Thinking About Becoming Catholic?
Opinion
If you are interested in becoming Catholic, I want to take the opportunity to outline the process and recommend some steps you can take. Let me first say that the Catholic Church welcomes you.
Whatever life experience has brought you to this point, we want to share with you what it means to be part of the Catholic community. You may have heard of the RCIA process. RCIA stands for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.
The “Rite” refers specifically to the public rituals that mark the stages of an individual’s journey to baptism. However, the term RCIA is often used as a shorthand to refer to the whole process. The rituals are the outward markers of an individual inward process of conversion.
Think of it as an apprenticeship in the Christian life. In the process, you will be invited to learn theory (theology) at the same time as you begin to practice the life of discipleship.
This practice entails learning how to pray, understanding our public workshop, studying Scripture, and integrating Church teaching into your life. An important early step is expressing the desire to follow the teachings of Jesus.
For most of us, this move isn’t one and done. Human beings have free will and the Christian life entails striving daily to conform this will of ours to the example of Jesus Christ. None of this process happens in isolation. Discipleship thrives in community and you will have mentorship along the way.
As for the length and shape of this process, it depends. The rites from the RCIA are meant for the unbaptised. The Catholic Church recognises as valid the baptism of many Christian traditions.
If you are already baptised and formed in the Christian life, your process will focus more on integration into the Catholic expression of Christianity. If you were baptised but were never formed in the faith, you might travel with the unbaptised in their apprenticeship.
In place of the pre-baptismal rituals, as a baptised person you would be encouraged to lean into what your baptism means for you today and how you can live that out. For practical reasons, the theory portion of the process may take place over a fixed period with an annual start date but you are welcome to begin your apprenticeship at any time.
And when does it end? Your initiation is a beginning not an ending, and it happens when through discernment with the parish priest and other members of the community, you are ready to make the commitment. Baptism, most often and fittingly, takes place at Easter.
One way to begin is to attend Sunday Mass at your neighbourhood Catholic church. If you are nervous, ask a Catholic to take you or call up the parish office and ask if someone can meet you at the church and sit with you. You are welcome to participate as little or as much as you like.
The only thing we would ask you to refrain from until you are initiated is receiving communion. You’ll see when people go up to the front at this time. You are welcome to stay seated but if you find yourself in the line, cross your arms over your chest and the minister will bless you.
Whenever you are ready, do introduce yourself to a member of the community and explain that you are interested in becoming Catholic. You might even make an appointment to see the priest. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is Good News that we are eager to share with you.
May you know God’s love for you ever more deeply day by day.
Dr Simone Brosig is Pastoral Leader, Community Life and Worship
