Twenty-two new inquirers came to Holy Trinity’s Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) Come and See night on Thursday, September 3. Thirty-five people filled Our Lady’s Room. It teaches participants about Catholic beliefs, scripture, and practices, helping them build a relationship with God and experience the Catholic lifestyle.

When they were asked what brought them, the answers were insightful. One person said it was a leap of faith. Another said, “You guys have the Eucharist.” That second answer is as old as the Church and as current as Thursday night. People are not first coming for a program. They are coming because they have seen, or heard, that Christ is truly present here.

They arrived with different histories. Some have never been baptized or were baptized in another Christian tradition. Some were baptized Catholic and never completed the other sacraments of initiation. The evening was an invitation, not a commitment: come, listen, and see.

Surge in Interest Hits Home

AnnaMarie Shuler, who oversees the program at Holy Trinity, said she is feeling extra buzz this year. Thursday night gave that feeling a head count. Holy Trinity is not imagining the surge. Unquestionably across Canada, more adults have been asking to enter the Church. The Archdiocese of Edmonton welcomed about 300 catechumens at Easter and has seen a sharp rise in adults preparing for baptism over the past several years. While in Calgary, nearly a thousand people were received at Easter, after several years of growth. Toronto and Vancouver also reported record or near-record numbers this spring.

The same pattern is showing up farther away. Significantly, in the United States, dioceses surveyed this year reported about 38 percent more adults entering the Church than in 2025. On American college campuses, participation in adult initiation more than doubled in a single school year. France, Ireland, and parts of Britain have been reporting similar jumps.

Those figures do not explain Thursday night. They only say Holy Trinity is not standing alone. Something is stirring, and it reached Our Lady’s Room.

RCIA is how the parish walks with adults who want to take the next step. The group meets one evening a week for about nine months to pray, break open the Gospel, and learn the faith of the Church. Those who continue are usually received at the Easter Vigil.

It’s Not Too Late

Finally, in case you missed Thursday, you can still start your journey home. Inquiry does not close after one night.

Sponsors will be needed as this group takes shape. However the team will not know exact numbers until later in September. A sponsor does not have to have every answer. They need a living faith and a willingness to walk with someone who is taking that leap.

Contact AnnaMarie Shuler at [email protected] or 780-340-0657.
trinitycatholic.net/becoming-catholic

Editor note: RCIA is being renamed to Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), Holy Trinity will be phasing out RCIA for the new title.