Posted March 11, 2025

On the first Sunday of Lent, 726 people preparing to enter full communion with the Catholic Church this Easter received a welcome and blessing from Archbishop Pérez during Rite of Election liturgies Mar. 9 at the Mother Church of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. There are 332 catechumens preparing to enter the Catholic Church through reception of the sacraments of baptism, Eucharist, and confirmation, plus 394 candidates who were validly baptized in another Christian denomination and will receive their remaining sacraments of initiation into the church. Learn more about Christian Initiation for Adults in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia through the Office for Divine Worship here. (Photos by Sarah Webb)