More than 150 men, women and children on the road to becoming Catholic were officially welcomed along their faith journey Feb. 10 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 catechumens (the unbaptized) and candidates (baptized, but entering full communion with the Church) declare their commitment to entering the Catholic Church at Easter.

Amid frigid temperatures, the candidates and catechumens, along with their families, godparents, and sponsors, came from every corner of the diocese, filling the cathedral, where Bishop Gilmore spoke about the Lenten journey:

"The architect of this building wanted our Cathedral to reflect an Old Testament reality, the Tent of Meeting," Bishop Gilmore said. "That’s why he designed this almost tent-like shape. He wanted the building to be, in steel and in stone, exactly what the Tent of Meeting was for our Hebrew ancestors.

"And what was that? The Tent of Meeting was not primarily a meeting place of men and women. It was that, of course, but not principally that. Rather it was the place of meeting between God and the people he had chosen. In the time of the Exodus, the meeting was mediated through Moses. In this time, our time, the meeting is mediated through me, your bishop.

"Now, there are two implications of this that you should not miss. The first is that the Tent of Meeting was the place where Revelation happened. Revelation is some kind of communication between God and us. It is Word from God about himself, if you will. It is God’s self-disclosure in the person of his Son. In Jesus of Nazareth we see the human face of God. These Lenten days are meant to plunge you into that Revelation, into the good news of God made man. Swim there. Float there. Explore there as we move closer to Easter.

"The second implication is that we are nomads, like our ancestors. We are pilgrims in the very shape and structure of our lives. We are on the way somewhere. It is well to think of Lent as a journey, even as you think of your life as a journey. In truth, they are. Let each successive week deepen your grasp of the Father’s Revelation. Let each successive week increase your knowledge of Jesus Christ. Let each successive week bring you closer and closer to the Church he left us. And then our Cathedral, our Tent of Meeting, can be a living contact with the one who pitches his tent among us."

Following the homily, catechumens stood with their godparents, whom Bishop Gilmore asked, "Have they listened to and responded to God’s word proclaimed by the Church?" He then asked the catechumens, "Do you wish to enter fully into the life of the Church through Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist?"

As part of the official rite, the catechumens were invited forward to sign the Book of the Elect. Candidates then stood with their sponsors.

"The Church recognizes your desire to be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit and to have a place at Christ’s Eucharistic table," the bishop said.

At the Easter Vigil, the candidates will receive the other two sacraments of Christian initiation -- Confirmation and Eucharist -- while catechumens receive the sacrament of Baptism as well.

Presider: Most. Rev. Ronald M. Gilmore

Other priests at the altar: Father Ted Skalsky, Msgr. Brian Moore

Ministers: Greg Denton, JoEllen Stremel, Katrena Winter, John Gleason, Brad Israel, Jim Trombley, Lupe De La Torre, Liliana Zuniga, Michael Zuniga, Cindy Schaffer, Greg Schaffer, John Ackerman, Hope Stein, Samantha Askew, Sam Hertel, Denton Durler, Pam Polley, Becky Hessman, George Hertel, Dennis Scheck, Frank Sumaya, Estela Valverde, Gloria Calderon, Fr. Robert Schremmer, Coleen Stein, Valerie Ortiz, Leah Stein, Frank De La Torre, Debbie Hertel, Barbie Ackerman, Janis Denton, Emily Denton, Cindy Trombley, Esmeralda Zuniga, Michael Zuniga.

Servers: Cheryl Gleason, Nick Schnitker, and Sara Robinson

Catechumens: Victor Castellanos, Michelle Daniel, Kit Felke, Mary Jane Felke, Thaine Francis, Kayn Milholland, Leticia Rodriguez, Katelyn Scherer, Erick Zayas

Candidates: Angel Aranda, Cristian Aranda, Karla Batrez, Jesús Benavides, Ezequiel Calzada, Josefina Calzada, Manuela Campos, Perla Campos, David Castañon, Melina Chavez, Scott Delgadillo, Joseph Depperschmidt, Armando Dominguez, Jessica Esparza, Alondra Franco, Minerva Garcia, Cristien Gonzalez, Jacqueline Gonzalez, Ayleen Hernandez, Cassandra Hernandez, Doug Larson, Nora Leyva, Angel Martinez, Eduardo Martinez, Erick Daniel Martinez, Gilberto Martinez, Jairo Martinez, Maritza Martinez, Oscar Martinez, Itsel Moreno, Marlene Perales, Jessica Pulido, Antonio Quiroz, Lorena Yasmin Ruiz, Yeraldy Sandoval, Allison Seyfert, Ricardo Taboada, Danielle Tatman, Devin Tavarez, Fatima Valles, Fatima Valles