Nearly 400 people who seek to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church are now on that path after welcoming ceremonies were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena in Allentown on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 25 and 26.

Because of the large number of people involved, three separate ceremonies were held: Saturday evening for people from Northampton County; Sunday afternoon for people from Berks and Schuylkill counties; and Sunday evening for people from Lehigh and Carbon counties.The ceremony is called the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion. The Rite of Election is for people not yet baptized. The Call to Continuing Conversion is for people who are baptized but wish to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church.Allentown Bishop John O. Barres presided at all three events, wich are held annually on the first weekend of Lent.After the ceremonies the 381 people return to their parishes and spend the six weeks of Lent in final preparation for the initiation sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist celebrated in their parishes at the Easter Vigil, which this year is April 7.