For adults, there are two paths for becoming Catholic.  One is for those who have never been baptized and the other is for those who have been validly baptized in another Christian Denomination and now wish to consider living their baptismal life according to the belief and practice of the Roman Catholic Church.

The path those who have never been baptized follow is called the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). This is the norm for the entire Catholic Church and is the restoration of the way people in the early Church were prepared for full initiation. It begins with a period called “Inquiry” which is a time to look at the main teachings of the Catholic Church, to get to know some of the people and to begin to experience the life and prayer of the local church which is the parish.  It is also the time for you to look at your life to see if this is the time for you to move further along the path of committing your life to Jesus in faith and living that faith as a member of the Catholic Church.

If this is your desire you will begin an extended period of time to deepen your understanding of salvation which is offered to us through Jesus. Participation in Sunday Mass is essential as well as weekly gatherings to help you grow in understanding about living as a committed follower of Jesus according to Catholic belief and practice.

Full membership in the Catholic Church takes place through the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist which are called Sacraments of Initiation.  These sacraments are celebrated together each year at the Easter Vigil which begins after dark the night before Easter.  They bring us into the life and mission of Jesus as lived by the Church.

The path for becoming Catholic for those who have been baptized in another Christian Denomination varies from parish to parish.  We have a group here that we call Pilgrims Progress because we are all pilgrims on the journey of faith.  This group consists of people who are baptized and are seeking to grow in their in their understanding of what it means to live as a baptized follower of Jesus. Among the participants in the group are those from various Christian Churches who are exploring what it would mean for them to live their baptismal life according to Catholic belief and practice.  The length of preparation time depends on the extent of their Christian background.  When they are ready, they are received into the Full Communion of the Catholic Church at one of the weekend masses by making a Profession of Faith, being Confirmed, and receiving Holy Communion.

 

For more information call Sr. Mary Catherine at 343-6256 x108.