Welcome!
We are glad that you are interested in finding out more about
the Catholic Faith and we hope that this introduction will lead you
to discover more.How do I
find out about Catholicism?
What if I think that I want to become Catholic?
What does initiation into the Catholic Church
entail?
How long does it take to become a Catholic?
What if I change my mind?
How do I find a Catholic parish near me?
What else can I do?
How do I find out about
Catholicism?
One of the best ways is to contact a Catholic parish near you to let
them know that you are interested in finding out more about the
Catholic Faith. (Find
a Catholic parish here) You will be invited to join with others
like yourself as you inquire into what "being Catholic" is all
about: who we are, what we believe, how we live our lives, how we
pray, and more.
If you are interested in reading about Catholicism, there are a
number of excellent resources available. One extensive compendium of
Catholic beliefs, you can explore the Catechism of the Catholic
Church online (click
here) or by ordering it from your favourite bookstore.
What if I think that I want
to become Catholic?
We believe that God calls individuals to live the Good News
Jesus proclaimed and to become his disciples as members of the
Catholic Church. If you want to become Catholic, you will
participate in a process called the Rite of Christian Initiation of
Adults (sometimes called RCIA or simply Christian initiation.)
Adults or children who have reached the age of reason (about 7 years
old) learn about the teachings of Jesus as the Catholic Church has
handed them on and put these teachings into practice by living as
part of the Catholic community, serving others and praying.
What does initiation into
the Catholic Church entail?
If you have not been baptized, the Christian initiation process
prepares you to become a Catholic Christian by celebrating what we
call the sacraments of Christian initiation: Baptism, Confirmation
and Eucharist or Holy Communion.
If you have been baptized in another Christian tradition, the
initiation process prepares you to enter into full communion with
the Catholic Church by celebrating the sacraments of Confirmation
and Eucharist or Holy Communion.
How long does it take to
become a Catholic?
Becoming Catholic is a life-long commitment. However, the
Christian initiation process typically lasts for several months or
longer in order to prepare to take this step. Participants in the
initiation process generally meet once or twice each week, including
part of the Mass on Sunday, but each parish initiation schedule
varies. The initiation of individuals who are ready to make the
commitment to become new members of the Catholic Church may take
place at Easter (in March or April) or at other times throughout the
year.
What if I change my
mind?
You do not make any commitment or obligation by inquiring about
Catholicism or beginning the Christian initiation process. We want
you to take the time you need as you think about becoming Catholic
and we respect your decision to stop or to say, "not right now" at
any time. While we love being Catholic and hope that others will
want to become Catholic also, we do not exert pressure on anyone to
do so. Our hope would be that at the very least, you would come to a
greater appreciation of Catholic beliefs and practices.
How do I find a Catholic
parish near me?
Find a Catholic church near your home or work:
What else can I do?
We are glad that you have visited this site and we hope that we
have given you information to help you find out more about the
Catholic faith. If you wish, you could say the following prayer:
God, help me to see your presence and hear your voice in the world around me. Guide me on my journey and lead me to you. Amen.
For more information about Christian
initiation, contact:
Kyle Neilson, Consultant for RCIA (Rite
of Christian Initiation of Adults)
604-683-0281
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