GREEN BAY — Parishes around the diocese will welcome new members into the church on April 3 at the Easter Vigil. These newest members, called catechumens and candidates during their preparation time, have taken part in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).
On the second Sunday of Lent, they were enrolled in the Book of the Elect at their parishes. They were presented to Bishop David Ricken at a ceremony later in the day at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral.
Catechumens are those who will be baptized and also receive the sacraments of confirmation and Eucharist at the vigil.
Candidates are those who have already been baptized, whether in the Catholic Church or in another Christian denomination. They will make a full profession of faith and receive confirmation and/or Eucharist in the church at the vigil.
After the Easter Vigil, the newly-initiated — who will then be called “neophytes” — enter the final stage of the RCIA process: mystagogia.
Mystagogia is marked by the new experiences of sharing in the sacraments and in full participation in the community.
Following are the catechumens and candidates whose names were submitted by parishes to the diocesan Office of Worship.
APPLETON
St. Bernadette: Catechumen: Harper Laird; Candidates: McKenna Solis, Brian Nelson
St. Mary: Catechumen: Layna Petersen; Candidates: Amanda Lee, Drew Hoppes, Beth Vanderloop, Jake Zwayer
St. Pius X: Catechumens: Eli Gerend, Lily Gerend, Steve Gerend, Cora Ward, Dario Ward; Candidate: Monica Sweet
St. Thomas More: Catechumens: Jaelyn Nelson, Jason Wilber; Candidates: Colleen Balza, Lori Chase, Heidi Guta, Bianca Hammond, Isira Hammond, Kailynn Hammond
CHILTON
Good Shepherd: Candidates: Marissa Holzer, Maddrik Logemann
DE PERE
Our Lady of Lourdes: Catechumens: Grayson Birder, Sara Darr
St. Francis Xavier/St. Mary: Candidate: Nathan Vander Heiden
St. Norbert Campus: Catechumens: Bonnie Allen, Kadisyn Ceplina, Terrence Garner, Killian Riley; Candidates: Maria Mariani, Joyana Tarsa, Samantha Wilson
DYCKESVILLE
St. Louis: Catechumen: Cory Besaw
GREEN BAY
St. Agnes: Catechumen: Victor Comprez Matos; Candidate: Dawn Rasmussen
St. Francis Xavier Cathedral: Candidates: Shirley Charles-Hall, Jennifer Kopp
SS. Peter and Paul: Catechumens: John Crummie, Brianna King, Stephanie Kinney, Jayson Lebron, Jayxalis Lebron, Crisny Rouelo, Diego Rouelo, Naara Urquia
St. Willebrord: Catechumens: Ezmirrilda Estupinan, Reynaldo Estupinan III, Gulmara Fajardo-Cordova, Ivan Fajardo-Cordova, Diego Galeano, Angel Garduno, Jessleyn Gor-don, Arianna Lones, Carmelo Lones, Evelyn Martinez, Kimberly Martinez, Omar Martinez, Axel Mendez Hernandez, Jaimary Rivera; Candidates: Diego Agredano, Brian Guzman, Martin Pineda
GREENVILLE
St. Mary: Candidates: Fred Colwell, Paul Hameister, Janis Steffen, Andy Webb
HOWARD
St. John the Baptist: Catechumen: Joshua Posbrig; Candidates: Betsy Bianchi, Michael Charles, Ian Miller, Mary Nelson
LITTLE CHUTE
St. John Nepomucene: Catechumen: Benjamin Anderson; Candidates: Addison Eickman, Cheryle Richter, Gabriella Van Thiel
MANITOWOC
St. Francis of Assisi: Catechumens: Debra Cotter, Joshua Seefeldt, Vanessa Valdez
MENASHA
St. John/St. Mary: Catechumen: Kayla Tobey; Candidate: Pasquale Davis
OMRO
St. Mary: Catechumen: Michelle Flores
OSHKOSH
St. Jude the Apostle: Candidates: Paige Betthauser, Kirk Kaldor, Rudolph Konz, Gavin Wurm
PESHTIGO
St. Mary: Candidates: Ashley Haws, Angela Whitcomb
SHAWANO
Sacred Heart: Candidates: Dana DeMarce, Christine Withrow, David Withrow