HOW DO I BECOME CATHOLIC?

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR SPIRITUAL PATH?

The journey of faith can be a winding road. You may not have been raise in faith. Family circumstances as a child may have provided you with a firm foundation of 

 belief and prayers, or you may have been left on your own to choose your religious beliefs. Whatever path has led you to this time of searching or of interest,

the Catholic Church stands committed to building on the faith and experience you bring.

WHAT WOULD BE REQUIRED OF ME IF, AS A BAPTIZED CHRISTIAN, I WANTED TO BECOME A ROMAN CATHOLIC?

The Church does not want to place unnecessary obstacles or burden in your path to becoming Catholic. But the Church wants to help you deepen your faith

and offer you a thorough understanding and appreciation for Catholic beliefs and practices. The Catechesis and formation in preparation for you being received

into the Catholic Church will depend on what you might need to live a full and active Catholic life.

WOULD I BE BAPTIZED AGAIN IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH?

If you are baptized with flowing water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, the Catholic Church respects that Baptism. Baptism is

the Sacrament of our rebirth in Christ and our immersion into His saving death and Resurrection. It cannot be repeated. Once we are claimed by Christ in

Baptism, we are forever marked as the adopted sons of God.

IS THERE A RITUAL IN WHICH I WOULD BE RECEIVED AS A CATHOLIC?

Many adults entering the Catholic Church, or those just thinking about it, follow a process known as the RCIA — the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.

The RCIA process has several distinct stages. These Catholic RCIA stages are a good model of faith development itself.

• Inquiry: the initial period before you decide to enter the Catholic Church. You're asking questions and checking it out, but aren't yet ready to commit.
• Catechumenate: those who decide to enter the Church and are being trained for a life in Christ are called catechumens, an ancient name from the early Church.
• In this stage, you're developing your faith and are being "catechized" — learning catechism, or the basic points about Catholic faith and life.
• Purification and preparation: The Church will help you focus and intensify your faith as you prepare to commit your life to Christ and
• be received into the Church at Easter. If you're following the RCIA process, you'll go through a beautiful series of Gospel-based meditations during Lent,
• which is the time frame of this period.
• Initiation itself, the culmination of the whole process! You're received into the Church during the Easter Vigil Mass, where you'll receive
• the sacraments of initiation: baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist. (If you've already been baptized, you won't be baptized again.) In the Sacrament
• of Confirmation you will be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit. In the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, you will receive Holy Communion.
• Mystagogy: after reception into the Church at Easter, this period lets you reflect and learn more about the mysteries of the Holy Sacrfice of the Mass and
• the Sacraments that you now participate in fully.

Will I be expected to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance/Reconcialition?

You will be invited to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation prior to being received into full communion with the Church.

In the Sacrament of Reconciliation we are freed of sins committed after Baptism. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation the Lord

offers us a new beginning, and so it is appropriate to celebrate this Sacrament as you prepare to make your solemn profession

of faith in the Catholic Church. For Catholics, the confession of all our serious sins followed by sacramental absolution (forgiveness)

is required before we partake of the Holy Eucharist. 

If you are interested in becoming Catholic, please call the parish office at 513-988-6335 or call Deacon Larry Gronas (513)502-6266.