Rite of Election
Both the Rite of Election and the Rite of Calling the Candidates to Continuing Conversion will be celebrated on Sunday, February 10, 2008, at The Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen New Jersey.
PLEASE TAKE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE ONE COMBINED CELEBRATION.
Both the Rite of Election for all Catechumens (the unbaptized) and the Rite of Calling the Candidates to Continuing Conversion (for those who have been baptized but have not received BOTH Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist in the Catholic Church) will be celebrated at 3:00 p.m.
Please note that the Diocesan Liturgical and Canonical Statues for the RCIA mandate that the unbaptized MUST celebrate the Rite of Election. If extraordinary circumstances prevent a catechumen from celebrating the Diocesan Rite of Election, then a Rite of Election must be celebrated in the parish and the pastor must immediately request, by letter, a delegation from the Bishop to preside at the substituted parish Rite of Election.
In preparation for both Rites, we ask that you send to me at the RCIA Office by Monday, January 7, 2008 the names and addresses of those Catechumens and Candidates who will be participating in these Rites. In the discernment process, it may be decided that some Catechumens and Candidates will not be participating. Their names may be removed at any time before Sunday, February 10, 2008. HOWEVER, NO NEW NAMES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER Monday, January 7, 2008 . Therefore, please send the names of all possible Catechumens and Candidates, and then notify us prior to February 10, 2008 if it is decided that they are not yet ready to receive their Sacraments at Easter.
The Rite of Election requires that those Catechumens who are participating are unbaptized, have been part of an RCIA process, and are seeking full initiation at this year’s Easter Celebration. The Rite of Calling the Candidates to Continuing Conversion requires that the Candidates be baptized, uncatechized Christians from other denominations who are seeking full communion into the Catholic Church or uncatechized Catholics who are seeking to receive BOTH Sacraments of Eucharist AND Confirmation. They may also be initiated at the Easter Vigil (RCIA No. 562-565).
CATHECHIZED CATHOLIC ADULTS WHO ARE PREPARING FOR CONFIRMATION ONLY ARE NOT TO ATTEND THE RITE OF CALLING THE CANDIDATES TO CONTINUING CONVERSION.
THEY MUST CELEBRATE CONFIRMATION AT A PARISH LITURGY DURING THE EASTER SEASON AND NOT AT THE EASTER VIGIL MASS
PLEASE NOTE THE PASTOR OF THE PARISH, THE COORDINATOR OF THE PARISH RCIA, OR AN RCIA TEAM MEMBER WILL READ THE NAMES OF THE CATECHUMENS OF THEIR PARISH CELEBRATING THE RITE OF ELECTION AND THE CANDIDATES OF THEIR PARISH CELEBRATING THE RITE OF CALLING THE CANDIDATES TO CONTINUING CONVERSION.
It is unfair to pass that responsibility on to this office or to another parish!! This personal introduction of the Catechumens and Candidates will be much more meaningful for them and for us. Details and instructions will follow at a later date.
Kindly indicate the names and addresses of the Catechumens and Candidates on the attached form. We want the Rite to reflect the cultural diversity of the participants. If English is a second language for any of the participants, please indicate next to their name what is the primary language. Indicate, also, who from the parish will be reading the names. If your parish has NO Candidates or Catechumens this year, please return the form indicating the same. We need a form returned from each parish.
(Rites Registration Form is available in PDF and Word formats.)
Mrs. Sara Sharlow
RCIA Office
St. John Neumann Pastoral Center
P.O. Box 191
Metuchen, NJ 08840
We will promptly confirm your response. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call me at (732) 562-1990 ext. 1633.
