Thousands to Join Catholic Church in U.S.
WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 7, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Tens of thousands of people in the United States will join the Catholic Church on Holy Saturday through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.
According to numbers released by the U.S. bishops' conference, some 1,294 catechumens will be baptized, confirmed and receive the Eucharist for the first time today in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the nation's largest archdiocese.
Additionally, nearly 1,500 candidates, those who have been baptized in the Catholic Church, but hadn't received further formation, or those who have been baptized in other Christian churches, will become full members of the Church.
The Archdiocese of Detroit will welcome 612 catechumens and 913 candidates, and the Diocese of San Diego will welcome 851 catechumens and 1,036 candidates.
The Archdiocese of Atlanta reports 457 will be baptized and 631 received into full communion. In the Archdiocese of Seattle there will be 636 catechumens baptized and 520 candidates welcomed.
The Official Catholic Directory reported that 80,817 adults were baptized and 73,684 came into full communion in the Catholic Church in 2006.
Adults will enter the Church in every one of the country's 195 dioceses, and in virtually every one of the nation's nearly 19,000 parishes. ZE07040716