Bishop welcomes 150 people

on the road to the Church

Diocese celebrates ‘Rite of Election’

Video presentation

More than 150 men, women and children on the road to becoming Catholic were officially welcomed along their faith journey Feb. 21 by Bishop Ronald M. Gilmore at the Rite of Election celebration at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
One of the most significant events of the liturgical year, the Rite of Election is the official moment that candidates (baptized members of another Christian denomination -- or baptized Catholics -- who are seeking confirmation and first Eucharist) and catechumens (individuals who have not been baptized and who are seeking baptism, confirmation and first Eucharist) declare their commitment to entering fully the Catholic Church at Easter.
Braving frigid temperatures and snow-packed roads, the candidates and catechumens, along with their families, godparents, and sponsors, came from every corner of the diocese, filling the cathedral.

There, each waited for their name to be called forward to sign the Book of the Elect, or to dip their fingers in the baptismal font.


The Elect:
Prince of Peace, Great Bend: Jorge Alvarez, Nallely Alvarez, Jason Benavides, Emmanuel Fragosa, Francisco Fragosa, Garett Hirsh, Jared McFadden, Alondra Olivas, Citlali Sanchez, Madison Scheuerman, Kayli Shull, Ailyn Urias
St. Dominic, Garden City: San Dar, Caleb Foster, Leah Haug, Mitchell Hernandez, David Huges, Isaiah Malone, James Nguyen, Traci Smith, Moung Thong
St. Stanislaus, Ingalls: Mark Poer
St. Mary, Garden City: Andres Amaya, Gerardo Calderon, Gustavo Calderon, Maria Elena Delgado, Odalis Espino, Thomas Hembree, Isaac Hernandez, Citlaly Hinojos, Jesse Lopez, Mary Jo Marcotte, Edward Marcotte, Dezrae Mendiola, Haydee Muñoz, Randal Partington, Tyler Partington,  Alexus Rodriguez
Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dodge City: Crystal Araujo, Christopher Botello, Shadd Bostelmann, Angelica De Leon, Anthony Dole, Alondra Dominguez, Alissa Fernandez, Breanna Galindo, Gage Keller, Lizeth Lopez, Litzy Martinez, Roberto Millan, Crystal Morales, Clayton Ontiveros, Noemi Salazar, Jaime Schaffer
St. Raphel, Syracuse: Tonya Pluid
St. Helen, Hugoton: Rocio Avilez
St. Alphonsus, Satanta: Selena Garcia, Lizete Olivas
St. John the Apostle, St. John: Vernon Evert Ralson
St. Anthony of Padua, Leoti: Raymond Harper
St. Boniface, Sharon: Stasha McClure, Mike Rucker
St. Anthony of Padua, Liberal: Breanna Boots, Erandi Castillo, Saul Melchor, Jesús Ruiz, Alexandra Soto, Carolina Trejo

Candidates:
St. Dominic, Garden City: Jennifer Antonelli, Nancy Davis, Jessica Dirks, Patsy Mangels, Lynnette Ohl, Brad Springston,
St. Anthony, Lakin: Elizabeth Caro
St. Boniface, Sharon: Weston Mantey
St. Anthony of Padua, Leoti: Jason Archuleta Michael Rapier
St. Lawrence, Jetmore: Phillip Culver
St. Raphael, Syracuse: Justin Ochs, Parke Hawkins
St. John the Apostle, St. John: Todd Meyer
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Larned: Deric Schmitt
Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dodge City: Marilu Cuevas, Melissa Deaver, Brian Johnson, Matias Juan, Shanon Lee, Miguel Lux, Miriam Marin, Erika Martinez, Miguel Morales, Noe Ochoa
St. Alphonsus, Satanta: Mario Beltran, Monica Durán, Denise de La Garza, Sandra Manrriquez, Avigael Medina, Cesar Parra, Agustin Salas
St. Anthony of Pauda, Liberal: Jonathan Arambula, Concepción Delcid, Marcos Felipe, Lindsay Fitzgerald, Olga Lopez, Nicolas Baltazar Miguel, Franciso Morales, Abel Orozco, Sanjuana Ortega, Amalia Perez, Claudia Rios, Catrina Juan Sebastian, Cristina Trejo, Celestino Torres
Prince of Peace, Great Bend: Edvelia Alvarez, Uridia Alvarez, Judith Castillo, Pattie McGurk, Coleen Mossbert, Monica Salcido, Emerson Sawaya, Miguel Sánchez, Eduardo Valles, Ryan Zecha
St. Mary, Garden City: Jacinto Almaraz, Maria Elena Almaraz, Samantha Hembree, Andy Herman, Diana Hernandez, Salvador Hernandez, Norma Hinojos, Sarahi Loya, Lesa Peitz, Brandon Robinson, Brenda Rodriguez, Raven Rosas
Mary, Queen of Peace, Ulysses: Andrea Feezer, Eric Feezer, Holly Feezer, Nick Feezer