Eleven students journeying through the Order of Christian Initiation of Teens (OCIT) at Catholic Central traveled to the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit this weekend along with their sponsors to celebrate the Rite of Election with Archbishop Allen Vigneron and hundreds of fellow catechumens and candidates across the archdiocese.

The Rite of Election marks an important step along the students' journey to becoming full members of the Catholic Church this spring. Catechumens are those receiving baptism, first holy Communion and confirmation at the Easter Vigil, while candidates are those already baptized who will receive one or both of the other two sacraments of initiation.

The Rite of Election follows the Rite of Welcome and Acceptance, which took place in December. Catholic Central's OCIT program was founded by Fr. Bill Riegal, CSB, Fr. Dennis Noelke, CSB, and Director of Campus Ministry Mr. Kevin Walters with special permission from Archbishop Vigneron to begin the faith formation program aimed at teens. Participants meet once every two weeks in the fall and once a week in the spring as preparations for the Mass of Initiation intensifies. Students receive the Sacraments of Initiation and are welcomed into the Church, surrounded by the support of their teachers and peers during an all-school Mass. 

Learn more about faith at Catholic Central: https://www.catholiccentral.net/faith