Exploring AI Across Catholic Ministries
The summit opened with Mass and reflections from Church leaders, setting the tone for conversations grounded in faith, discernment, and the Church’s social teaching.
Participants considered both the opportunities and challenges presented by Artificial Intelligence in healthcare, education, social services, ministry, and organizational leadership.
Throughout the discussions, a recurring theme emerged: Technology must serve the human person — not replace the human person.
While participants acknowledged AI’s growing ability to improve efficiency, accessibility, communication, and decision-making, they also emphasized the importance of safeguarding authentic human relationships, moral responsibility, compassion, and community.
Faith, Social Services, and Community
Discussions explored how AI can support newcomers, improve accessibility, and help organizations better serve vulnerable populations. At the same time, participants reflected on concerns related to loneliness, isolation, misinformation, privacy, and the potential loss of authentic human connection.
Conversations repeatedly highlighted the importance of ensuring that technology strengthens community rather than replacing it.
Healthcare in the Age of AI
Healthcare leaders shared practical examples of how AI is already being used to support diagnosis, administration, patient care, and organizational efficiency.
Participants discussed the importance of balancing innovation with prudence, ensuring that advances in technology continue to uphold human dignity, compassion, privacy, and ethical responsibility.
A recurring question emerged throughout these conversations: How can AI help healthcare professionals serve people more effectively while preserving the human relationships at the heart of care?
Education and the Formation of Future Generations
Educators, students, and academic leaders reflected on how AI is reshaping learning environments and influencing the next generation.
Discussions focused on the importance of developing discernment, critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and digital literacy among young people. Participants recognized that Catholic education has an important role to play in helping students engage emerging technologies responsibly while remaining grounded in faith and human values.
Synodal Listening and Shared Discernment
A distinctive feature of the MCI Summit was its commitment to synodal listening.
Participants gathered in small groups to reflect on presentations, share experiences, and identify key insights that could help guide Catholic organizations in responding to the opportunities and challenges presented by Artificial Intelligence.
Across sectors and ministries, several themes consistently emerged:
- Human dignity must remain at the centre of every technological decision.
- AI should augment human work and relationships, not replace them.
- Authentic human connection remains essential in every aspect of life and ministry.
- Catholic Social Teaching provides an important framework for ethical discernment.
- Ongoing education, formation, and dialogue are needed as AI continues to evolve.
- The Church has an important role to play in helping society understand what it means to be human in an increasingly digital world.
Looking Ahead
The summit concluded with a shared recognition that the conversation surrounding Artificial Intelligence is only beginning.
Participants expressed a desire for continued collaboration, formation, and dialogue among Catholic organizations, Church leaders, educators, healthcare professionals, social service agencies, and communities throughout Alberta.
As emerging technologies continue to shape society, the Church remains uniquely positioned to offer a vision rooted in human dignity, solidarity, community, and the common good.
The Mission Collaboration Initiative Summit provided an opportunity not only to discuss technology, but also to reflect on a deeper question: What does it mean to be human, and how can we ensure that technology serves authentic human flourishing?
The Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton extends sincere gratitude to all speakers, facilitators, participating organizations, volunteers, and attendees whose contributions helped make the 6th Annual MCI Summit a meaningful and fruitful gathering.
Together, we continue the important work of discerning how faith can guide innovation in service of humanity and the Gospel.
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