Bishop Walsh of the Diocese of Gaylord recently celebrated the Rite of Election for the diocese's Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) candidates. 

The candidates will be baptized during the Easter Vigil.

"On Sunday, Bishop Walsh celebrated the Rite of Election for all of our RCIA candidates that are preparing to enter into full communion with the Church at the Easter Vigil next month," Diocese of Gaylord wrote in a March 8 Facebook post. "Please pray for the continued conversion of these candidates, that their lives be transformed by the Holy Spirit."

According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a process through which adults can enter into communion with the Catholic Church. The first step in the RCIA process is called the Period of Evangelization and Precatechumenate. During this time, an individual discerns that he or she wants to become a baptized member of the Catholic Church. Next, the individual enters into the Period of the Catechumenate. During this time, the individuals "consider what God is saying to them in the Scriptures, what changes in their life they need to make to respond to God's inspiration, and what Baptism in the Catholic Church means." 

The Rite of Election is the next step and typically takes place on the first Sunday of Lent. During the Rite of Election, "the Catechumens publicly express their desire for baptism to the diocesan bishop. Their names are recorded in a book and they are called the Elect." During the Rite of Election and the Easter Vigil is the Period of Purification and Enlightenment. Finally, during the Easter Vigil, the Elect receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist, becoming full members of the Catholic Church.

At the Easter Vigil, after the Elect are baptized, they are given white garments and a small candle. The white garments serve to "symbolize that they are washed clean of sin and that they are called to continue to walk in this newness of life," while the candle "is lit from the Easter candle and given to the newly baptized as a reminder to them always to walk as children of the Light and to be the light of Christ to the world."

In 2015, "there were 39,721 adult baptisms and 71,809 people received into full communion," according to the USCCB.