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.
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 [or Order] of Christian Initiation of Adults leaders or
Pastors, Parish Life Coordinators or Parish Directors
FROM: Paul Birch
DATE: December 27, 2023
RE: Instructional memo for the 2024 Rite of Election / Call to Continuing Conversion
The First Sunday of Lent
Sunday, February 18, 2024
3:00 p.m.
Cathedral of Christ the King
1111 Belknap Street, Superior, WI
We are once again approaching our diocesan celebration of the Rite of Election/Call to Continuing Conversion. This liturgy, which is not a celebration of Mass, takes place each year 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 [OCIA] process as it ritually highlights the progress 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 during the liturgy. The pastoral leader or a member of the parish RCIA [OCIA] team may function this way, or a substitute may be delegated.
Because the liturgy will be livestreamed, submission of a diocesan Youth Image and Recording Release Form is required for minors who are participating.
How do we find out ahead of time if the liturgy in Superior has been cancelled due to poor road conditions?
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 18th, 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 [OCIA] at the parish level is asked to complete the Online Submission Form found below. Please scroll-down to access this form
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.
Online submissions should reach the chancery no later than Monday, February 12, 2024.
For catering purposes and 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 Monday, February 12.
Additional helpful information requested by the Online Submission Form
Requests for additional information only need to submitted once for each cluster or group in attendance. This additional info is helpful for planning purposes and 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.
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.
For catechumens who end up not being able to be present in Superior.
Optionally, those catechumens not present at the liturgy in Superior could 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.)
Questions
Please contact me at the chancery [Paul Birch – 715-394-0233 – pbirch@catholicdos.org ] and I would be happy to try to answer any further questions you may have.