Nearly 600 to enter the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil across the Archdiocese of New Orleans

 

Nearly 600 men, women and children will enter the Catholic Church in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday (April 19) in their respective parishes – the largest number of new Catholics in many years, Archbishop Gregory Aymond said today at the Rite of Election ceremony at St. Dominic Catholic Church in New Orleans.

"Our church is growing, and that is a truly wonderful sign," Archbishop Aymond told the packed church. "Our family grows immensely, and we are grateful to God for his call and for your response.

"Today, we send you forth in faith. Jesus' message to you is found in today's Gospel – and we hope those words are engraved in your heart – when Jesus says to you, 'Come, follow me.' He goes on to say that he is the vine and you are the branches, and without him, you can do nothing. Those are the words that you will ponder over the next six weeks as you pray in preparation for the Easter Vigil.

"Please remember that we are here today because we respect you. We love you. You are important to us and to the church, and we promise to pray for you every day as you await the Easter Vigil."

The new Catholics fit into two categories: "Catechumens" are those who have not been baptized in a Christian religion and "candidates" are those who have been baptized in a Christian religion.

Of the 582 incoming Catholics this year, 291 are catechumens and 291 are candidates, said Deacon Michael Whitehouse, deputy director of faith formation for the archdiocese. Last year, the number of incoming Catholics was 436.

Of the entire group, 445 were honored today at the Southshore celebration at St. Dominic; 137 will meet with the archbishop Monday at 7 p.m. in the Northshore celebration at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Covington.