Rite of Election 2023

The 2024 Rite of Election is scheduled for Saturday, February 17, 2024 at St. Margaret Mary Parish, Cedar Park, beginning at 10:30 a.m. 

Pictures from the February 26, 2023 event can be found here.

• The Rite of Election has been moved to a Saturday and to a large venue to accommodate the size of the expected audience. If your parish plans to celebrate the OPTIONAL Rite of Sending or have some reflection it should occur before this event.
• Registration | Please note that registration will only be online via our website. 
  • When registered correctly you will receive an automated response email confirmation. If you DO NOT receive an automated response email confirmation within 24 hours please check your spam mail. If you still do not have confirmation, please contact us immediately as it is likely something was done incorrectly.  If you experience a continuous circle, your registration may not go through.
  • For questions/problems regarding registration, please email [email protected].
• Arrival | Directors/Catechists please arrive by 9:15 a.m. to pick up parish packets with instructions, seating assignments, and name tags.  There will be a mandatory leader meeting and a quick walk-thru of the Rite at 9:30 a.m.
  • Catechumens/Sponsors arrive between 9:30 - 10 a.m.
    • Catechumens should find their assigned parish seats.
    • Catechumens will receive a name badge from their leader.  Place name tag on RIGHT side of chest.
  • Instructions for the participants will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m.
• Reserved Seating:
  • The reserved seating is for catechumens, one godparent/proxy, and one parish leader ONLY.
  • Pews will have the parish name on them.
  • Seating for non-participants (families, spouses, etc) is VERY limited this year.
• Presentation of the Catechumens:
  • After the homily, the leader from each parish will join the line by the ambo and one by one present their parish’s catechumens by name.
  • The catechumens and sponsor should ideally be seated in the order listed in the book and will stand in place as thier name is called.  They will give a slight bow to Bishop Vasquez after all names have been called.
  • After calling the names the leader will move to the end of the leader line to later bring the book forward for signature.
  • All of the above will be covered at the 9:30 a.m. meeting.
• Attire |  Catechumens AND sponsors should dress appropriately befitting the solemnity of the Rite of Election.
  • No spaghetti straps, bare shoulders, ragged jeans, shorts, t-shirts, tennis shoes or flip flops.
• Parking | Carpooling is highly recommended. 
• Reception | There will be no reception.
• Photographs |  No photography.   There will not be an opportunity for individual photos with Bishop Vasquez.
  • Each parish will have one group photo with Bishop Vasquez taken by a diocesan photographer. These photos will be available on the diocesan website.
  • At the end of the liturgy, anyone who is NOT a parish leader or catechumen (family, spouse, sponsor, etc) will be asked to kindly exit the church to facilitate faster group photos.