Two hundred catechumens and candidates were presented to Bishop Salvatore R. Matano during a Feb. 22 Rite of Election and Call to Conversion service at Greece’s St. Lawrence Church. Ninety-five were catechumens who will receive the sacraments of baptism, first Eucharist and confirmation during the Easter Vigil, while 105 were candidates who have previously been baptized and will receive the sacraments of first Eucharist and confirmation. Ninety-one more catechumens and candidates will be presented during a March 1 service at St. Mary Our Mother Church in Horseheads.
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Bishop Matano blesses 9-month-old Marybelle Carson after greeting Marybelle’s mom, Danielle Carson (left), who was presented as a candidate during the service.
Young catechumens, including 12-year-old Joshua Clifford (left) and 10-year-old Joseph Marrocco (center) of St. Marianne Cope Parish, sign the Book of the Elect during the service.
Bishop Matano greets Nicole Northrup, a parishioner of St. Joseph in Penfield who was presented as a catechumen during the Feb. 22 service.
St. Pius Tenth parishioner Joan Williams (left) puts her hand on the shoulder of her goddaughter April Smith, who was presented as a catechumen during the Feb. 22 service.
Bishop Matano smiles as he looks out at the candidates during the Feb. 22 service.
Bishop Matano signs each Book of the Elect during the service.
Bishop Matano stands at the altar during the Feb. 22 service at Greece’s St. Lawrence Church.
Candidate Mary Burr-Ziarko smiles as she is greeted by Bishop Matano.
Katerina Xu (center), a catechumen from the St. John Fisher College Catholic Community, stands during the Feb. 22 service.
