2012 Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion
Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion
2012 Dates: (Registration form will be posted here in the near future)
Saturday, February 25, 2012 1:30 p.m.
Sunday February 26, 2012, 2:30 p.m.
Sunday February 26, 7:00 p.m.
All ceremonies for the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion will be held at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.
Dates Given to Parishes that Signed up for Rite of Election 2011:
Please see the following document to check your parish date for Rite of Election and the Call to Continuing Conversion: - 2012 Rite of Election Candidates for website.pdf Please also be sure that all numbers are correct. Each ceremony has a large number of attendees and we want to be sure we have adequate reserved seating. So if you have any changes please contact our office immediately.
Final Program for the Ceremonies
- Rite of Election 2012 program FINAL.pdf
Seating Charts
Saturday February 25, 2012 1:30 p.m.: - Rite of Election Seating Chart 2-25-12.pdf
Sunday February 26, 2012 2:30 p.m.: - Rite of Election Seating Chart 2-26-12 230pm.pdf
Sunday February 26, 2012 7:00 p.m.: - Rite of Election Seating Chart 2-26-12 7pm.pdf
Letters E-mailed to Coordinators
- 1st Letter 1-17-12 Registration Form.doc
- 2nd Letter Dates for parishes 2-3-12.doc
- 3rd Letter Instructions 2-10-12.doc
Information for Coordinators
- Instructions_for_Coordinators_12.pdf
Music for the 2012 Ceremony
- Rite of Election Music 2012.doc
Background and process of the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion
The annual Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion will be celebrated three times during the first weekend of Lent at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, Lindell Boulevard at Newstead Avenue.
This liturgical rite marks the “election” or “choosing” of those catechumens who have been preparing for the sacraments of initiation — baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist — and solemnly calls them to these sacraments at the Easter Vigil this year.
Catechumen
A catechumen is an unbaptized adult. The Church’s ministry of formation and preparation of catechumens is called the catechumenate. The catechumenate is ordinarily several months to one year in length, though it may be extended in certain circumstances.
Each parish develops its own catechumenate ministry, but all incorporate catechesis (Church teaching), scripture study, prayer, liturgy, and participation in parish life. The catechumenate is a time of apprenticeship in the Christian life, under the guidance of sponsors, catechists, and the faith community at large.
The Rite of Election closes the period of the catechumenate and marks the beginning of the period of final, more intense preparation during which the "elect" will be encouraged to follow Christ with greater generosity. The election is the focal point of the Church's concern for the catechumens and is a tradition which goes back to the first centuries of the Church. Admission to election belongs to the bishop who as shepherd represents the greater Church beyond the parish community.
Candidates
The rite will also recognize those adults who have already been baptized as Christians and now wish to profess their faith as members of the Catholic Church. These Christians are called to ongoing conversion as they prepare to complete their sacramental initiation. These already-baptized adults are known as “candidates” to distinguish them from the unbaptized catechumens.
History of the Rite of Election Ceremony
The Rite of Election has been celebrated at the Cathedral Basilica since 1982, except in 1986 and 1987 when it was celebrated on a deanery basis. The Rite has been celebrated twice on the first Sunday of Lent since 1988, due to the increasing number of parishes wishing to participate in the Rite. In 1996, a third celebration was added, and from 2001-2004, a fourth celebration, both on the Saturday after Ash Wednesday.
Those interested in becoming a part of next year’s rites of Christian initiation or in finding out more about the Catholic faith should contact the parish in which they live.