As the words of the hymn "I Say Yes, My Lord" echoed throughout the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on the afternoon of March 8, nearly 1,300 catechumens --- the new Catholic Elect from parishes in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles --- took their seats beside their sponsors, many accompanied by family and friends.

They were there to celebrate the Rite of Election, in which those preparing to receive sacraments of initiation say their "Yes" to God and the Catholic Church by appearing before Cardinal Roger Mahony, who presided at the ritual.

Earlier in the day, these same people --- formerly known as catechumens --- had been called to the altars of their respective parish churches during Mass to sign the Book of the Elect, acknowledging their readiness and desire to become Catholics. Then, in the Rite of Sending, they were sent to the Cathedral for the Rite of Election, where --- in two liturgies held to accommodate the large numbers --- Cardinal Mahony accepted them as the Elect, their next step on their journey into the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil.

Additional Rites of Election for another 119 members of the Elect from parishes in the Santa Barbara Region unable to travel to the Cathedral were celebrated March 8 at La Purísima Concepción Church in Lompoc and Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Ventura, with Santa Barbara Region Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Curry presiding.

(Rites of Calling to Continuing Conversion --- for candidates who have been baptized but have not been fully initiated through the reception of Communion and confirmation --- will be celebrated March 15 at the Cathedral.)

Since 2004, an average of 1,370 men, women and children catechumens have been received into the Church each year, according to figures compiled by the Office for Worship. Another 1,500 candidates, on average, have completed their sacraments each year, the Office for Worship reported.

At the Cathedral, San Fernando Region Auxiliary Bishop Gerald Wilkerson, homilist, said those in the pews, like those in the Gospel's Transfiguration story, go through times of "transfiguration, transformation and change." The transformations that occur in individuals are usually external. "But Jesus calls us to be changed internally, living each day in the grace of God," the bishop said.

"Many say that Catholics are all about, 'No. You can't do this and you can't do that.' But it is because of your indomitable 'yes,' not 'no,' that we are here today. We have seen the transformation in you. This transfiguration doesn't end today, with the Rite of Election. It never ends. It continues for the rest of our lives until we stand before our God."

As the Rite of Election continued, Cardinal Mahony invited each parish by name into the sanctuary. The parish representatives filed forward, led by their initiation leaders carrying the Book of the Elect. Cardinal Mahony asked them a question and accepted each catechumen as member of the Elect.

Earlier, as sponsors, relatives and friends gathered to support and congratulate these "future Catholics," several shared their reasons for entering the Church.

Jacqueline Gudino of Blessed Junípero Serra Church in Camarillo had always been interested in Catholicism. "I had thought about becoming a Catholic for a long time," she said. "I started at Padre Serra to see and learn and get a better understanding of the Catholic Church. After taking class there for two years, I learned a lot and decided the Catholic Church was for me. It is my home."

Gudino's sister and sponsor, Tammy Salas-Banales, had been praying for her sister Jacqueline for a long time. "In our family there are four siblings," she said. "Three were baptized. She was the only one who wasn't. It was our wish for her to be baptized, and now it is her wish, too."

Initially, Jeffrey Harris, an 11-year-old parishioner of Our Lady of the Assumption in Claremont, did not know what to do to become a Catholic. "Then, my mom got me interested in catechism, and I started liking it. It was pretty fun! And now I've got lots of friends there," Harris said.

Toni Sporer, of St. John Fisher in Rancho Palos Verdes attended the Rite of the Elect with husband Brad. Two years ago, they had had their son Luke baptized into the Catholic Church at three months old. "After speaking with Msgr. David Sork [pastor] at our church, I found it beneficial and necessary to raise our son as a practicing Catholic and to do it as a family," she said. "I had no religion before. I learned everything [about Catholicism] all at once over the last two years."

St. John Fisher's George Lee said that he had attended Mass with his family for 25 years, but not as a Catholic. "My children are all baptized in the Church," he said. "My wife is a cradle Catholic. I finally came to the point to take the challenge of becoming a Catholic.

"This is the second time around for me. The first time I didn't finish. There is a middle stage where they ask you if you want to continue. The last time I chose not to. But now, I'm older and wiser, and this time I've chosen to complete the process. The older I get, the more I feel how blessed I've been in my life."