Father Erik Pohlmeier gives last minute instructions to the assembled Directors of Religious Education before the Rite of Election at Christ the King Church in Little Rock March 5. (Dwain Hebda photo)

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor greets catechumen Bill York of St. Joseph Church in Conway. (Dwain Hebda photo)

Rodney Nichols Jr. shakes Bishop Taylor’s hand during the Rite of Election. Nichols is a catechumen at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in North Little Rock (Marche) (Dwain Hebda photo)

Vanessa Shields beams as she is greeted by Bishop Taylor March 5. Shields is a candidate from St. James Church in Searcy. (Dwain Hebda photo)

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor gives a blessing to a sleepy toddler during the Rite of Election March 5 in Little Rock. (Dwain Hebda photo)

Directors of Religious Education ring the altar during the Rite of Election March 5 at Christ the King Church in Little Rock. Similar services were held in Jonesboro, Texarkana and Rogers. (Dwain Hebda photo)

Names of candidates and catechumens are displayed in the Book of the Elect. More than 44 parishes across the diocese are ushering in new members to the Church. (Dwain Hebda photo)

Order photo prints

Candidates, catechumens prepare for Easter initiation

Published: March 9, 2017

By Dwain Hebda
Arkansas Catholic

Dwain Hebda

Dwain Hebda

Candidate Barbara Day of Christ the King Church in Little Rock beams as she is greeted by Bishop Anthony B. Taylor.

Day was one of hundreds in attendance at the Rite of Election at Christ the King March 5. Three other rites of election were held, including March 2 at Blessed Sacrament Church in Jonesboro, March 4 at St. Vincent de Paul in Rogers and March 6 at St. Edward Church in Texarkana.

In all, more than 600 candidates and catechumens from 44 Arkansas parishes participated in the four services.

SEE MORE PHOTOS related to this story at Arkansas Catholic's Zenfolio page, and order prints if you like. You also can browse other photos taken by Arkansas Catholic photographers.