RCIA and rite of election

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So, I’m a few weeks into RCIA. We had to sign and have our signature witnessed on an agreement that if we wanted to come into full communion with the Catholic church, we had to attend a minimum of twenty sessions, and a number of events including the Rite of Election at the nearby cathedral, which is all very serious.

I’m a nervous sort, and am already quite anxious about the logistics of getting there, but this would perhaps be a little assuaged if I knew a bit more about what a Rite of Election is. Any help?
 
WELCOME HOME! 🙂 I don’t quite remember my Rite of Election, only that we got to shake the Bishop’s hand and then my class went out to eat at a nearby pizza place. You’ll be fine!
 
Depends on how fancy they do it where you are. Around here, the people attend Mass together, then are dismissed to attend the Rite at a huge conventions center. Seats are reserved for each church, the people, and their sponsors, and they read out all the names, and you stand when your name is read.
Lots of prayers, a homily of sorts, a blessing and then go home.
Nothing to be nervous about.
God bless you! I’ excited for you.
 
Same in my Archdiocese. Welcome home & be at peace. God bless.
 
We all went to the Cathedral in a bus from our pastoral area - we’re in an Archdiocese, and so there were a lot of people there. It was a very interesting day and good to see the number of people joining the Church.

We didn’t have to do anything on our own - the people from our parish stepped up together, along with our sponsors.
 
Isca, am I right in thinking you are from the UK too? I had wondered if there may be a bus to get us there, somewhat hopefully. I should really stop over thinking it and worrying. I’m sure it is something I should just be enjoying.
 
Yes, I’m from England. There were only about 8 of us and a couple of sponsors (who each had several of us allocated to them). We all fitted in a minibus along with our priest. 🙂
 
Yes, stop overthinking it. 😃 The rite isn’t a Mass but a rite which makes you an elect of the Church. Typically done near or in Lent, depending on the Bishop’s schedule. You are asked, collectively, a couple of questions. Your RCIA director will explain what these are and how to respond. The sponsors will be asked a couple of questions, again collectively.

Then you will be introduced to the Bishop, or his proxy, and he will welcome you to the Church. Your sponsor generally is the one to introduce you. Basically all you have to do is shake the Bishop’s hand say thank you or nothing at all if you’re nervous.

You will do fine. Welcome
 
1st know that prior to my retirement I co-taught RCIA for 3 years

2 I’m sure you can hitch a ride with either another participant or one of the teachers

3 you ask a GREAT question that requires a FULL reply that space prohibits

PLEASE Check out this site


There are a series on “commitment” steps in RCIA, this is but the 1st, BUT KNOW you can “backout” at anytime PRIOR to actually entry into communion with the RCC

Each step of the way is a grace opportunity, so pray very much for God’s WILL be done in your life.

KEEP asking questions!

God Bless you,
Patrick
 
I can tell you what happens at the Rite, but not from personal experience. I skipped basically every Rite except for the Rite of Welcome. The parish I started at was very much like what you described (miss too many dismissals and you’d be “held back” until the next year). I got sick of the control nature and went to another parish that did year round RCIA.

Strictly speaking if you are already baptized it should be the Rite of Calling the Candidates to Continuing Conversion and not the Rite of Election. It’s a nit, but it always bothers me when RCIA programs shorten everything to imply the Rites associated strictly with unbaptized catechumen apply to candidates also. One of the reasons I left the first parish is the RCIA director insisted that everyone had to participate in the scrutinies, but when I pointed out that candidates are not scrutinized because they are already Christian he said I was wrong despite the clear instructions in the Rites.
 
I had the same experience. We were all baptised (either Catholic, CofE or Lutheran) with the exception of one man in the group. We all did the Scrutinies, Rite of Election etc.

I think that for practical reasons everyone gets brought together into a single RCIA path, especially when numbers are small.
 
I did RCIA last year! It was an amazing experience 😃 Rite of Election for us was pretty cool. We went to another parish where we got to sign our names in the book of the elect and we got to have a “mini” Mass with the Bishop of the eastern part of our diocese (because it is huge). We got to reconnect with people that have moved away and previous pastors from our parish. Even our priest got to reconnect with previous parishoners. It is a great experience! Go and enjoy!
 
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