The Archdiocese of Toronto will welcome more than 1,500 new adult Catholics across Easter Vigil celebrations this season, as the implementation of the RCIA process in parishes continues to support an upward surge of growth and hope during this special time of year for formation. 

All told, 1,584 elect catechumens have been preparing to be fully initiated and be baptized at Easter this year. Individuals are thirsting for the faith from all areas of the archdiocese, with 379 coming from the west, 641 from the north, 275 from the east and 289 from the central Pastoral Regions, respectively.

Impressively, these figures do not include those who will be received into the Church, also at Easter, such as people who were baptized in another Christian ecclesial community or those baptized Catholics who are completing the sacraments of initiation in Confirmation and the Eucharist.

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Michelle Brylowski, associate director of RCIA and Liturgical Formation in the archdiocese's Office of Formation for Discipleship, says that the perceived liveliness is in no way an accident, but rather the result of recent growth that seems to be reaching its peak. 

“This is a very large figure indeed. Over the past several years, we’ve seen those numbers continue to climb upward, which ought to be an encouraging thought to all Christians. From my perspective, we can expect, God willing, that this trend continues,” Brylowski told The Catholic Register.

Brylowski underscored several positive developments that the office’s RCIA team has observed that have likely contributed to this impressive increase. Of these, migration to Canada, post-COVID pandemic awareness and the visibility of online Catholic evangelists and individuals marrying a Catholic spouse stood at the forefront. 

“Canada’s huge influx of immigration has made it possible for many people who have come from countries that are hostile to the Christian faith to finally enter the Church without fear of persecution,” she said. “The pandemic, as well, was life-changing for most of us, and for many it was life-giving. 

“We also see many people who are not Catholic, but who are marrying or who have married someone who is Catholic, and they intend to take seriously the third marriage vow, which is to 'welcome children lovingly from God and bring them up according to the law of Christ and His Church.’ There is a revival of the domestic Church, and it begins with the couple,” Brylowski added. 

Toronto is not alone, either. Many dioceses representing major Canadian cities are seeing growth through those looking to enter the church during Easter. The B.C. Catholic reported that close to 800 are preparing to become Catholic at Easter in the Archdiocese of Vancouver, and Isabel Correa from the Diocese of Montreal’s  Evangelization and Christian Life office told the Register that Rite of Election numbers stand at an unprecedented 240 this year. 

In the nation’s capital, the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall reported that during Lent, 145 catechumens and 100 candidates across the archdiocese gathered for the Rite of Election to be fully welcomed into the Church at Easter. 

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Going along with the record figures is a record amount of preparation, with Brylowski sharing what the behind-the-scenes coordination looks like to support such a large group of catechumens and candidates as they prepare for the sacraments this year. 

“In parishes, there are several liturgical rites that are celebrated with the elect and the community. The Scrutinies, rites for self-searching and repentance, of which there are three, are celebrated on the third, fourth and fifth Sundays of Lent. The entire initiation process is, in the Church’s vision, intended to unfold in the midst of the Christian community, and the local parish is the nucleus of that wider community. The parish’s initiation team is in overdrive with making final preparations and coordinating among all the various ministries and groups in the parish,” she said. 

The Period of Purification and Enlightenment will culminate at Easter Vigil services across the archdiocese, celebrated on the night of Holy Saturday. Considered the “high point of the liturgical year and the RCIA journey” by Brylowski, it's a liturgy rich with signs and symbols in the Paschal Candle, waters of baptism, Chrism oil, return of the Alleluia and Gloria and seven readings tracing salvation history. For the newly initiated as well as their sponsors, families and the parish community at large, vigils this year will once again be as emotionally driven as they are celebratory. 

For the RCIA and Liturgical Formation associate director, the joy of our newest parishioners being received, paired with the tireless work of the people who assisted in leading them to each of those evening celebrations, is what continues to inspire and reward her most in this work. 

Thankfully, even on the cusp of a grand Easter for the Church initiation, that inspiration is likely to continue long into the future as well. 

“I’m confident that this positive trend will continue because the Church is the great sacrament of salvation, the spouse of Christ who is the way, the truth and the life. People are searching for meaning, and as St. Augustine said, ‘our hearts are restless until they rest in You,’ ” she said.

“It is a matter of doing our work in evangelization, bringing the Gospel message to everyone and letting the Holy Spirit work in the hearts of people. We always have to be ready to receive these people, which is the work of Christian initiation, so that they can become missionary disciples who likewise go and spread the Gospel.” 

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