Bishop Quinn of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester recently celebrated the Rite of Election for the diocese's RCIA candidates. 

The candidates will be baptized during the Easter Vigil.

"Across our diocese there are currently over 140 individuals preparing to be received or initiated into the Catholic Church this Easter season," the Diocese of Winona-Rochester wrote in a March 9 Facebook post. "This past Sunday, our catechumens (who are now the “elect”) and candidates, along with their godparents and sponsors, participated in the Diocesan Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion celebrated by Bishop Quinn. Bishop Quinn acknowledged the progress that they have made in their faith journey through the RCIA process and emphasized the great gift that they are to our parish communities and diocese. Please keep all of our elect and candidates preparing for the Sacraments of Initiation in your prayers during this Lenten season."

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a process through which adults can enter into communion with the Catholic Church, according to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The first step in the RCIA process is called the Period of Evangelization and Precatechumenate. During this time, an individual discerns that he or she wants to become a baptized member of the Catholic Church. Next, the individual enters into the Period of the Catechumenate. During this time, the individuals "consider what God is saying to them in the Scriptures, what changes in their life they need to make to respond to God's inspiration, and what Baptism in the Catholic Church means." 

The Rite of Election is the next step and typically takes place on the first Sunday of Lent. During the Rite of Election, "the Catechumens publicly express their desire for baptism to the diocesan bishop. Their names are recorded in a book and they are called the Elect." During the Rite of Election and the Easter Vigil is the Period of Purification and Enlightenment. Finally, during the Easter Vigil, the Elect receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist, becoming full members of the Catholic Church.

At the Easter Vigil, after the Elect are baptized, they are given white garments and a small candle. The white garments serve to "symbolize that they are washed clean of sin and that they are called to continue to walk in this newness of life," while the candle "is lit from the Easter candle and given to the newly baptized as a reminder to them always to walk as children of the Light and to be the light of Christ to the world."

In 2015, "there were 39,721 adult baptisms and 71,809 people received into full communion," according to the USCCB.