For the seven people from St. Ann’s Parish in Peoria who are preparing to be received into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil, the community of faith has grown a little larger over the last year.

They were among catechumens and candidates from six parishes who came together with their priests and RCIA coordinators for a faith formation process coordinated by Deacon Toby Tyler of St. Mary’s Cathedral. In addition to St. Ann’s and the cathedral, it drew participants from St. Bernard’s, St. Mark’s, St. Peter’s and St. Philomena’s, all in Peoria.

“They’ve mentioned it’s a pleasure for them. They like it when they’re out and they see people from the group,” said Sister Judith Ann Croegaert, OSB, the RCIA coordinator at St. Ann’s Parish.

That was especially true when the candidates went to St. Mary’s Cathedral for the Rite of Election and the Call to Continuing Conversion on the first Sunday of Lent and were able to wave at all the people they knew, she told The Catholic Post.

“It gives them an idea of the larger church,” Sister Judith Ann said. “They’re not just joining St. Ann’s.”

The program started when Father Brian Brownsey was the rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral, according to Deacon Tyler. During the first year it involved the cathedral, St. Bernard’s and St. Peter’s parishes.

When Father Charles Klamut, pastor of St. Mark’s Parish, asked that other parishes consider doing something like this, a meeting was held, a schedule of speakers was developed, and the program grew to include six parishes, Deacon Tyler said.

A major impetus for the joint process was a request by Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, that parishes pool their resources for youth ministry, religious education and RCIA, among other things.

“I wanted each parish to be involved in their own way with their people,” Deacon Tyler said. “I didn’t want a program where they came to us and we took it over. I think that was the fear of some of the parishes. . . . That’s not it at all.

“They run their own programs. This is just sort of a catalyst that gives them a place to come and hear the talks,” he told The Post.