Becoming a Catholic
Faith is a treasure – Jesus called it ‘a pearl of great price’. Rather than a set of rules, or cultural beliefs, it is an encounter with the living Christ who wants to know us, love us, and share with us his life, his peace.
How do I become a Catholic?
When someone wants to become a Catholic, the normal procedure is to make an appointment to go and see your local Catholic priest. You can try and get him after Sunday Mass, but he might be busy then, so it is probably better to telephone. When you see him, he will make you welcome and invite you to talk about your desire to become a Catholic.
What happens next depends partly on local circumstances, partly on how much faith background you have and of what type. Many parishes have a small group of Catholics and “enquirers” meeting together once a week for several months or longer to explore what being a Catholic means. At the end of this process, known as the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) those who wish and are ready become Catholics, usually at Easter.
Other parishes do not have the RCIA, and arrange for one-to-one conversations with a priest or catechist. The needs of the enquirer are naturally paramount.
You are welcome to begin attending Mass at your local Catholic Church whenever you wish, though you would not be able to receive communion yet.
You are free to approach any priest anywhere, but it makes sense to go to your local Church, which will be most convenient for you if you do decide to become a Catholic.
God is love incarnate (in human form). That is the Good News which is freely given to all. It’s a life changing reality. Are you ready to dip your toe in the water? Intrigued? Want to know more? Click here to learn more about the Catholic faith. Alternatively try here.
Evangelisation
If you’re already a Catholic, you may be interested in exploring how to share and proclaim your faith. Evangelisation needn’t mean bible-bashing, or yelling from the soap box! It’s far more wide encompassing: publicly wearing a crucifix or religious symbol, praying the rosary silently on the bus, offering a neighbour a listening ear or to pray for someone, volunteering at a soup kitchen. If we’re open and alert, all these present opportunities for us to share our faith. It’s what Therese of Lisieux, patron of the missions, called ‘the Little Way’. For more information, please contact the Home Mission Desk.
Related links:
www.caseresources.org.uk - a dedicated website which is designed to help enthuse, engage and equip Catholics for the task of evangelisation.
www.life4seekers.co.uk - Life4seekers is for those people who want to improve their life and find a new sense of fulfilment, a fresh energy and joy of living. If you are searching for happiness, a sense of purpose and new direction in life, life4seekers is the right site to explore.
Catholic Faith – what and who is a Catholic?
www.rcia.org.uk - Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for those who would like to join the Catholic Church.