and the celebration of their Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, and Profession of Faith, at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, six weeks from now.  I am eager to be present for tonight's Rite of Election in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, in downtown Sacramento, to witness the Call to Purification and Enlightenment of the Elect, particularly this year the Elect from Sacred Heart Parish in East Sacramento, who I am helping to prepare in R.C.I.A. faith formation; and the Elect of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, my immediate past pastorate, many of them I welcomed into the R.C.I.A. process and began the adult faith formation ministry of preparation for Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist with, seventeen months ago.  To them and all the Elect as of today I say Praise the Lord and God Bless You, as you make immediate preparation for your Easter Initiation into full membership in the Catholic Church as Christian Disciples on March 30th, forty one days from now.............Fr.  Troy