Rite of Election/Call to Continuing Conversion

What if a parent or guardian does not consent to the use of their child’s image and likeness?
IMAGE/LIKENESS CLAUSE: There are occasions when representatives of the Diocese of Superior and/or the media photograph, record youth while in school or attending/participating in diocesan sponsored functions. For the 2021 Rite of Election/Call to Continuing Conversion, if a parent/guardian does not consent to the use of their child's image and likeness, parish RCIA leadership should notify the Office of Worship in writing (pbirch@catholicdos.org) prior to this diocesan sponsored function. These records should be maintained at the parish. It will be up to the parish representative(s) to avoid potential recording or photographing of restricted persons. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
 

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 C A T H O L I C
D I O C E S E    O F    S U P E R I O R

O f f i c e   o f   W o r s h i p

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1201 HUGHITT AVENUE       P.O. BOX 969      SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN 54880
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Phone: (715) 394-0233       e-mail: pbirch@catholicdos.org       Fax: (715) 395-3149

TO:           Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults leaders or
                  Pastors, Parish Life Coordinators or Parish Directors
FROM:     Paul Birch
DATE:     December 6, 2022
RE:           Instructional memo for the 2023 Rite of Election/Call to Continuing Conversion

                 
                  Sunday, February 26, 2023 - 3:00 p.m.
                  The First Sunday of Lent
                  Cathedral of Christ the King
                  1111 Belknap Street, Superior, WI
                                   

We are approaching the time for our diocesan celebration of the Rite of Election/Call to Continuing Conversion. This liturgy takes place on the First Sunday of Lent at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Superior. It is an important event for those in the parish RCIA process as it ritually highlights the beginning stages of their journey toward baptism and/or full initiation/communion.  Through Bishop’s presence as celebrant, it also shows how these individuals are linked beyond their local parish to the Universal Church, manifested by our particular Church of the Diocese of Superior. 

Both catechumens and candidates and their godparents/sponsors should attend.
This liturgy is especially important for our catechumens (the unbaptized) because it is the formal beginning of their time of intense preparation for the sacraments of initiation. Through the testimony of their godparents, they are found worthy for “election” (which is founded on their election by God, in whose name the Church acts.)  As a pledge of fidelity they inscribe their names in our diocesan Book of the Elect.  (Afterwards they are then referred to as our “elect.”)

Attendance at this liturgy is also important for our candidates (those who have been baptized) because it is here that their sponsors and the community at large attest to their readiness for either the completion of their initiation sacraments and/or for their reception into the Church. Bishop Powers formally recognizes their desire to be more fully one with the Church and prays for them and for their journey of faith.

Should Priests, Parish Life Coordinators and Parish Directors attend?
Because the liturgy includes calling the names of the catechumens (first) and the candidates (second), someone from the parish ideally needs to be there to take the pre-printed lists in hand (located at the main entrances of the cathedral) and call the names at the appropriate times. The pastoral leader or a member of the parish RCIA team may function this way, or a substitute may be delegated.


As was planned for 2022, the liturgy will be livestreamed. 
Submission of a release form is required for minors who are participating.

• The liturgy taking place in Superior will be livestreamed via the Cathedral parish Facebook page and will posted there in recorded form afterward.  The presence of any adults in attendance at the liturgy in Superior will be considered permission to incidentally include them in the livestream/recording.  Any minors present who are participating in the liturgy in Superior would need to have their parent or guardian fill out and sign the diocesan Youth Image and Recording Release Form for them to be incidentally included in the livestream/recording.  Parish RCIA leadership should obtain and retain this completed form (see below).

• Additionally, the submission of digital images of the catechumens and candidates participating in the rite along with their names will allow the images to be included in the livestream/recording.  This is not a requirement, but a suggestion which may enrich the experience of those viewing the livestream/recording.  The submission of the image of any adult will be considered permission for its inclusion, while those of minors would need to have their parent or guardian fill out and sign the diocesan Youth Image and Recording Release Form.  Parish RCIA leadership should obtain, fill out and retain this completed form, available here:

• If hazardous driving conditions develop and prevent normal attendance by some—depending on overall road conditions in the diocese—the liturgy could possibly take place in a reduced way with those present and be available for remote viewing via the livestream.  (The submission of the participants’ digital image mentioned above would then serve enrich this virtual participation.

How do we find out ahead of time if the liturgy in Superior has been cancelled?
Call before you leave that morning.
Unfortunately, poor weather conditions across the diocese may warrant cancellation of the event in its entirety.  The diocese has established an after-hours call-in number which may be used to find out if this event has been cancelled due to dangerous travel conditions.  Beginning at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 26^th, prior to your departure, please dial 715-392-2937 and follow the prompts for “event cancellation” to confirm that the liturgy will take place as scheduled. 

How do the names get on the lists that are called?
Whoever is in charge of the RCIA at the parish level is asked to complete the on-line Submission Form available here on the diocesan website, below this memo. This information provides us with the lists of names of the catechumens and candidates from individual parishes which will be called at the liturgy. All names submitted will be called at the liturgy in Superior due to the livestream component. Again, the presence of any adults in attendance at the liturgy in Superior will be considered permission to incidentally include their image in the livestream/recording.  Any minors preset who are participating in the liturgy in Superior would need to have their parent or guardian fill out and sign the diocesan Youth Image and Recording Release Form. Again, parish RCIA leadership should obtain fill out and retain this completed form: https://files.ecatholic.com/5291/documents/2020/8/70%20-%2071%20Image%20and%20Recording%20Release%20-%202%20pg%20for%20PDF.pdf

Please submit the names by individual parish groups.
Because the names are called by individual parish groups (and not by cluster) we ask that you submit the names in individual parish groups.  Refresh the online form between parish submissions. 

For catechumens not present in Superior.
Those catechumens not present at the liturgy in Superior should sign a parish version of our diocesan Book of the Elect at their convenience.  Hard copies of these signatures could then later be mailed to the chancery for inclusion in the diocesan book if so desired.


How are pictures of the catechumens and candidates submitted for inclusion in the livestream?
Instructions are found below in the online submission form. 

Again, submission of the image of any adult will be considered permission for its inclusion, while those of minors would need to have their parent or guardian fill out and sign the diocesan Youth Image and Recording Release Form.  Again, parish RCIA leadership should obtain, insure its completion and retain this completed form. https://files.ecatholic.com/5291/documents/2020/8/70%20-%2071%20Image%20and%20Recording%20Release%20-%202%20pg%20for%20PDF.pdf

What if a parent or guardian does not consent to the use of their child’s image and likeness?
IMAGE/LIKENESS CLAUSE: There are occasions when representatives of the Diocese of Superior and/or the media photograph or video record youth while in school or attending/participating in diocesan sponsored functions. For the 2023 Rite of Election/Call to Continuing Conversion, if a parent/guardian does not consent to the use of their child's image and likeness, parish RCIA leadership should notify the Office of Worship in writing (pbirch@catholicdos.org) prior to this diocesan sponsored function. A record of this denial of consent should be maintained at the parish. It will be up to the parish representative(s) to ensure the avoidance of potential recording or photographing of restricted persons. Thank you in advance for your assistance with this.

Additional helpful information requested by the online Submission Form
Requests for additional information may be submitted just once for each cluster or group in attendance. This additional info consists of: a head count of those projected to be present at the liturgy in Superior, the name and contact info of a reader from your parish who will be attendance and who would be able to function in that way during the liturgy, and requests for additional information aimed at helping us keep our parish RCIA contact information current.







Questions
Please contact me at the chancery [Paul Birch – 715-394-0233 – pbirch@catholicdos.org ] and I would be happy to answer any further questions you may have.

Ideally, your online submissions should reach the chancery no later than Friday, February 17, 2023.  
Because the names that get called out are also printed on a sheet that is inserted into the worship booklet as a keepsake, we ask that the Submission Forms containing them and all other necessary information submitted to the chancery no later than Friday, February 17.

Components of the liturgy – ritual movement.
Because this is a “combined” liturgy (the Rite of Election for the unbaptized combined with the Call to continuing Conversion for the baptized) there are shared but also separate parts.  Details about specific ritual movement as well as other instructions are contained in the worship booklet which is available at the liturgy.