The Catholic Church in Singapore is preparing to welcome about 1,250 new Catholics this Easter, the largest cohort of converts in the archdiocese in 10 years, according to the Office for Catechesis (OFC).
On the weekend of Feb. 21 and 22, some 978 catechumens and 155 candidates took part in the English-language Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion at the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on Highland Road and the Church of Christ the King in Ang Mo Kio.
Another 111 catechumens and six candidates are expected to participate in a Mandarin Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion on March 1 at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour.
The Rite of Election, typically held on the First Sunday of Lent, marks the final stage for non-Catholics preparing to enter the Church, Catholic News SG reported.
Catechumens are unbaptised persons preparing to receive baptism, while candidates are Christians already baptised in another tradition who seek full communion with the Catholic Church.
During the ceremonies, choirs led the congregation in the Litany of the Saints as Cardinal William Goh and priests representing parishes across the archdiocese processed into the churches.
After the homily, catechumens approached the altar to write their names in the “Book of the Elect,” pledging fidelity. Through the rite, they become “elect,” formally chosen by the Church acting in the name of God and ready to receive the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist at the Easter Vigil.
OFC Catechetical Director Fr. Terence Kesavan said the archdiocese has not formally studied local conversion trends but suggested several factors that may have contributed to the increase.
“It is through the evangelisation efforts of the Catholic community that people are touched and inspired to want to follow Christ,” he said.
Speaking before the ceremonies began, Fr. Kesavan told the congregation that faith ultimately responds to God’s initiative.
“You have made a choice to come to church and to learn more of God and the faith,” he said, “but today, we are celebrating God’s choice: God is choosing you.”
He also reminded Catholics that Lent is not only a preparation period for those seeking baptism but also a time for the faithful to reflect on their own lives.
“Rather than just focusing on the sacrifices, the more important thing is this: are these things helping me to become who God wants me to be?” he said.
In his homily, Cardinal Goh encouraged catechumens to deepen their relationship with Scripture.
“If you want to be strong in your faith, you need to spend a minimum of half an hour reflecting on the Word of God daily,” the cardinal said.
The catechumens will receive the sacraments of initiation during the Easter Vigil after completing months of preparation through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.
