Become Catholic

“To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek him the greatest adventure; to find him, the greatest human achievement.” ~ St. Augustine of Hippo

What is Becoming Catholic?
Becoming Catholic is the process by which adults can become full and complete members of the Catholic Church. Formally known as RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults), Becoming Catholic is a period of time in which a person prayerfully considers and thoroughly studies the doctrines and truths of the Catholic Faith. This is done through studying both Sacred Scriptures and the Tradition of the Church.
Becoming Catholic forms individuals to be received fully into the Church at the Easter Vigil through the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation – Baptism, Confirmation, and reception of the Holy Eucharist.

What topics are covered in Becoming Catholic?
Becoming Catholic will provide an overview and introduction of the primary doctrines of the Catholic Church. You will learn about the Trinity, the Incarnation, the Blessed Mother, and the Sacraments as well as what human nature is, the purpose of our existence, virtue, the moral life, sexual ethics, family life, and most importantly, what it means to have a relationship with God. There is a strong focus on helping members of Becoming Catholic form and cultivate a deep prayer life, which is nothing other than conversing with a God who delights in us.


Who can attend Becoming Catholic?

• Any non-baptized person
• Any person baptized with the Trinitarian formula in a Christian denomination outside the Catholic Church. The validity of baptism requires the pouring of water accompanied with the words of the Trinitarian formula (“I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”). Those whose baptism in another denomination was performed with the proper form and matter need not receive baptism again and would make a solemn profession of faith at Easter Vigil to solidify their entrance into the Church.
• Any baptized Catholic who, for whatever reason, did not receive Confirmation.
• Any person who is curious about the Catholic faith. If a person is not entirely certain he or she is going to enter the Church, attending Becoming Catholic would assist in that decision making process. It is a time of prayerful and careful discernment and no one has to sign on the dotted line to begin!

What does Becoming Catholic entail?
Our goal in having members go through this process is to pass on the faith and have Christ become the center of your life as revealed through the Catholic Church. As such, there is a significant time commitment, though a worthwhile one!
Weekly meetings begin in September and go through most of the Easter season (roughly end-of-April) and take place Thursdays from 6:30pm-8:00pm. Breaks are given for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. There is no major penalty for missing a class as the necessities of life come up, but attendance on a weekly basis is expected.
There are also several Sundays which have liturgies pertinent to those in the class that must be attended.
Reading materials are assigned each week and strongly recommended to learn more fully what it entails to be Catholic.
Classes prior to Easter focus on the doctrines of the faith. Classes in the weeks following Easter focus primarily on how to live life as a fully-initiated Catholic.

Have questions?
We are available year-round to answer any questions – no strings attached! Reach out by phone or email to talk or set up a time to meet face-to-face. If you prefer to meet with our pastor, Father Andrew, please indicate such.