Over 200 catechumens and candidates were chosen by Bishop Ricken at the annual Rite of Election ceremonies
By William Van de Planque | On Mission
Photography by Andy Bott | For On Mission
GREEN BAY, WI — The annual Diocese of Green Bay Rite of Election ceremonies, a milestone for those preparing to be fully received as members of the Catholic Church, took place at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral on two Sundays this year, February 15 and 22, 2026.
Family, friends, sponsors, godparents, parishioners, pastors and catechetical leaders gathered to celebrate and support those taking the next step in entering the Catholic Church.
Eighty-two total catechumens, those preparing to enter the Church who are unbaptized, and 126 candidates, those who have been baptized but have yet to receive the Sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation, participated in this final stage in the process of initiation before the Easter celebrations.
This means that 82 people will be baptized Catholic this coming Easter across the Diocese of Green Bay.
“I think we’ve turned a corner in this diocese,” said Bishop David Ricken, referring to the number of catechumens and candidates present at each of the Rite of Election services. “If the Church isn’t growing, she’s dying.”
Parishes represented at each service were as follows:
- St. Clare Parish, Greenleaf/Askeaton/Wrightstown
- St. Joseph Parish, Green Bay
- St. Mary Magdalene Parish, Waupaca
- St. Pius X Parish, Appleton
- St. John Nepomucene Parish, Little Chute
- St. Anthony Parish, Niagara
- St. Mary Parish, De Pere
- St. Francis Xavier Parish, De Pere
- St. Willebrord Parish, Green Bay
- St. Anthony Parish, Oconto Falls
- St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Manitowoc
- St. Lawrence Parish, Navarino
- St. Nicholas Parish, Freedom
- Holy Cross Parish, Kaukauna
- St. John the Baptist Parish, Howard
- St. Patrick Parish, Menasha
- St. John the Baptist Parish, Seymour
- St. Francis Xavier Cathedral Parish, Green Bay
- SS. Peter and Paul Parish, Kiel
- St. Margaret Mary Parish, Neenah
- Holy Rosary Parish, Kewaunee
- St. Mary Parish, Menasha
- St. Peter the Fisherman Parish, Two Rivers
- St. John Parish, Antigo
- Nativity of Our Lord Parish, Green Bay
- St. Philip the Apostle Parish, Green Bay
- St. Jude the Apostle Parish, Oshkosh
- Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, Oshkosh
- Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, De Pere
- Assumption BVM Parish, Pulaski
- St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish, Neenah
- St. Raphael the Archangel Parish, Oshkosh
- All Saints Parish, Denmark
- St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Greenville
- St. Thomas More Parish, Appleton
- Holy Trinity Parish, Oconto
- St. Norbert College, De Pere
- St. Mary Parish, Winneconne
- SS. Peter & Paul Parish, Green Bay
- Sacred Heart Parish, Shawano
- St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, Sobieski
- St. Joseph Parish, Sturgeon Bay
- St. Mary Parish, Appleton
- Resurrection Parish, Green Bay
- St. Joseph Parish, Appleton
Bishop Ricken echoed the words of the second reading of the service from 1 Peter: “Come to the Lord, a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God…” (1 Pt 2:4).
“Each one of you is precious… and I choose you,” he said, speaking directly to the catechumens and candidates.
See more photos of the February 15 ceremony here: onmiss.io/riteofelection2-15-26
See more photos of the February 22 ceremony here: onmiss.io/riteofelection2-22-26