The combined initiation of the elect and reception of baptized Christians is pretty common at Easter Vigils across North America. The first rubric in the celebration:
566. Those who will be received into full communion at the Easter Vigil, along with their sponsors, should take places apart from the elect who will be called forward for the celebration of baptism.
The homily should include reference not only to the sacraments of initiation but also to reception into full communion (see RCIA 489).
You can’t get much clearer than this: “places apart.” My sense is we’re talking not only different rows, but different sections.
Everything else is pretty easy to figure out. The elect are baptized (RCIA 567-579). Following the Rite of Baptism, the entire community, along with the candidates for full communion renew baptismal promises (RCIA 580). Sin is renounced (581), faith professed by question and answers (582) and baptismal water is sprinkled. (583)
The newly baptized with godparents proceed to the sanctuary (584) and this procession may be accompanied by a “suitable song.” The candidates with sponsors are called forward, and the Celebration of Reception takes place (585-586).
A song may be sung before everyone is confirmed (587-591) and the Liturgy of the Eucharist (592-594) concludes the celebration.
Whew! The last of the RCIA rites. Any last comments before we head into the musical adventures of appendix II?
