Catholic Office of Religious Education & Liturgy
Frequently Asked Questions

General
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
Liturgy

GENERAL

I am interested in learning more about the catholic church. whom should i contact? Please contact the Paulist Centre for Evangelization, 830 Bathurst Street, Toronto, and ask for information on their Understanding Catholicism Course. Phone: 416-534-2326 Fax: 416-534-2328 E-mail: paulist_centre@bellnet.ca.

I am a catholic who is interested in returning to the practice of my faith. Whom should i contact? Please contact the Paulist Centre for Evangelization, 830 Bathurst Street, Toronto, and request information on The Landings program and where it is offered. Phone: 416-534-2326 Fax: 416-534-2328
E-mail: paulist_centre@bellnet.ca.

I am a catholic (or my spouse is a catholic). whom do we contact to get our child into a catholic school? Please contact you local School Board.

Toronto Catholic District School Board: Admissions Department, 416-222-8282, ext. 5320.

Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board: Admissions Department, 905-890-0708, ext. 24511

Durham Catholic District School Board: Admissions Department: 905-576-6707 or 1-877-482-0722, ext. 2253.

York Catholic District School Board: 905-713-2711

Simcoe-Muskoka Catholic District School Board: 705-722-3555

I am a volunteer parish catechist/lay liturgical minister. where can i obtain information on available workshops/resources? Please contact Brenda Voisin, Catholic Office of Religious Education and Liturgy, Archdiocese of Toronto and request to be put on the Newsletter (mailing/e-mail list) for this information. Phone: 416-934-3400, ext. 507. Fax: 416-934-3444. E-mail: brendavoisin@archtoronto.org.

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RITE OF CHIRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS AND CHILDREN OF CATECHETICAL AGE (APPROXIMATELY 7-14 YEARS OF AGE).

I am planning to marry my fiancé is not a catholic but wishes to learn more about the catholic faith and/or become a catholic. Whom do I contact? Please contact your pastor. If your parish does not offer the R.C.I.A. preparation, please contact the Catholic Office of Religious Education at the Catholic Pastoral Centre for information on a nearby parish that does offer it. Phone: 416-934-3400, ext. 510, 509 or 514.

Our parish does not offer the Rite of Initiation of Adults (and/or Children of Catechetical Age, 7-14 years of age). Whom can we contact for assistance in getting started? If you are located in the southern part of the Archdiocese (south of Highway 7), please contact Sr. Caroline Altpeter, I.B.V.M., Director, Catholic Office of Religious Education. Phone: 416-934-3400, ext. 510. Fax: 416-934-3444. E-mail: carolinealtpeter@archtoronto.org. If you are located in the northern part of the Archdicoese (north of Highway 7), please contact Catherine Ecker, Consultant, Catholic Office of Religious Education, Barrie office. Phone: 705-726-2153. Fax: 705-726-8195. E-mail: core.barrie@rogers.com.

How do we obtain information on workshops offered for Parish Initiation Teams? Please contact either Sr. Caroline Altpeter, I.B.V.M., Director, Catholic Office of Religious Education. Phone: 416-934-3400, ext. 510. Fax: 416-934-3444. E-mail: carolinealtpeter@archtoronto.org. or Brenda Voisin, Catholic Office of Religious Education and Liturgy, Archdiocese of Toronto. Phone: 416-934-3400, ext. 507. Fax: 416-934-3444. E-mail: brendavoisin@archtoronto.org. Also, ask to be put on the mailing list for the monthly newsletter provided by the Catholic Office of Religious Education. This contains information and registration forms for upcoming workshops.

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LITURGY

Weddings:

Does the Archdiocese provide Guidelines for the celebration of Marriage in a Catholic Church? Yes. Please contact Sr. Caroline Altpeter, I.B.V.M., Director, Catholic Office of Religious Education. Phone: 416-934-3400, ext. 510. Fax: 416-934-3444. E-mail: carolinealtpeter@archtoronto.org. or Brenda Voisin, Catholic Office of Religious Education and Liturgy, Archdiocese of Toronto. Phone: 416-934-3400, ext. 507. Fax: 416-934-3444. E-mail: brendavoisin@archtoronto.org. for a copy.

If we have questions/concerns regarding music at our wedding whom should we contact? Please contact Connie Price, Consultant, Catholic Office of Religious Education. Phone: 416-934-3400, ext. 513. Fax: 416-934-3444. E-mail: cprice@archtoronto.org.

We are planning to marry and are of Italian/Portuguese/Chinese etc. descent. Where can we learn which of our ethnic customs may be incorporated into our wedding liturgy? The Archbishop of Toronto has delegated responsibility for the acceptable celebration of the sacraments to pastors, so the first person to discuss this with is the pastor of the Church where you will be married. If you have further questions, etc. please contact one of the following: Sr. Caroline Altpeter, I.B.V.M., Director, Catholic Office of Religious Education. Phone: 416-934-3400, ext. 510. Fax: 416-934-3444. E-mail: carolinealtpeter@archtoronto.org. or Gregory Beath, Consultant, Catholic Office of Religious Education. Phone: 416-934-3400, ext. 509. Fax: 416-934-3444. E-mail: gregorybeath@archtoronto.org. or Connie Price, Consultant, Catholic Office of Religious Education. Phone: 416-934-3400, ext. 513. Fax: 416-934-3444. E-mail: cprice@archtoronto.org. or Catherine Ecker, Consultant, Catholic Office of Religious Education, Barrie office. Phone: 705-726-2153. Fax: 705-726-8195. E-mail: core.barrie@rogers.com.

Funerals:

Does the Archdiocese provide information or Guidelines for the celebration of Catholic Funerals? The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops publishes the official version of the Order of Christian Funerals. The Catholic Office of Religious Education and Liturgy provides a trifold, “The Order of Christian Funerals” for use by parishioners. They are available in parishes and in many Funeral Parlors. You may obtain a copy by phoning the Catholic Pastoral Centre: 416-934-3400, extension 507 or 509 or 510.

If we have questions, concerns regarding music at a family funeral, whom should we contact? The selection of music and other specifics for the celebration of a Mass of Christian Burial should be discussed with the Pastor (or member of the Pastoral Team) at the parish where the Mass will be celebrated.

Our family is of Italian/Portuguese/Asian etc. descent. Where can we learn which of our ethnic customs may be incorporated into a family funeral? The Archbishop of Toronto has delegated responsibility for the acceptable celebration of the sacraments to pastors, so the first person to discuss this with is the pastor of the Church where the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. If you have further questions, etc. please contact one of the following: Sr. Caroline Altpeter, I.B.V.M., Director, Catholic Office of Religious Education. Phone: 416-934-3400, ext. 510. Fax: 416-934-3444. E-mail: carolinealtpeter@archtoronto.org. or Gregory Beath, Consultant, Catholic Office of Religious Education. Phone: 416-934-3400, ext. 509. Fax: 416-934-3444. E-mail: gregorybeath@archtoronto.org. or Connie Price, Consultant, Catholic Office of Religious Education. Phone: 416-934-3400, ext. 513. Fax: 416-934-3444. E-mail: cprice@archtoronto.org. or Catherine Ecker, Consultant, Catholic Office of Religious Education, Barrie office. Phone: 705-726-2153. Fax: 705-726-8195. E-mail: core.barrie@rogers.com.

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