Hundreds gathered at St Chad’s Cathedral on Sunday 9 March, the first Sunday of Lent, for the Rite of Election.

This annual event is an opportunity for people who are becoming part of our Catholic community at Easter to be introduced to Archbishop Bernard Longley and the Bishops.

Family, friends, sponsors and godparents all gathered with those preparing for Baptism (called Catechumens) and those joining the Catholic Church fully (called Candidates). 

The Rite of Election is an important step in their journey towards receiving the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. Catechumens and Candidates are now encouraged to follow our Lord Jesus Christ with great generosity.

This year there were just over 200 Catechumens and Candidates in attendance, representing around 50 parishes across the Archdiocese.

The Rite of Election involved the presentation of the candidates, affirmation by the sponsors, affirmation by the assembly and invitation and enrolment of names.

Parish priests, together with their catechumens, candidates and sponsors, then met with Archbishop Bernard and Bishops David Evans, Timothy Menezes and Richard Walker.

Rite of Election booklet

Photo Gallery by Con McHugh

Candidates and Catechumens represented the following parishes:

St Chad’s Cathedral

St Catherine of Siena, Bristol Street

St Peter’s, Bloxwich

St Mary of the Angels, Aldridge

Holy Ghost & Mary Immaculate, Olton Friary

St Mary’s, Leek

St Joseph’s, Whitnash

University of Birmingham

Sacred Heart & St Catherine of Alexandria, Droitwich Spa

St Mary’s, Harborne

St Edmund & St Frideswide

Our Blessed Lady & St Thomas of Canterbury, Dudley

Blessed Carlo Acutis, Wolverhampton

St Patrick’s, Walsall

Our Lady of Lourdes, Yardley Wood

Sacred Heart & Holy Souls, Acocks Green

Holy Family, Small Heath

St Peter’s, Bromsgrove

St Mary & St Benedict, Coventry

St Osburg’s, Coventry

Our Lady of Fatima, Quinton

Our Lady & St Brigid, Northfield

St Wulstan’s, Wolstanton & St John the Evangelist, Chesterton

Holy Trinity, Newcastle-under-Lyme & Sacred Heart, Silverdale

Corpus Christi, Stechford

St Joseph’s, Thame

St Vincent’s, Nechells

St Mary’s, Brewood

Our Lady of the Angels, Nuneaton

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Rednal

St John Fisher, West Heath

St Mary & St Modwen, Burton on Trent

St Mary the Mount, Walsall

St Peter, Leamington Spa & Our Lady’s, Lillington

St John the Baptist with Sacred Heart, Tamworth

The Immaculate Conception, Bicester

St Filumena’s, Caverswall

Our Lady of the Wayside, Shirley

Our Lady of Lourdes, Hednesford

St Mary & St Thomas More, Cannock

Christ the King & Our Lady of Lourdes, Coventry

St Dunstan’s, Kings Heath & St Jude’s, Maypole

St Gregory’s, Stratford upon Avon

St Patrick’s, Dudley Road

St Francis, Handsworth

St Ambrose, Kidderminster

St George’s, Worcester

Corpus Christi & Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Wolverhampton

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Redditch

The Precious Blood & All Souls, Coventry

St Joseph’s, Malvern

Our Lady & All Saints, Stourbridge

St Thomas of Canterbury, Walsall

The Abbey, Erdington

St Philip Neri, Smethwick

Sacred Heart & Holy Souls, Tipton

Chinese Chaplaincy/ St Augustine’s, Solihull

Sacred Heart, Tunstall

Newman House Catholic Chaplaincy 

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Bulkington & St Francis of Assisi, Bedworth

Sacred Heart, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent

St Augustine of Canterbury, Meir, Stoke-on-Trent

St Francis Xavier, Oldbury & The English Martyrs, Blackheath

Our Lady of Lourdes, Hednesford

Our Lady of the Assumption, Maryvale

Christ the King, Kingstanding

Holy Cross & St Francis, Walmley

St John the Evangelist, Banbury

Sacred Heart, Blackbird Leys

St Austin’s, Stafford

Our Lady of the Assumption, Swynnerton