Close to 1,000 catechumens enrol at Rite of Election

On March 8 and 9, catechumens and candidates from across Singapore took part in the annual Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion at Blessed Sacrament Church on Queensway and the Church of the Holy Family near Katong.

Mar 19, 2025

By Joshua Chan
On March 8 and 9, catechumens and candidates from across Singapore took part in the annual Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion at Blessed Sacrament Church on Queensway and the Church of the Holy Family near Katong.

That weekend, 842 catechumens and 165 candidates took another step towards full communion with the Catholic Church.

The final lap
The Rite of Election, or Enrolment of Names, marks a significant step in the journey for non-Christians preparing to become Catholic.

It is one of several liturgical rites those preparing for the sacraments of Christian initiation at the Easter Vigil must participate in during the Sunday Masses over the five weeks of Lent.

As a pledge of fidelity, catechumens write, or enrol, their names in a book that lists those who have been chosen for initiation at Easter.

Typically held on the First Sunday of Lent, catechumens – unbaptised persons – are formally chosen by the Church acting in the name of God to receive the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist at the Easter Vigil.

At that Mass, candidates, those who have been baptised in another Christian tradition, are welcomed into full communion with the Catholic Church.

Cardinal William Goh, who presided at both events, was joined at the altar by priests representing their parishes from across the Archdiocese.

Godparents of the catechumens and candidates arrived in busloads from their respective churches.

Doing what you believe
In his homilies that weekend, Cardinal Goh spoke of the importance of having a set of principles to guide one’s life.

“You need a mission statement, a credo – a set of personal beliefs,” he said. “The Creed of the Church, the set of beliefs that the community lives by, should become your personal conviction.”

He added that faith is more than mere intellectual agreement with a set of beliefs, but the actual doing of what one believes.

“If you believe in your heart, you will confess Jesus is Lord of your entire life – your work, family, relationships, wealth; Lord of everything. Then people will see what you say you believe is true, and they too will want to believe,” said the Cardinal.

The catechumens then wrote their names in the Book of the Elect, which was in the form of a long scroll, while the candidates participated in the Call to Continuing Conversion, where Cardinal Goh declared the Church’s recognition of their desire to be confirmed at Easter.

Journeys of faith
Ms Queenie Ng, 42, said she first believed in Christ when she was 20 and even attended various Protestant churches on occasion.

“I wasn’t baptised, and I didn’t walk closely with God either,” she said.

Six years ago, Ms Ng left her corporate job to become an embalmer. One year into her new career, she was engaged by Saint Joseph Dying Aid Association, an organisation which provides Catholic funeral services, to help with embalming work.

“Although the funeral industry is profit-driven and can be toxic, the Catholics I met at the Association were simple people who were easily contented,” she said. “They serve not for the money and I wanted to be like them.”

“Becoming an embalmer was God’s plan for me,” said Ms Ng, who said she wants to make those who have died look good on their way to eternal life, as this is often the last memory people have of their loved ones.

After some years working with Catholics and learning more about the faith, Ms Ng joined the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) programme at the Church of the Risen Christ in Toa Payoh last July.

Mr Naresh Mahtani, a senior practising lawyer, said he was introduced to Christ as a teen but struggled with the concept of organised religion.

“Jesus had always been my hero, but I could not accept how the Church had engaged in persecution historically,” said Mr Mahtani.

“I was a champion freethinker, and proud of it,” said the 69-year-old, who said he seldom accompanied his wife of 44 years for Mass even though she was a regular and active churchgoing Catholic.

Mr Mahtani said he strived to develop himself and live a purposeful life over the years by working hard, attending leadership courses, mentoring younger associates, and practising meditation.

“I thought life was okay, but I was betrayed by people I had been helping and working with which troubled me both emotionally and financially. Other problems cropped up, I had many questions and my foundations were shaken,” he said, tearfully.

In his despair, Mr Mahtani started having serious conversations with God, turned to Him in prayer, and began discovering answers to his questions about the faith and the Church.

“I felt Him telling me to go inside the Church and learn about it, instead of throwing stones from the outside,” he said, adding that he felt the Holy Spirit prompting him to attend the RCIA course.

Last July, Mr Mahtani joined the RCIA programme at the Church of St Francis Xavier in Serangoon Gardens and has been enjoying every session.

“Now, the happiest moment of my week is going to church with my wife on Sundays,” said Mr Mahtani, who plans to take Nathaniel as his baptismal name.

This Sunday afternoon, a Mandarin Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion service will be held for 124 catechumens and seven candidates at the Church of the Holy Cross.

A total of 966 elect and 172 candidates are expected to be received into full communion with the Church this Easter.--Catholicsg