"Rebuild My Church"

More than 720 people are planning to enter the Catholic Church at Easter through their parish Order of Christion Initiation (OCIA) programs. Archbishop James Checchio presided over his first Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion in New Orleans at St. Dominic Church on Feb. 22 at 3 p.m. This year, nearly 100 more candidates than in 2025, a figure that has more than doubled over the past five years.
 
Nearly 500 people, 236 Catechumens and 261 Candidates, participated in Sunday’s celebration. Another 230 people participated in a Northshore celebration at Most Holy Trinity in Covington on Feb. 23. 
 
Catechumens are unbaptized adults or older children who are preparing to receive the sacraments. Candidates are adults or older children already baptized into another Christian denomination who seek full initiation into the Catholic Church through the Sacraments of Eucharist and/or Confirmation.
 
During his homily, Archbishop Checchio talked about St. Francis of Assisi and his devotion to Jesus and rebuilding the church. “Jesus told St. Francis to rebuild his church and he took it literally, but we need to also look at the broader call of renewing our Christian vows for ourselves and the community,” he said. “We need to be like St. Francis and fall more in love with Jesus and follow his example by changing our lives and hearts first.”

“The Gospel is a call to holiness and Christian values,” he added. “St. Francis answered the call with authenticity and joy and that is what Jesus is asking of you as you finish with your sacraments and enter the final intense preparations for a conversion to a deeper life in Christ.”
He added, “In Christ you will bear fruit and bring others as you evangelize and bear witness here in our archdiocese you will become our church’s best evangelizers by devotion to Christ and answering his call. The church needs you; Jesus needs you, our parishes need you to volunteer and witness.”

Archbishop Checchio reminded those in attendance that Christ now anoints them and and all the baptized and confirmed to be Christians and carry on his mission. We should all be witnesses to others now for Christ by how we live and speak.

“Starting today, set a vision for your life, God is with you today and every day,” he said. “We are blessed to have you for his church. Count on my prayers, gratitude and love for what you are doing – we are with you, support you and want to experience Christ with you God Bless you all.”