Hundreds of new Catholics from across the Diocese of Hamilton will join together and be recognized Saturday at the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King to celebrate a surge in faith, with Bishop Joseph Dabrowski set to lead the annual Mass for New Catholics. 

A continuation of a diocesan tradition since at least the 1990s, the April 11 Mass for New Catholics provides a powerful moment of mystagogy, a continued unfolding of the Easter sacraments, as Dabrowski invites the newly baptized, confirmed and received into full communion to stand and be recognized by their new Church family. 

Dabrowski's  homily will include direct recognition of the elect’s faith journey as he encourages them to continue forward. In preparation for Saturday, he’s also sent a letter to each of the then-elect, those who were confirmed and completed their Sacraments of Initiation, inviting them, as well as any parish representatives and family members. 

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For Deacon John Moss, Hamilton's coordinator of Liturgy, the Mass serves as a way to involve the wider diocesan family, parishes and supporters into the celebrations to enhance each new Catholics post-Easter journey. 

“This offering comes down to an opportunity for the newly received to begin mystagogy, which is a challenging period, but in a way that helps rekindle it and to begin it with a broader family and in a bigger tent,” he told The Catholic Register. 

This year’s celebrations come during an exciting period of growth for the diocese, on par with similar trends seen in Toronto, Montreal and other dioceses across Canada. While  exact numbers on how many were received into the Diocese of Hamilton are not yet available, 280 catechumens were present for the Rite of Election. This year, the diocese had 335, a figure also up since before COVID, when Rite of Election numbers hovered around 150. 

“We have essentially doubled the number of new Catholics who are celebrated in the Rite of Election. Having some experience in RCIA over the years, I would say that in the Diocese of Hamilton, two-thirds of the new Catholics were baptized, and one-third were completing their Sacraments of Initiation or re-professed faith into the Catholic Church. I would expect the diocese to be closing in on 500 people total; that would be at least 40 per cent more, if not 50 per cent more than pre-COVID,” Moss said. 

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As the Mass approaches, Moss has reflected on some of the factors that are likely to be contributing to the growth Hamilton has been seeing. He first credits the shift in RCIA focus over the last three to four years, with dioceses offering formation sessions for RCIA catechists and teams that emphasize accompaniment over pure catechesis. In those sessions, the relationship with Christ is placed first, with liturgy and parish participation as central, leading to a deeper sense of active participation. 

Teams are also encouraged to help inquirers and catechumens attend Sunday Mass regularly, not solely to track attendance, but as a way of incorporating them into the community. This regular participation, he says, has helped encourage others and strengthens the elects' sense of belonging.

While other factors, such as Catholic school enrollment requirements and an influx of new Canadians seeing the Catholic faith as part of an attractive addition to building new lives in Canada, a main element of the rise might be the inevitable broader societal context in which we live today. 

“We all know the world's a crazy place these days, and one could argue that people are looking towards God for some stability, just as those who already have a faith life are as well,” Moss said. 

Attendance at the Mass in the past has varied, with roughly 100 new Catholics showing up two years ago in 2024, and having dropped to about 50 to 60 last year. Moss hopes to see a return to form this year, expecting around 100 new Catholics to partake in this year’s recognition moment.  

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Regardless, the service’s true reward comes not in numbers, but in the quiet and powerful moments of recognition given from Catholics to their newest brothers and sisters in Christ. Moments like those have been seen for years in Hamilton, with Moss hoping for more of that evident joy on Saturday. 

“ I have always taken great joy in Bishop (Anthony) Tonnos, then Bishop (Douglas) Crosby, and I expect Bishop Dabrowski, standing at the back of the church, so that when the new Catholics exit, they have an opportunity to shake the bishop's hand and have a picture taken. The joy on their face is not because it's a bishop, but because they suddenly find themselves in a much greater community than they had previously been in. That is what encourages me each year,” he said.