Becoming Catholic
Becoming Catholic is one of life’s most profound and joyous experiences. Some are blessed enough to receive this great gift while they are infants, and, over time, they recognize the enormous grace that has been bestowed on them. Others enter the Catholic fold when they are older children or adults. This tract examines the joyful process by which one becomes a Catholic.
A person is brought into full communion with the Catholic Church through reception of the three sacraments of Christian initiation—baptism, confirmation, and the holy Eucharist—but the process by which one becomes a Catholic can take different forms. A person who is baptized in the Catholic Church becomes a Catholic at that moment. One’s initiation is deepened by Confirmation and the Eucharist, but one becomes a Catholic at baptism. This is true for children who are baptized Catholic (and receive the other two sacraments later) and for adults who are Baptized, Confirmed, and receive the Eucharist at the same time. Those who have been validly baptized outside the Church become Catholics by making a profession of the Catholic faith and being formally received into the Church. This is normally followed immediately by confirmation and the Eucharist. Before a person is ready to be received into the Church, whether by baptism or by profession of faith, preparation is necessary. The amount and form of this preparation depends on the individual’s circumstance. The most basic division in the kind of preparation needed is between those who are unbaptized and those who have already become Christian through baptism in another church.
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Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (formerly called Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults - RCIA), is a spiritual journey which lasts eight months
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A journey of the mind – learning more about the Catholic faith
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A journey of the heart – growing in love for God
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A journey of the will – deeper conversion to the Christian way of life
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A journey of friendship – meeting new friends on the same journey
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Adults 18 and over
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Anyone interested in becoming Catholic or learning more about Catholicism
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Baptized Catholics who need to complete sacraments
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Catholics who want to deepen their knowledge of the faith
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Here at the Cathedral our OCIA program is part of our adult faith formation. Join us for the CREDO series. For more information contact Fr John James: father.arcidiacono@archden.org
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Learn More
From time to time it’s important to remind ourselves of the basic questions at the heart of our faith. Whether you’re a longtime Catholic or someone looking to learn more about the Catholic faith, we think you will find the quick videos below informative and inspiring.