2019 Rite of Election

This year’s combined Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion will be celebrated Sunday, March 10, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at the Georgia World Congress Center, 285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313. This year’s celebration will be in the Murphy Ballroom, which is on level 5 in Building B.

The doors will open at 12:00 noon. Please note that it will not be possible to reserve seats for your parish before the doors open. Once the doors open, you may reserve seats for your parish until 1:45 p.m. After that time, please release extra reserved seats. There will be two large screens, one on each side of the stage, which will allow everyone to have a good view of the proceedings. With this in mind, please enter the halls as reverently as you would enter your own home sanctuary.

Parking at the GWCC is abundant but will cost $16.95 per car and should be purchased in advance following the instructions in the memo. The Red Parking Deck is the most convenient and is located on Andrew Young International Blvd. Parking may be purchased in advance by going to GWCCParking.com, search for the event by date, then use the access code: RITE19.  This option guarantees the cost. Parking may also be purchased on site.  The buses also need to reserve a space in the Marshalling Yard.

In order for us to plan properly for this year’s event, we need to know the approximate number of individuals attending from your parish. Also, the archdiocese needs to accurately report to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) the number of people entering the Church. In light of this need, this year’s form also requests information on the total number of individuals in your RCIA program.

Please complete and return the attached RSVP form even if your parish will be unable to attend the Rite of Election.

The directors will read the names of the catechumen (those who have not yet been baptized) from the ambo on the stage. Please ask the catechumen and godparent or parent to remain standing until all the names have been read. The deacons will read the names of the parishes which have candidates (those who have already received baptism). Please ask the candidates and sponsors to remain standing until all the parishes have been read.

Each year, The Georgia Bulletin and the USCCB contact us for unique conversion stories. If any of your candidates or catechumen have a unique story, please share that with us when your return the form.

For any questions, please contact the Office for Divine Worship at pdejarnett@archatl.com or 404-920-7339.

May God bless you, and I look forward to seeing you at the Rite of Election!