RCIA Renewal: From Encounter to Discipleship

At its best, RCIA is not just a class or a countdown to the Easter Vigil. It is a gradual journey where seekers are welcomed, accompanied, formed in prayer, drawn into parish life, and helped to discern their next step with Christ. Across the Diocese of Calgary, RCIA teams are already helping this happen with generosity and care. The RCIA renewal seeks to strengthen it, so that every parish can offer Christian Initiation with greater clarity, consistency, and care.
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​On February 3, Bishop William T. McGrattan officially announced a multi-year renewal of the ministry of Christian Initiation within the Diocese. The vision he offered for this renewal was drawn from the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–35).

​Bishop McGrattan reminded us that just as Christ drew near to the disciples, listened to their experiences, opened the Scriptures, rekindled their hearts, and sent them forth as witnesses of the Resurrection, so too the Church is called to walk with those who are seeking Christ today through the RCIA.

Over the past several months, the Diocese has taken the first important step in living out this vision: listening.

​Through a wide consultation that included feedback from pastors, RCIA coordinators, participants, sponsors, and those recently received into the Church, more than 400 voices have helped form a clearer picture of how RCIA is being lived in our parishes today.

What has emerged is both encouraging and challenging.

Across the Diocese, there is a strong and consistent experience of welcome. Those entering the Church overwhelmingly describe being received with kindness, accompanied with care, and supported in their journey of faith. As one RCIA participant put it, “The RCIA journey has been so much more than a destination; it has been a path paved with love.”

​Many participants also spoke of growing in their trust in God, learning to pray, and discovering what it means to follow Jesus Christ. As one neophyte who was received into the Church last year shared, “My faith has always been there, but this process really helped me to understand Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit in ways that I could not or did not understand previously.”

These strengths show the dedication and generosity of RCIA teams across the Diocese. They also provide a strong foundation for the renewal now underway.

At the same time, the consultation has pointed clearly to areas where the Diocese can better support parishes. At times, the experience can be shaped more by schedules and timelines than by the gradual, personal journey toward faith that the Church envisions.

“The aim of RCIA is to lead people into a lifelong relationship with Christ and His Church,” explained Joseph Palko, Catechetics and Discipleship Coordinator for the Diocese. “This process can take a longer time for some and a shorter time for others. The process must respect this.”

Another important area of renewal is the need to involve sponsors more fully in the faith journey of those they accompany. One sponsor expressed this challenge candidly: “It was a bit unclear to me how I was journeying with ‘my’ catechumen when I felt somewhat removed from the process.”

Additional feedback pointed to the need for greater clarity in how the different stages of initiation are lived, as well as stronger connections between RCIA, parish life, liturgy, and ongoing discipleship.

“All of these insights,” explained Huy Nguyen, Director of Pastoral Ministry, “should be seen as a gift. They reveal a Church that is alive, generous, and already doing much good, and one that is now being invited to grow more fully into its calling.”

As the RCIA renewal now moves into its next phase of discernment, the feedback gathered throughout the listening phase will help guide the development of renewed diocesan norms, pastoral guidelines, and practical resources. The aim is to ensure that each stage of the RCIA journey is lived more faithfully, more consistently, and more fruitfully across our parishes.

​​As this renewal continues, the invitation remains the same for all of us:
​To draw near.
To listen.
To walk together.
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And to trust that, along the way, Christ will reveal Himself.

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For more information about the Renewing RCIA initiative, contact the Office of Pastoral Ministry:
- Huy Nguyen, Director of Pastoral Ministry
- Joseph Palko, Catechetics & Discipleship Ministry Coordinator

Photography: Bandi Szakony for the Diocese of Calgary | Easter Vigil 2026 at St. Mary's Cathedral