Navigating the Canadian Catholic Church Year 2026: A Guide for RCIA

 

As we settle into the fall, the Church is already preparing for the start of a new spiritual cycle! For those in the RCIA program, understanding the Liturgical Year is key to understanding the Catholic faith. It is the annual calendar that organizes our worship and prayers around the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The new Liturgical Year—which includes all of 2026—will follow Cycle B for Sunday readings (focusing primarily on the Gospel of Mark).

Here is a simple guide to the major seasons and start dates for the year ahead:

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Part 1: Seasons of Preparation and Feast

Season	Focus	Start Date	RCIA Significance
Advent	Preparation for the coming of Christ (Christmas).	Sunday, November 30, 2025	The beginning of our active preparation for the Sacraments.
Christmas	The Incarnation of God—God became man.	Thursday, December 25, 2025	Celebrating the central mystery of our faith.
Lent	A 40-day period of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.	Wednesday, February 18, 2026 (Ash Wednesday)	The intense final period of purification and enlightenment for candidates.
Easter Triduum	The three holiest days of the year (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday).	Thursday, April 2, 2026	The climax of the entire faith journey, culminating in the Easter Vigil and the celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation.
Easter Season	Fifty days of joyful celebration of the Resurrection.	Sunday, April 5, 2026 (Easter Sunday)	The final period of post-baptismal mystagogy (newly initiated members reflecting on their Sacraments).

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Part 2: Ordinary Time

The longest part of the year is called Ordinary Time (called "ordinary" because the Sundays are numbered, not because it's boring!). It is divided into two parts:

Season	Focus	Start Date	Significance
Ordinary Time I	Reflecting on Jesus’ public ministry after his Baptism.	Monday, January 12, 2026	A time to learn about the works and teachings of Christ.
Ordinary Time II	Time for continued spiritual growth and learning how to live the mission of Christ in the world.	Monday, May 25, 2026	The longest season, running all the way until the end of the calendar year.

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Embrace the Rhythm

The Liturgical Year provides a beautiful rhythm for our lives of faith. By following it, we walk alongside Christ through his entire earthly journey, learning from his teachings, mourning his death, and celebrating his triumph over the grave.

We encourage all RCIA candidates to use this calendar to deepen your understanding of the Mass and the seasons we celebrate together as a Church family!

Essential Catholic Vocabulary for Beginners

This list includes keywords you will hear often during RCIA and at Mass.

A

• Amen

  • Simple Meaning: A Hebrew word meaning "so be it" or "I agree."

  • Used: We say it at the end of prayers, the Creed, and blessings to confirm what we believe or intend.

B - C

• Bible (Scripture)

  • Simple Meaning: The inspired Word of God, written in a collection of sacred books.

  • Note: It's divided into two main parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament.

• Catechumen

  • Simple Meaning: An unbaptized person preparing to become Catholic.

  • Used: This term refers to members of the RCIA group who have not yet received any Sacraments.

• Catholic

  • Simple Meaning: Means "universal."

  • Note: Refers to the whole Church founded by Christ, led by the Pope.

• Creed

  • Simple Meaning: A formal statement of the core Christian beliefs.

  • Used: We recite the Nicene Creed or the Apostles' Creed at Mass to profess our faith.

E - G

• Eucharist

  • Simple Meaning: Means "thanksgiving." It is the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

  • Note: This is the most important Sacrament where we receive Jesus, truly present under the appearances of bread and wine.

• Gospel

  • Simple Meaning: Means "good news."

  • Note: Refers to the first four books of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) that tell the story of Jesus’ life and ministry.

L - S

• Liturgy

  • Simple Meaning: The public, official worship of the Church.

  • Note: This includes the celebration of the Sacraments, especially the Mass.

• Magisterium

  • Simple Meaning: The teaching authority of the Catholic Church.

  • Note: This authority belongs to the Pope and the Bishops in union with him. They guide us in understanding Scripture and Tradition.

• Mass

  • Simple Meaning: The central act of Catholic worship; also called the Holy Sacrifice.

  • Note: This is the celebration of the Eucharist.

• Sacrament

  • Simple Meaning: An outward sign, given by Christ, that gives us grace (God's life in us).

  • Note: There are seven Sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony).

• Saint

  • Simple Meaning: A holy person who is now in Heaven.

  • Note: We ask Saints (and especially the Virgin Mary) to pray for us.

• Salvation

  • Simple Meaning: The forgiveness of sins and the restoration of friendship with God through Jesus Christ.

  • Note: This is the ultimate goal of our Christian life.

• Scrutiny

  • Simple Meaning: Special prayers celebrated during Mass in Lent for those preparing for Baptism.

  • Note: These prayers help catechumens examine their lives and grow closer to God.

T

• Tabernacle

  • Simple Meaning: A beautiful container in the church where the consecrated Eucharist is kept after Mass.

  • Note: We believe Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist reserved here.

• Tradition

  • Simple Meaning: The fullness of the Catholic faith passed down from the Apostles through the centuries.

  • Note: Tradition (the living faith) and Scripture (the written Word) work together.

• Trinity

  • Simple Meaning: The mystery of One God in Three Divine Persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

 

The Catholic Approach to the Bible

 

For Catholics, the Bible is God's inspired message to us. It's not just an old history book; it's a living book that shows us God’s great love story, which leads us to Jesus Christ!

Here is the simple guide for reading it as a Catholic:

1. We Read It Together (Not Alone) 🤝

The Bible was given to the whole community, the Church, not just to one person.

• Look to the Whole Story: We never take one verse and ignore the rest. We read every part of the Bible (both Old and New Testaments) in light of the entire story of Jesus.

• Trust the Church: Jesus gave the Church (through the apostles) the job of understanding and teaching the faith. We rely on the Church's wisdom, which has been guided by the Holy Spirit for 2,000 years, to know what the Scripture truly means.

2. We Look for the Two Meanings 👀

When you read a passage, you are looking for two basic things:

A. The Simple Meaning (What happened?)

• Ask: What did the writer intend to tell the people back then? Was it a poem, a set of laws, a historical event, or a story Jesus told (a parable)?

• Goal: Understand what the words literally say.

B. The Deeper Meaning (What does it mean for me?)

• Ask: After I know what it says, how does this guide my faith and life?

• It Leads to Jesus: Does this passage point toward Jesus?

• It Teaches Me How to Live: Does this passage show me how to be a better person or how to act like a Christian?

3. We Read It As Prayer 🙏

The best way to read the Bible is to make it a conversation with God. This is a practice called "Divine Reading."

1. Read: Choose a short passage and read it slowly.

2. Listen: What one word or short phrase stands out to you?

3. Talk: Tell God what is in your heart about that word or phrase.

4. Rest: Just sit silently with God for a moment.

When we read the Bible with faith and with the Church's guidance, God speaks to us directly!