Join us for the 2026 National Gathering on Christian Initiation® on August 5–6 at the Loyola University Chicago Lakeshore Campus, located in the Rogers Park neighborhood.
At the National Gathering on Christian Initiation®, parish leaders and initiation ministers will strengthen their ministry through hands-on skill-building, honest conversations about shared challenges, and the exchange of proven approaches. In a dynamic mix of learning, dialogue, and prayer, participants will come to see more clearly that the vision of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults is inseparable from the parish’s call to be a community of missionary disciples.
Registration for NGCI 2026 is now open! If you have any questions, please contact us at NGCI@ltp.org.
The Theme for 2026 is The Rituals of the OCIA: Prepare, Celebrate, Reflect.
Join us for a dynamic two-day conference exploring the transformative power of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). Together, we will dive into the ritual celebrations that form disciples and shape communities, with a focus on preparation, celebration, and reflection.
This gathering is designed for initiation teams, clergy, liturgists, musicians, catechists, and anyone who desires to bring new life to the way their community celebrates the OCIA. Come be inspired, equipped, and renewed in your ministry.
We will explore how the intentional preparation of catechumens, candidates, ministers, and the assembly will lay a foundation for powerful liturgical experiences. We will look at what the Church calls ars celebrandi and consider thebeauty and meaning behind celebrating the rites with reverence, creativity, and style. Finally, we will mystagogically reflect on how these celebrations form us for mission and life in the world today.
Registration for the 2026 gathering is now open! An optional, pre-gathering event will be held on August 4 with more information to follow. If you have any questions, please contact us at 800-933-1800.
| Early Bird Registration, by 4:00 PM CT on February 18, 2026 | $250 |
| General Registration, by 4:00 PM CT on June 18, 2026 | $300 |
| Group Rate, per person when groups of 4+ register together by 4:00 PM CT on June 18, 2026 | $275 |
| Late Registration, by 4:00 PM CT on July 19, 2026 | $325 |
| Beer/Wine Happy Hour – August 4, 2026 Optional. | Free |
Registration is also available by phone. Contact Customer Service at 800-933-1800 to register by phone. To register by mail, please download, print, and complete this form. Mail completed forms and payment to LTP at 3949 South Racine Ave, Chicago, IL 60609.
The schedule for the National Gathering on Christian Initiation® has been intentionally designed to offer an engaging balance of presentations, prayer, fellowship, discussion, and focus on the needs and challenges of our specific ministries.
| August 5, 2026 | |
| 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM | Registration |
| 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM | Welcome, Introductions, and Prayer |
| 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM | Opening Session - At the Table of the Word |
| 10:15 AM - 10:45 AM | Break |
| 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM | Pastoral Practice (with examples from the Rite for Entrance and the Rite of Sending) |
| 11:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Many Gifts, One Mission: Ministries and Collaboration in the OCIA |
| 11:45 AM - 12:15 PM | Working Session: Preparing the Ritual |
| 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Lunch and Travel to Chapel |
| 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM | Ritual Celebration |
| 2:15 PM - 2:45 PM | Break and Travel from Chapel |
| 2:45 PM - 3:15 PM | Mystagogical Reflection on the Ritual Celebration |
| 3:15 PM - 3:45 PM | Fostering a Culture of Mystagogy in Parish Life |
| 3:45 PM - 4:15 PM | Break |
| 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM | The Art of Celebration: Ars Celebrandi in the OCIA Rites |
| 5:00 PM | End of Day and Dinner on Your Own |
| August 6, 2026 | |
|---|---|
| 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM | Optional: Roundtable Discussions |
| 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM | Companions on the Journey: The Role of our Parishioners in the OCIA Rites |
| 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM | Working Session: Preparing the Ritual |
| 10:00 AM - 10:20 AM | Travel to Chapel |
| 10:20 AM - 11:00 AM | Ritual Celebration |
| 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM | Travel from Chapel and Break |
| 11:30 PM - 12:00 PM | Mystagogical Reflection on the Ritual Celebration |
| 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM | Lunch |
| 12:45 PM - 1:15 PM | Pastoral Practice (with examples from the Minor Rites and the Easter Vigil) |
| 1:15 PM - 1:45 PM | Celebrating the Rites with Children, Different Languages, and Multiple Sites |
| 1:45 PM - 2:00 PM | Break |
| 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM | One Faith, Different Paths: Rites for the Baptized and the Combined Rites |
| 2:45 PM - 3:00 PM | Closing Prayer and Farewell |
| 3:00 PM | End of Gathering |
Each year, a different team of presenters work together with an LTP representative to plan the major presentations and breakout sessions of the event. Team members have been invited not only because of their understanding of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults and Scripture, but also because of their vast parish and diocesan experience.
Fr. Ken Simpson, a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago, has served in parish, campus, and formation ministries, including roles as pastor, seminary dean, and vicar for priests. He is committed to building vibrant parish communities rooted in prayer and service.