Becoming a Catholic

BECOMING A CATHOLIC

If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a Catholic the best person to speak to in the first instance is your local parish priest.

Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)

If you are an adult who has not been baptised and would like to explore the possibility of becoming Catholic then the normal practice is to join a process called the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). This process can lead to becoming a member of the Church through baptism in a ceremony held during the Easter Vigil.

If you have already been baptised within another Christian community and would like to become a Catholic a similar process of learning and prayerful discernment is offered. This is usually assimilated within the RCIA process with certain marked differences.

The RCIA normally takes place over a series of sessions exploring the Catholic Faith, in a group setting with sponsors, catechists and clergy, and is usually led by our Parish Priest. Candidates mark their faith journey by liturgical rites along the way in the presence of the parish community (Rite of Welcome, Rite of Election, etc). For more comprehensive information about the teachings of the Catholic Church you can access the Catechism of the Catholic Church online at www.vatican.va