This Easter Vigil will see more than 300 new entrants to the Church in our diocese. For many months those wishing to become Catholics have all been taking part in the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) programme in their own parishes in preparation for this moment.
Many of them attended the annual Rite of Election at Brentwood Cathedral on the first Sunday in Lent to meet Bishop Alan and register their commitment. More than 315 catechumens and candidates were present, preparing for their full admission to the Catholic Church at Easter. They were each introduced to Bishop Alan Williams sm by their catechists. They came from nearly 40 parishes across the Diocese of Brentwood, ranging from Basildon to Chelmsford, Clacton to Leigh-on-Sea, Lexden to Upminster, Brentwood to Walthamstow.
In his homily, Bishop Alan told the candidates and catechumens that Lent was a time of great grace and that by choosing Christ, choosing God for a way forward they were on the way to sanctity, to becoming saints. This, he said, was a cause for great joy for everyone. “The whole Church wants something of what it’s like to move from sin to sanctity, from being a sinner to being a saint.”
He said that in these tumultuous times we should all be reassured by the words from John’s Gospel. “God so loved the world that he sent his only son.”
He continued: “And that actually is our starting point for Lent, for Easter, indeed for the whole of human life as a Catholic Christian. ‘God so loved the world he sent his only son’.”
Further reassurance comes from Julian of Norwich, he said. “Julian looked at the world she lived in, looked at the passion of Christ, looked at the crucifixion and she said ‘love is his meaning’. If you can’t understand sin, if you can’t understand the cross, if you can’t understand death, if you can’t understand suffering, we at least have the answer: ‘Love is his meaning’.”
He thanked the catechumens, the candidates, the sponsors, the catechists, the clergy, all present “for helping our wonderful people find God, find sanctity, find Easter amidst the tribulations, the difficulties of this life. We go from sin to sanctity, we go from the cross to the resurrection and for that we rejoice”.
Music for the service was given by Andrew Wright, Jake Scicinski (organ) and several members of the Cathedral Choir.
You can listen to Bishop Alan below or read the homily in full here: Transcript of Bishop Alan’s homily at the Rite of Election 2026
Pictures from the Rite of Election
