Rite of Election question

[George_C]

For our class, the Rite of Election is being held Sunday, March 1, 2009 in Dayton, OH.

Question 1: Since I can’t prove I was baptized thirty years ago, I’m going to be baptized once again. Will I have to undergo the Rite of Election?

Question 2: What’s the Rite of Election like?

 

[erinelf88]

Hey, I live near Dayton!

I don’t know when my parish(the University Parish for Ohio University, in Athens) is doing the Rite of election, but this site seems to be very useful for RCIA resources:

ecatholic2000.com/rcia/rcia6.shtml

I assume from that that everyone has to undergo the Rite of Election, just that those who have been baptized will not be so again.

 

[George_C]

Hey, I live near Dayton!

We’re almost neighbors. I live in Trenton.

I don’t know when my parish(the University Parish for Ohio University, in Athens) is doing the Rite of election, but this site seems to be very useful for RCIA resources:

ecatholic2000.com/rcia/rcia6.shtml

I assume from that that everyone has to undergo the Rite of Election, just that those who have been baptized will not be so again.

You mean “not everyone,” right?

That’s my understanding.

Thank you for the link.

 

[erinelf88]

No… everyone has to go through the Rite of Election. part of the Rite addresses "these Catechumens and Candidates,’ so that includes everyone in the RCIA process- Catechumens who haven’t yet been baptized, and Candidates who have.

 

[puzzleannie]

For our class, the Rite of Election is being held Sunday, March 1, 2009 in Dayton, OH.

Question 1: Since I can’t prove I was baptized thirty years ago, I’m going to be baptized once again. Will I have to undergo the Rite of Election?

Question 2: What’s the Rite of Election like?

no. 1 have another discussion with your priest
you are not being baptized again
what you will receive, if you really cannot find proof of baptism or a witness to attest to its fact, is conditional baptism, and no you do not go through the rite of election or other rites specific to the unbaptized. the conditional baptism should be private, not during the Easter vigil, and will in addition to the Trinitarian forumula, begin with the words "If you are not already baptized, I baptize you . . .

it is also not a “hafta” for the catechumens, it is a gift, like all the rites, wherein the bishop himself calls, or elects them, for reception into the Church. They will be greeted by him, be brought forward by their sponsors who attest to their sincerity and willingness for baptism, and they will sign their name in the book of the Elect. This is usually in the context of Mass at the cathedral or other large church of the diocese.

Please ask your RCIA director about any and all of the rites, and make sure you discuss with the priest himself your baptismal situation.

 

[venite_adoremus]

I attended a Rite of Election as a parish sponsor in our archdiocese several years ago. It was a delightful experience. The catechumens and candidates were welcomed by the archbishop, and given the chance to be greeted by him individually (shaking hands). He celebrated Mass at the cathedral and invited the elect to come forward at communion time for a blessing. Overall there was an intense feeling of welcome, camaraderie, and joy for the elect, received as a community…something I missed out on as a “transitional” convert in the early 1970s. In fact, one of the elect from that year (now a fully practicing Catholic, of course, baptized at Easter) has teased me ever since that I relived my conversion vicariously through her!

“Election” is a formal acknowledgment of the call of Christ to the heart. We have not chosen Him…He has chosen us.

Do it, do it, do it!

May the Lord bless all the inquirers of the Church in whatever stage they find themselves with light and peace.

 

[Joannm]

No… everyone has to go through the Rite of Election. part of the Rite addresses "these Catechumens and Candidates,’ so that includes everyone in the RCIA process- Catechumens who haven’t yet been baptized, and Candidates who have.

No, you are incorrect. Only the unbaptized go through the Rite of Election. Only the catechumens sign the Book of the Elect. There is a different optional rite for candidates called the Rite of Continuing Conversion that we here celebrate on a differnt Sunday than the First Sunday of Lent.

 

[puzzleannie]

in some dioceses the combined rite, which is an option, for candidates (baptized) and catechumens (unbaptized) may be done so that both groups come to the bishop at the same time, but the prayers and blessings will clearly distinguish between these two groups. The candidates are called for Continuing Conversion, the catechumes are called for Election.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

For our class, the Rite of Election is being held Sunday, March 1, 2009 in Dayton, OH.

Question 1: Since I can’t prove I was baptized thirty years ago, I’m going to be baptized once again. Will I have to undergo the Rite of Election?

Question 2: What’s the Rite of Election like?

You and your pastor should be working on obtaining information supporting the fact that you were Baptized, and if required within a few weeks a Conditional Baptism.

ONLY if it is CERTAIN that you were never validly Baptized, should you be treated as a Catechumen.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Hey, I live near Dayton!

I don’t know when my parish(the University Parish for Ohio University, in Athens) is doing the Rite of election, but this site seems to be very useful for RCIA resources:

ecatholic2000.com/rcia/rcia6.shtml

I assume from that that everyone has to undergo the Rite of Election, just that those who have been baptized will not be so again.

Everyone who is NOT Baptized and is to be Baptized at the Easter Vigil, goes to the Rite of Election. (not ortional)

It is usually not celebrated by an individual parish, but those Catechumens from the parish go to the Rite where the Bishop is celebrating it.

Candidates who are already Baptized can (optional) go also usually at the same gathering to the Rite of Continuing Conversion.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

No… everyone has to go through the Rite of Election. part of the Rite addresses "these Catechumens and Candidates,’ so that includes everyone in the RCIA process- Catechumens who haven’t yet been baptized, and Candidates who have.

You must be looking at the “Combined Rite of Election and Continuing Conversion” Wher the Bishop would address both Catechumen and Candidate groups who would be present.

 

[erinelf88]

That’s possible, and probable. My parish combined the Rites of Welcoming and Acceptance, too, and never explained there was a difference. They just made me say something different from everyone else.

 

[jmcrae]

No… everyone has to go through the Rite of Election. part of the Rite addresses "these Catechumens and Candidates,’ so that includes everyone in the RCIA process- Catechumens who haven’t yet been baptized, and Candidates who have.

Where in the Rite are you finding the phrase “these Catechumens and Candidates”? I would like the paragraph number, please.

My current understanding is that the Rite of Election is for Catechumens.

The Candidates, as I understand it, are to receive the Call to Continuing Conversion. They can receive it on the same day and in the same place that the Catechumens receive the Rite of Election, but the two ceremonies are not to be confused with each other in any way.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Knowing that I’ll probably get a very quick answer here…

One of my catechumens just told me that she may have a work conflict with the Rite of Election. I told her to do everything possible to get someone else to cover for her. But, worst case scenario, what happens if she cannot attend?

 

[puzzleannie]

Knowing that I’ll probably get a very quick answer here…

One of my catechumens just told me that she may have a work conflict with the Rite of Election. I told her to do everything possible to get someone else to cover for her. But, worst case scenario, what happens if she cannot attend?

ask your pastor or the liturgy office of the diocese what is their policy. this is one of the rites that should not be missed, and it is for the bishop to set the time. Some parishes however do this in the parish, so find out if that is possible where you are. Our bishop prefers that the catechumens participate in the Rite of Sending for Election in the parish on the first Sunday of Lent, when they sign the Book of the Elect, and then are brought with their sponsors and catechists to the Cathedral later in the week for the Rite of Election, when he greets them individually, and signs the book himself. However there are many parishes that do the actual rite of Election in the parish, so I assume they have permission to do so. Here the call of the candidates to Continuing conversion is done on another evening entirely.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Knowing that I’ll probably get a very quick answer here…

One of my catechumens just told me that she may have a work conflict with the Rite of Election. I told her to do everything possible to get someone else to cover for her. But, worst case scenario, what happens if she cannot attend?

Then she would need to go to another Rite of Election if your Bishop holds several around the diocese. Or make arrangements with the Bishop. He may accept her enrolment in the Book of the Elect without her physically being present.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Thanks Annie and Rich. My pastor is out of town and I got hit with this today and just sort of panicked.