Children, men and women preparing to be initiated into the Catholic Church at Easter will take one of their final steps on Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Georgia International Convention Center at 10:30 a.m. during the annual Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion.

The celebration, sponsored by the Atlanta Forum on the Catechumenate, is a final step before full membership in the church, which occurs when the elect receive the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil Mass in their parishes.

The Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion marks a turning point in the process of initiation as Archbishop John F. Donoghue, who will preside over the celebration, calls catechumens and candidates to the Easter sacraments.

The celebration has two major parts, the Rite of Election for the catechumens—those preparing for baptism, confirmation and the Eucharist, and the Call to Continuing Conversion for the candidates—those who already are one with the Catholic community by baptism and who seek to be brought into full communion with the Catholic Church through confirmation and Eucharist.

The numbers of catechumens and candidates for this year are still being gathered by the Atlanta Forum. Last year over 2,200 people prepared to enter the church at the Rite of Election.

The Georgia International Convention Center is located at 2000 Convention Center Concourse, near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The GICC has 2,000 spaces of on-site parking available at $3 per vehicle, which the archdiocese will be sharing with another event that day. Parishes are encouraged to use commercial buses, vans or carpools to ensure direct access to the GICC. The Rite will be celebrated in Exhibit Hall D. Parking in lots C, D and E will be most convenient to the hall.

The facility will only accommodate 3,600 people. Parish RCIA coordinators are asked to invite only those persons essential to the Rite: catechumens, candidates and sponsors.

For directions, visit the Web site at www.gicc.com.

For more information, call Ana Nerio in the archdiocesan Department of Religious Education and Faith Formation at (404) 885-7235.