Do you want to know more about the Catholic faith?
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
There are all sorts of reasons for thinking about becoming a Catholic. You may have a friend, husband or wife who is a Catholic. Your children may attend a Catholic school and be preparing for First Holy Communion and you want to be able to talk to them about it. You may have been impressed by the behaviour or way of life of a well-known Catholic or seen a programme on television about it. You may be going to be married to a Catholic and you would like to know what that involves. You may simply be curious and want to know more.
Whatever has prompted you to take it further, you are very welcome.
A good first step is to visit a Catholic Church to sit quietly and enjoy the peace or to join the congregation for mass. You will be welcomed at the door. No-one will ask why you have come but feel free to speak to them. The first formal step is to speak to the Deacon or Priest, as described below. They will explain what is involved.
Step 1: Learn About Catholicism
One of the best ways you can learn about the Catholic Faith is to visit our Parish, introduce yourself to the community, and let us know that you are interested in learning more about the Faith. Our Parish website also has some information that could help beginners and you could also consult the Catechism of the Catholic Church for more details.
Step 2: Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
If you have decided that you want to become Catholic, you will participate in a process called the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). In RCIA, you will learn about the teachings of Jesus Christ and how to put His teachings into practice by living as part of the Catholic community, by serving others, and by life of prayer.
To learn more about RCIA, please contact us using the email addresses on our website for either St Columba’s or St Theresa’s.
Step 3: Sacraments of Christian Initiation
If you have not been baptized, the Christian initiation process prepares you to become a Catholic by celebrating the sacraments of Christian initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion (Eucharist). If you have been baptized in another Christian tradition, you will need to be received into the Church after making a profession of faith. To enter into full communion with the Catholic Church, you will need to receive the sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Eucharist.