Rite of Election Prepares Catechumens for the Sacraments

On Sunday, February 26, 138 catechumens were present for the RCIA Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion at the Corpus Christi Cathedral. These catechumens were accompanied by their godparents and sponsors who provided guidance and support as they continue their journey to become Catholic. The Rite of Election is an essential part of the initiation process. As stated in the Rite’s opening prayer, the Church makes its “election” of catechumens who have the dispositions that make them fit to take part in the sacraments of initiation at the next major celebration.

At the Rite of Election, the Church, Bishop Michael Mulvey, who symbolizes and embodies the Church, acts in God’s name in choosing the catechumens to become initiated in the Catholic faith. The Rite of Election is the second step for those individuals in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) process. It is during this rite that the bishop judges the catechumens and candidates' state of readiness and decides on their advancement toward the sacraments of initiation. He does this based testimony of godparents and catechists and the catechumens’ reaffirmation of their intention. This step is called the election because the acceptance made by the Church is founded on the election by God. 

“Preparing for the Rite of Election and the Call to Continuing Conversion is a joint effort between the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis and Office of Divine Worship,” said Deacon Santos Jones, Director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis. “Fr. Pete Elizardo and I work together to communicate to the parishes the formational and ritual requirements to ensure proper eligibility for the individuals to receive the sacraments.”

Prior to the Rite of Election, all parishes celebrate of Rite of Sending for their catechumens and candidates. It is there, in the presence of their parish community that they again express their desire to enter fully into the mysteries of the Church. During this ritual at the Parish, the catechumens enroll their names into the Book of the Elect. The bishop later signs the Book of the Elect at the Rite of Election after greeting each catechumen affirming their election as they have been chosen by God to enter the Church.

The Rite of Election is the ritual that marks their entry into the final phase of their preparation to receive the sacraments of initiation. In the weeks leading up to Easter, catechumens, now “the elect,” enter a period of intense spiritual preparation called Purification and Enlightenment. During this phase, they will continue to deepen their faith, grow in holiness, and strengthen their relationship with God as well as their neighbors. After this period of Purification and Enlightenment, they will then be fully admitted into the Church at the Easter Vigil Mass.

While the Rite of Election takes place at the Cathedral, catechumens and candidates receive their sacraments at their home parishes at the Easter Vigil Mass. At this point, they then will be called neophytes and will be full members of the Catholic faithful. After Easter, they continue a period of reflection called mystagogy, from the Greek words meaning “to lead through the mysteries.” This is a time of accompaniment for new Catholics as they discover what it means to fully participate in the sacramental mysteries of the Church.