The Rite of Election A Self-Guided Tutorial

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The Rite of ElectionA Self-Guided Tutorial

• Created by the Catholic Diocese of Richmonds
  Office of Worship
• Winter 2011

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Before you begin

• Have a copy of the Rite book on hand
• Have something on which to write responses to the
  discussion questions if you are doing this alone
• Make sure to read the notes sections on slides
  where there are asterisks . If you are doing
  this in a group, arrange to have someone read the
  notes aloud to the group.
• There are breaks built into this tutorial at
  times where the focus will shift. Try to work on
  this until one of these breaks, to hold the
  continuity of the thoughts.
• Pray

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Introduction

• For Whom is this tutorial designed?
• For RCIA Coordinators and Teams
• For DREs and CREs
• For Priests
• For Deacons
• For Pastoral Coordinators
• For all those called by God and entrusted by the
  Church with initiating others into the Christian
  life lived as Roman Catholics

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Introduction

• What are the purposes of this tutorial?
• By starting with the end in mind (thank you
  Stephen Covey), to take a look at what the Rite
  of Election tells us about the process of
  initiating
• To deepen understanding of the Rite of Election
• To increase familiarity with the ritual text
• To start to decode the high context language of
  the ritual text. (No surprise that RCIA
  Coordinators and Teams were not the target
  audience for the ritual text! Bishops are the
  primary audience, followed by priests.)

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What are the best uses of this tutorial?

• Individual self-guided learning Giving RCIA
  Coordinators and Team members an opportunity to
  increase their understanding of the initiation
  process without asking them to come to a meeting.
  Giving a self-guided learning format to DREs,
  CREs, pastors and pastoral coordinators
  responsible for the quality and integrity of
  formation within their parishes and so wish to
  understand the implementation of the Rite of
  Christian Initiation more fully.
• Gathered RCIA Team Formation All RCIA Teams
  benefit from continuing to learn about the
  implementation of this Rite. This tutorial can
  form the basis of monthly or quarterly team
  formation meetings. Meet together, pray, watch
  the tutorial and enter into the discussion.

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What are the best uses of this tutorial?

• Regional or Cluster RCIA Team Formation
  Gathered with the initiating community from
  neighboring or cluster parishes, with a
  facilitator, view this tutorial and enter into
  discussion.
• For clergy formation either individually or in
  groups.

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PRAY
Prayer is exhaling the spirit of man and inhaling
the spirit of God. 
Edwin Keith
Prayer is the soul's sincere desire,Uttered or
unexpressedThe motion of a hidden fireThat
trembles in the breast.James Montgomery, What
is Prayer?
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Please take this time to pray
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A NOTE REGARDING Children of Catechetical Age

• Since children who have reached the age of
  reason are considered, for purposes of
  Christian initiation, to be adults, (canon
  8521), their formation should follow the general
  pattern of the ordinary catechumenate as far as
  possible, with the appropriate adaptations
  permitted by the ritual. They should receive the
  sacraments of baptism, confirmation and eucharist
  at the Easter Vigil, together with the older
  catechumens. (National Statutes 18)

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PART ONEWhat is the Rite of Election?

• The second public liturgical step in the restored
  process of Christian initiation (RCIA 118)
• A ritual that closes the period of the
  catechumenate and opens the period of
  purification and enlightenment. (RCIA 118)

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What is the Rite of Election?

• A ritual that is based upon (RCIA 119)
• The testimony of godparents/catechists
• The catechumens reaffirmation of their intention
  to follow Christ in the Roman Catholic tradition,
  as first stated in the Rite of Acceptance into
  the Order of Catechumens
• A communal discernment of readiness to embrace
  the way of the cross and the life of discipleship
  (more on discernment to come)

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What is the Rite of Election?

• A liturgical rite that is the focal point of the
  Churchs concern for catechumens (RCIA 121)
• An episcopal liturgy, which means it is a liturgy
  presided over by the Bishop or his delegate.
  This is significant because the Bishop will
  affirm Gods action in our midst and acknowledge
  the Churchs witness to that action on behalf of
  the entire Roman Catholic Church.

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For Discussion

1. What is new information in this explanation of
   the Rite of Election?
2. What do you see in this explanation that affirms
   what you are already doing in your initiation
   process?
3. Write down any questions you have. Look for them
   to be answered in the remainder of the tutorial.
   If they are not, check the RCIA link on the
   office of worship webpage at www.richmonddiocese.o
   rg/worship or email them to Deacon Chris Morash,
   Director of the Office of Worship at
   cmorash_at_richmonddiocese.org.

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What is discernment of readiness?

• Its different from just making a decision.
  According to Donna Steffen in her book Discerning
  Disciples, Discernment is not so much a rational
  process, but a listening to what God is doing, to
  where God is leading.

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What is discernment of readiness?

• The word discernment comes from the Latin
  discernere. It has a sense of sifting through or
  separating, taking apart.
• What are we sifting through? The various
  spirits that are operating. It begins with
  observing behavior and then goes deeper whats
  causing the behavior? Discernment involves the
  heart, feelings, gut instincts and of course, the
  mind.
• Steffen, pages 6 and 7

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What can help us discern?

• Start with the RITUAL TEXT .
• It gives us the marks of spiritual development
  for each stage of the initiation process. Since
  the ritual text has the same authority as Canon
  Law, all initiation practitioners are to carry
  out the intentions of the ritual text. This is
  one of the many ways we preserve the union of the
  Church and acknowledge the action of the Holy
  Spirit in our midst.

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What can help us discern?

• Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens
• Paragraph 42
• lists the marks of spiritual development
  that are to have taken place BEFORE the
  celebration of the Rite of Acceptance
• Rite of Election
• Paragraph 120
• (which builds on paragraph 42)
• lists the marks of spiritual development that
  are to have taken place BEFORE the celebration of
  the Rite of Election

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A Look at the Ritual Text

• Remember, the Rite of Election is based upon the
  idea that readiness has been discerned. Readiness
  is characterized by (RCIA 120)
• A conversion in mind and action
• A sufficient acquaintance with Christian teaching
• A spirit of faith
• A spirit of charity

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What do these descriptions of readiness mean?

• A conversion in mind and action. This means
  that both attitudes and behaviors have begun to
  change to be in accord with the gospels of Christ
  and the teachings of the Church. For example, a
  catechumen employed by a boss who cheats
  customers and expects employees to do the same
  changes jobs. Someone who once ignored the poor
  on street corners now gives them a meal.

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What do these descriptions of readiness mean?

• A sufficient acquaintance with Christian teaching
• Long enough, several years if necessary, for the
  conversion and faith of the catechumen to become
  strong. A sufficiently long period of probation.
  (RCIA 76)
• A period of formation beginning at the Rite of
  Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens and
  including both the periods of the catechumenate
  and purification and enlightenment, that should
  be AT LEAST (emphasis added) one full year.
  (National Statutes 6)

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What do these descriptions of readiness mean?

• A sufficient acquaintance with Christian teaching
• Contains these components of formation Word,
  Worship, Communal Life, and Work for Charity and
  Justice. (RCIA 75)

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What do these descriptors mean?

• Thoroughly comprehensive is defined as at least
  once around the liturgical year where the entire
  mystery of Christ unfolds means that formation
  and instruction take place during the seasons of
  Advent-Christmas and Lent-Easter, without taking
  the usual school year type breaks. The
  theological and doctrinal truths of these
  celebrations are crucial to a sufficient
  acquaintance with Christian teaching.

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What do these descriptors mean?

• A thoroughly comprehensive catechesis on the
  truths of Catholic doctrine (National Statutes
  7) means to hand on those doctrines found in the
  Lords Prayer and the Apostles Creed, for those
  are the truths the community presents to the
  catechumens during the period of Purification and
  Enlightenment.

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Thoroughly Comprehensive also means

• To hand on the doctrines that undergird our
  prayer and spirituality, our life in community
  and our moral lives. Remember, thoroughly
  comprehensive is to be understood in terms of a
  catechumen preparing to BEGIN a life of faith.
  That is a very different definition than what
  constitutes thoroughly comprehensive for a
  theology student, a seminarian, a lay ecclesial
  minister or even an already initiated adult.

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What do the phrases Moral Formation Approved
Catechetical Texts mean?

• Moral Formation means those teachings that
  concern individual morality as well as the
  Churchs treasury of social morality known as
  Catholic Social Teaching.
• Aided by approved catechetical texts means that
  the supporting doctrinal sources we place into
  the hands of catechumens to help their
  understanding of Catholic doctrine must bear the
  ecclesial designations imprimatur and nihil
  obstat, both of which indicate that all of the
  doctrinal content of the resource is within the
  scope of official Church teaching.
• The US Conference of Catholic Bishops, in
  its November, 2007 meeting, determined that they
  will not be issuing a curriculum for RCIA, but
  will instead focus on the ways in which the US
  Catholic Catechism for Adults can be
  appropriately used to support this segment of
  initiation.

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ReviewComprehensive Catechesis means

• Once around the liturgical year (at a minimum)
• Doctrinal truths based on the
• liturgical year
• When more than one doctrinal truth flows from the
  liturgy, then the choice is made based upon
  those truths found in the Apostles Creed and
  the Lords Prayer
• Prayer and spirituality introduced and some
• practices established (including mystagogical
  reflection)
• Individual and social morality explored
• Reflection on works of justice and charity

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What weve done so far

• Introduced discernment
• Offered some decoding of the phrases
• A sufficient acquaintance with Christian
  teaching
• Thoroughly comprehensive
• Moral formation
• Approved catechetical texts
• We still have two more phrases to decode
• a. A spirit of faith
• b. A spirit of charity
• But before we do, well pause to discuss

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DISCUSSION

1. About what aspects of this information do you
   want to spend some time talking with team
   members, the coordinator, or the pastor? Why?
2. Around what ideas are you affirmed in your
   implementation of the Rite?
3. Around what ideas are you sensing some changes in
   your practice might be in order?

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What does a spirit of faith mean?

• From Paragraph 42 of the Ritual text
• Ongoing conversion as the Gospel is broken open
  and the Tradition handed on, catechumens find
  themselves in a constant cycle of change
• Repentance the cycle of change includes turning
  away from past behaviors and adopting new ones,
  and expressing sorrow for the ways of the past
• A relationship with the Church as spiritual
  repository and as institution the Church
  mediates Christ to the world and so is an
  important part of a Catholic Christians faith
  life

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What does a spirit of faith mean?

• From Paragraph 42 of the ritual text
• A recognition of the absolute necessity for a
  relationship with the Christian community We are
  saved as a people, not alone. We experience
  grace through one another and we bring Christs
  message to the world powerfully together.
• A deeper understanding of the grace, mystery and
  power of liturgy the Eucharist is the source and
  summit of our lives together.

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What does a spirit of faith mean?

• From RCIA Paragraph 75
• Turning to God more readily in prayer
• Bearing witness to their faith in Jesus Christ
  (they can talk about this, as well as live its
  principles)
• Having hope in Jesus Christ, in good times and
  bad
• Following supernatural inspiration in their
  actions. Knowing how to recognize the promptings
  of the Holy Spirit and having the courage to act
  in accord with them.
• Loving their neighbors, even when it goes against
  their own self-interest

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DISCUSSION

• Share stories of people with whom you have
  journeyed who have had a spirit of faith. How
  did you know that?
• What effect does a spirit of faith have on those
  it touches?
• What actions, qualities and words help you know
  you are in the company of a person of faith?

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What does a spirit of charity mean?

• Love of neighbor, even when it goes against
  self-interest. (Yes, this is a repeat for it is
  at the heart of discipleship.)
• The corporal and spiritual works of mercy have
  taken flesh in the catechumen. They feed the
  hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the
  naked, visit the imprisoned, admonish sinners,
  bury the dead, etc.
• They are generous with their time, talent and
  treasure, finding ways to bring the love of
  Christ into many situations both in the parish
  and in the larger community.

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What does a spirit of charity mean?

• They are slow to anger and rich in compassion,
  choosing kindness, goodness and mercy over
  vengeance, retribution and holding grudges.
• They are inclined toward that which serves the
  common good, looking to Catholic Social Teaching
  to guide them as they formulate opinions and
  actions that speak of Christs love for others.

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Discussion

1. Share stories of people you know who have a
   spirit of charity. What helps you to know that
   is their disposition?
2. How are those who are touched by the spirit of
   charity affected?

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Time to Review

• What is the Rite of Election?
• 2nd public liturgical step in Christian
  initiation
• Closes the period of the catechumenate and opens
  the period of purification and enlightenment
• Is the ritual that is the focal point of the
  Churchs concern for catechumens
• Is an episcopal liturgy, meaning that it is
  presided over by the Bishop or his delegate

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Time to Review

• What is the Rite of Election?
• Is a ritual that is based upon
• The testimony of godparents and catechists
• Catechumens reaffirming their intention to live
  as disciples of Jesus Christ in the Roman
  Catholic tradition
• Discerned readiness to receive the sacraments of
  initiation

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Still Reviewing

• Took a look at the meanings of the words/phrases
• Discernment
• Conversion in mind and action
• Sufficient acquaintance with Christian teaching
• Comprehensive doctrinal formation
• Moral life
• Ecclesiastically approved catechetical texts
• A spirit of faith
• A spirit of charity

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Take a break
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PART TWOWhy is the Rite of Election only for the
unbaptized?

• The theology of election is anchored in the
  idea of God having a holy and chosen people,
  those known as his elect. Baptism is the
  sacramental ritual that marks the beginning of
  our covenant relationship with God as a chosen
  son or daughter. Therefore, those who are
  already baptized are among Gods holy and chosen
  ones, Gods elect, even if they have not yet
  explored the dignity and meaning of that baptism.
  

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Continuing to explain Why is the Rite of
Election only for the
unbaptized?

• The Rite of Election is part of their journey
  toward full initiation into the Roman Catholic
  Church. It is targeted then toward those who do
  not yet know themselves as Gods Elect, the
  unbaptized. It marks the moment when the
  catechumens declare their intention. Then the
  Bishop, on behalf of the Church recognizes Gods
  call to them and declares them ready to celebrate
  the Easter mysteries after a final period of
  preparation. He then names them anew the Elect,
  Gods holy and chosen ones, who after baptism and
  confirmation will join with us at the table of
  the Lord.

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PART THREEWhat does the Rite of Election
proclaim?

• That God is active in our midst, calling all to
  conversion and the unbaptized to life with Christ
  in the Roman Catholic community.
• That the community has discerned Gods actions in
  the hearts and lives of the catechumens and can
  witness aloud to that.

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What does the Rite of Election proclaim?

• In addition to those two general messages,
  each of the participants in the Rite have
  specific messages the catechumens, the
  godparents, the RCIA Team and the Church through
  the Bishop.
• The next slides let you know what each has to
  say.

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Catechumens proclaim

• Their personal conversions. They are now people
  of justice, charity, compassion and repentance.
  They are disciples of Jesus ready to join the
  baptized community.
• Their relationship with Christ. Christ is living
  in them and they in him. They are people of
  prayer, self-examination, reflection and
  contemplation.

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Catechumens also proclaim

• Their need for the community of faith. They are
  no longer individuals, but are joined to other
  Christians. They do not journey alone and cannot
  imagine living this life without members of the
  community.
• Their desire to become one with Christ and with
  us who are the Church, at the Table of the Lord.
  They yearn for that communion, and for the Bread
  of Life.

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During the Rite of Election Godparents proclaim

• That they have witnessed first-hand the
  conversion, commitment, community and hunger for
  Eucharist.
• That they have been with the catechumen long
  enough to assure the community this conversion is
  authentic and long-lasting.
• That they are willing to make a lifetime
  commitment to journey in faith with this
  catechumen.
• That they are willing to go on record themselves,
  before God and the Christian community, that this
  person is in fact a disciple of Jesus Christ.

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The RCIA Team proclaims

• That they have provided sufficient formation in
  the ways of faith, grounded in word, worship,
  community and witness.
• That they have engaged in times of authentic
  discernment of the catechumens readiness to
  embrace the way of the cross in the Roman
  Catholic tradition.
• That they have been faithful to handing on the
  Roman Catholic tradition to these catechumens.

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The RCIA Team also proclaims

• That enough time has been offered these
  catechumens, respecting their individual faith
  journeys and not moving them along on a
  prescribed calendar.
• That the community knows and loves these
  catechumens and is ready to embrace them and
  nurture them throughout the coming year so that
  these catechumens will not feel abandoned as
  their process of formation changes.

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And finally, during the Rite of
Election The Church through the
Bishop proclaims

• That God is alive and at work calling people to
  God in Christ.
• That the Church is a witness to this holy action.
• That these individual catechumens are beloved of
  God, and entrusted to the Church.
• That these catechumens are now members of Gods
  Elect as affirmed by the Church and by the
  enrollment of their names in the Book of the
  Elect.
• That these Elect, after a final period of
  spiritual preparation, are ready to be admitted
  to the Easter mysteries because they are
  disciples of the Lord Jesus, as attested to by
  those who know them.

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Time to Review

• The Rite of Election proclaims that God is at
  work right here in our midst. God is a God of
  the living.
• The Rite of Election proclaims that we, the
  Church, are witnesses to and heralds of this good
  news, of Emmanuel God-with-us.

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Continuing to Review

• The Rite of Election gives catechumens a
  chance to publicly witness to their relationship
  with Christ and with the Church, and to state
  their intention to live as disciples of Jesus
  Christ in the Roman Catholic tradition. The Rite
  of Election makes it clear that men and women are
  still being transformed by the Holy Spirit into
  followers of Jesus.

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The Review Continues

• The Rite of Election honors godparents
  commitment to catechumens, and asks them to
  testify to how God has been at work making their
  companion ready to embrace the rights and
  responsibilities of baptism. We are a people
  sent to proclaim good news to all the world.
  Godparents model that action during the Rite of
  Election.

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Still Reviewing

• The Rite of Election tells the community that
  the smaller group of people known as the RCIA
  Team, most closely associated with initiating
  these men and women, 1) has seen God at work in
  the catechumens conversion,2) has provided ample
  opportunity for them to become apprentices in
  faith, and 3) has been with these men and women
  for a sufficient amount of time to testify that
  they will be faithful disciples. The entire
  community initiates. The RCIA Team enables that
  to happen so that the Elect, once one with us at
  the Table, are truly the beloved of the community.

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A Final Review Point

• The Rite of Election is the time when the
  Church, through the Bishop, acknowledges Gods
  activity by declaring these catechumens to be
  members of Gods Elect, ready to receive the
  Easter sacraments after a final period of
  spiritual preparation. These men and women are
  about to enter into a covenant relationship with
  Christ and the Church. This rite punctuates that
  reality.

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Discussion

1. What do you want to think more about from this
   segment of the tutorial? Why?
2. What does it mean to proclaim that God is at work
   in your parish community now? What kind of
   testimony do people need to hear in order to
   believe this is true?
3. How do you think the catechumens need prepared in
   order to enter into the Rite of Election fully?

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Take a break
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PART FOURWhat happens before the Rite of
Election?

• The ritual text presumes some very specific
  actions have taken place BEFORE the Rite of
  Election.
• Paragraphs 121 and 122 indicate that it is
  presumed that bishops, priests, deacons,
  catechists, godparents, the community and the
  catechumens, each in their own way, have engaged
  in a process of discerning the catechumens
  readiness to embrace life in Christ and have
  arrived at a judgment about their state of
  formation and progress.
• Paragraph 123 says that BEFORE the Rite of
  Election, godparents are to be chosen in accord
  with the Churchs directions regarding this.
• The following graphics show you in pictorial
  form, who does what BEFORE the Rite of Election.

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PART FIVEWhat happens during the Rite of
Election?

• The godparents exercise their ministry publicly
  for the first time
• The Bishop
• Tells of the significance of the Rite
• Asks the communitys approval of the catechumens
• Asks catechumens for their statements of personal
  intention
• Admits catechumens in the name of the Church, to
  the Elect
• Reminds all of the Divine mystery at work
• Reminds the faithful to give good example to the
  catechumens
• Reminds the faithful to join the Elect in
  preparing to celebrate the Easter mysteries
• 
  (RCIA 125)

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Simple Language, Deep MeaningInside the
Language of the Rite of Election

• The beginning of the Rite includes the
  presentation of the catechumens. The one
  selected to do this says that the catechumens
  have found strength in Gods grace and support
  in the communitys prayers and example
• This presumes that strength in Gods grace and
  communal support have been verified by
  observation, conversation, discernment,
  testimony, and self-disclosure.

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Simple Language, Deep MeaningInside the
Language of the Rite of Election

• The Bishop says, those who know them have judged
  them to be sincere in their desire
• This phrase presumes that there has been
• a sufficient amount of time (at least once around
  the liturgical cycle after the Rite of Acceptance
  has been celebrated)
• enough dialogue between life experience and the
  Gospel/teachings of the Church so that sincerity
  in the wish to follow Christ as a Roman Catholic
  is obvious
• communal prayer
• a verbal expression of a spiritual longing for
  union with Christ
• and, actions that say to others that the
  catechumen is already following Christ in the
  Catholic ways.

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Simple Language, Deep MeaningInside the
Language of the Rite of Election

• The Bishop says, Our community has decided to
  call them to the sacraments
• This phrase means that there has been a
  discernment process, with genuine testimony and
  concrete and observable evidence of a change in
  attitude and behavior. It also means that
  several groups of people have participated in
  this discernment, including the catechumen. And
  finally, it means that the Bishop speaks for the
  entire diocese, proclaiming to the Church around
  the world that these are genuine disciples of the
  Lord Jesus Christ.

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Simple Language, Deep MeaningInside the
Language of the Rite of Election

• The Bishop says, Gods holy Church wishes to
  know whether these catechumens are sufficiently
  prepared
• Sufficient preparation in terms of listening
  to Gods word means that they have listened to
  the Word as proclaimed by the Church in the
  Sunday assembly, have participated in dismissal
  catechesis, have attended extended catechetical
  sessions, have prayed the Liturgy of the Hours,
  the Stations of the Cross, the rosary and other
  devotions, have become familiar with the
  structure and authority of the Church, and have
  accepted that Roman Catholics are a people who
  follow both Scripture and Tradition.

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Simple Language, Deep MeaningInside the
Language of the Rite of Election

• Sufficient preparation in terms of having
  responded to the Word of God and begun to walk in
  Gods presence, means that the catechumens
• Are repentant
• Have changed attitudes and behaviors over and
  over again
• Are forgiving and merciful toward others
• Are peaceable
• Are able to identify and reject evil
• Want to live in the Christian community
• Are generous with their material goods
• Are concerned about personal and social sin
• Are prayerful
• And, are hungry for Eucharist

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Simple Language, Deep MeaningInside the
Language of the Rite of Election

• The Bishop asks the catechumens, Do you wish to
  enter fully into the life of the Church?
• In order for a catechumens to answer this
  question truthfully, they have to understand what
  it means to enter fully into the life of the
  Church.

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Discussion

• What does it mean to enter fully into the life
  of the Church?
• How does your initiation preparation process
  prepare catechumens to answer this question
  truthfully?

68
Simple Language, Deep MeaningInside the
Language of the Rite of Election

• What does it mean to enter fully into the life
  of the Church?
• This means that the catechumens have had
  enough catechetical formation, liturgical
  formation and moral formation to be able to
  participate fully, consciously and actively in
  these actions. They have worked for justice and
  peace, prayed communally, registered in the
  parish, attended parish social functions, begun
  reading bulletins and websites, and begun
  engaging in ongoing formation.

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Simple Language, Deep MeaningInside the
Language of the Rite of Election

• What does it mean to enter fully into the life
  of the Church? (part 2)
• This means that the catechumens have spent
  enough time in preparation to see suffering,
  death and resurrection in parish life. They have
  not been protected from the scandals, sins and
  fractures of the human face of the Church, and
  they have been in places to see the
  reconciliations, healings and unity of the
  Church. In other words, they know the Church to
  be both human and divine and are prepared to live
  within her sin and grace.

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Simple Language, Deep MeaningInside the
Language of the Rite of Election

• What does it mean to enter fully into the life
  of the Church? (part 3)
• This means that the catechumens have
  experienced the reconciling community. They know
  how mercy, forgiveness, self-examination,
  repentance, confession and penance work even
  though they have not yet celebrated them
  sacramentally.

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Time to Reflect

1. Part 4 dealt with what happens BEFORE the Rite of
   Election. The entire baptized community has a
   role in initiating. Their actions and
   expectations are listed. How is your parish
   implementing this basic tenet of Christian
   initiation?
2. Part 5 dealt with what happens during the Rite of
   Election, focusing on the specific language
   within the ritual. What common themes are
   developing?

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Common Themes

• Preparing a catechumen for initiation is a long
  process.
• The ritual text is a guide for the content and
  format for the formation of a catechumen.
• Formation is more than information it is
  experience, community, prayer, and work for
  justice and charity.
• The Rite of Election presumes discernment and a
  decision regarding the formation and readiness of
  the catechumen. More is involved than just
  attending classes.

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Discussion

• What ideas about your initiation process are
  beginning to form as a result of this tutorial?
• What would you like to understand better or have
  assistance with in your initiation process?
• What ideas or practices need discussed among the
  team and/or with the pastor?

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Part SixWhat happens AFTER the Rite of Election?

• Bishop, priests, deacons, catechists, godparents
  and the community surround the Elect with prayer
  (RCIA 121)
• Catechumens are now referred to as the Elect
  (RCIA 124)
• The Period of Purification and Enlightenment,
  which most often coincides with Lent, immediately
  follows it
• The sacraments of initiation are celebrated at
  the Easter Vigil
• Masses for Neophytes happen during the Easter
  season (National Statutes 22)
• Mystagogy follows for one year (National Statutes
  23-24)
• Ongoing formation that supports life as a
  disciple of Jesus Christ becomes the pattern of
  faith development

75
Conclusions

• The Rite of Election is the second public
  liturgical rite in the process of Christian
  initiation. During the Period of Purification
  and Enlightenment, the Elect will celebrate the
  Scrutinies during Sunday Masses. When this is
  complete, they will be welcomed into the Church
  through the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation
  and Eucharist, at the Easter Vigil. This is true
  whether the catechumen is an adult or a child
  over the age of seven.

76
Conclusions

• The Rite of Election presumes that a certain
  duration, content and quality of formation has
  preceded it. It asks public affirmation from
  godparents, RCIA Team members, and the community
  that the catechumen has entered into an intimate
  relationship with Jesus Christ which they intend
  to live out as members of the Roman Catholic
  Community.

77
Conclusions

• To prepare to celebrate the Rite of Election with
  integrity means to evaluate the parishs
  initiation process in light of what the Rite
  presumes
• A year-round process
• Formation in the Roman Catholic approaches to
  scripture/tradition, liturgy, life in community
  and the moral life (both individual and social
  morality), and a sense of participation in making
  Gods kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven
  (service)
• Discernment as to the readiness of the candidate
  that is based on conversion experiences that have
  changed their minds and their hearts, resulting
  in changes in behavior.
• The participation of the entire baptized community

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Final Discussion

• Where are we affirmed as an initiation team?
• Where are we challenged?
• What should happen now?

79
A Final Note

• Take a look at the Office of Worships
  website
• www.richmonddiocese.org/worship
• for RCIA information. Forward unanswered
  questions to Deacon Chris Morash at
• cmorash_at_richmonddiocese.org
• Note All images except those on Slide 8 were
  taken from Google images. To see their related
  web information, rest the mouse over the image.
  All clip art came from Microsoft Clip Art. The
  photographs on Slide 8 were taken by J. Charles
  Stollery and Deborah W. Stollery and are used
  with permission.