Fitzpatrick is one of about 10 students seeking to become Catholic through the St. Joseph’s RCIA program. Youth minister Oriana Bertucci, who leads the classes, said she has noticed that many RCIA participants are graduates of public elementary school and now attend Catholic high schools.

“Before I choose to become (Catholic), I want to learn more about it,” said Fitzpatrick.

The current RCIA program also includes students from St. Joseph’s High School, St. Veronica’s Elementary School and a graduate from St. Marcellinus who now attends Sheridan College.

For the St. Marcellinus students, the decision to enter the RCIA program came from an appreciation of the genuine staff at the school and from experiences of charity work with school chaplain Shane Byrne and the chaplaincy team.

“I really like how everyone works together,” said Haley Holm, also a Grade 11 student. “Catholics in our school are so positive.”

For Grade 11 student Danielle Fitzpatrick, “seeing Mr. Byrne, being with him when we do community work, and being able to see how a religion can actually help people” motivated her to explore what the program offers.

Nathan Gordon of Sheridan College was also inspired by staff at St. Marcellinus and said he would like to pursue teaching in a Catholic board.

Bertucci said the students’ interest is a sign of good Catholic education and credits the chaplaincy team for “building bridges between people.”

Bertucci hopes to create a comfortable environment where all of those enrolled in the program can feel free to ask any questions they may have. She will also lead discussions about the church’s view on a series of topics, ranging from the Holy Trinity to social justice.

Before exploring Catholicism, the current St. Marcellinus students either had Christian roots or did not identify themselves with any religion. One student had been baptized Catholic. Regardless, all of the students’ parents were accepting and some even thrilled of their decision to enter into the RCIA.

“My dad liked the idea because he wanted me to come here (to a Catholic school) in the first place,” said Holm.

The RCIA classes began on Feb. 17, and will last for 14 weeks. However, Fr. Marc-André Campbell, pastor at St. Joseph’s, said there is no clear-cut timeline as to when the participants will become adults in the church. This is because they must decide for themselves, and it depends on when they feel they are ready, he said.

“It is a sign of hope in a way that young people are excited to make this journey,” said  Campbell.

The RCIA participants are encouraged to attend Mass on Sundays, and each has been provided with a sponsor family that will support them during their faith journey.

(Milavec, 16, is a Grade 11 student at Father John Redmond Catholic Secondary School.)