A Note From Our Pastor: March 15, 2026

We are at the stage of Lent in which we have begun the three scrutinies to be undertaken by our brothers and sisters who are preparing to enter into the Church. First of all, what a great thing that we have a large group of people who will come into the Church this year through our parish.

They move through the process called OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) or OCIC (for children, age 7 or above), falling into two categories (though they receive formation together): one group consists of those who already baptized in other Christian traditions, known as Candidates, preparing to come into Full Communion they are directed to profess their faith, then receive the sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion.

The second group includes those who are unbaptized. They go through a few stages in this process. They begin as Inquirers, until they go through the Rite of Welcoming (which usually takes place in the Fall). After that, they become known formally as Catechumens (from the Greek, katēkhoumenos, meaning ‘one who is instructed’). They remained in that stage until just before Lent begins, when they go through the Rite of Sending, where their instructors and sponsors publicly declare them ready to be presented to the bishop, at what is called the Rite of Election.

From that point on, the Catechumens are known formally as Elect, entering the final stages of preparation for their baptism: the Period of Purification and Enlightenment., which will include the previously mentioned three scrutinies. “The scrutinies…are meant to reveal what is weak, sick and sinful in the hearts of the elect so that it can be healed; and what is honorable, strong and holy, so that it can be strengthened” (OCIA, 141).

At St. Philomena, these rites occur at the Sunday Masses: At the First Scrutiny (March 8), where they will also publicly profess our Christian Creed. At the Second Scrutiny (March 16), where they will also be anointed with the Oil of Catechumens, to further strengthen them and prepare them for Baptism. At the Third Scrutiny (March 23) they will publicly pray the Our Father with us.

This year, for St. Thomas, we were not able to schedule the scrutinies to occur at the Masses, but instead, outside of Mass. It would be our hope to ensure that they take place at the Sunday Masses in years to come. Please pray for our elect and candidates at both of these parishes in these remaining days of discernment and preparation.

I’m grateful for the tremendous work of our catechists, as well as their sponsors, walking with them through this process. Please pray for our Elect and our Candidates.

Yours in Christ,

Father Todd O. Strange