Becoming Catholic

Each year, men and women from all backgrounds, enter into the Catholic Church. They followed an exciting and joyful path of discovery and discernment on their spiritual pilgrimage into the heart of Catholicism. Welcome to the Journey!

Step 1: Belief in Jesus

The first stage of this path is acceptance of the Gospel – the “Good News” – of Jesus. One of his earliest followers wrote:

God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:16-17)

As Catholics, we believe that Jesus is the Son of God, fully divine and fully human; through Him, we have reconciliation with God our Father, the forgiveness of our sins, and eternal life. He is the Savior of the world. We accept Him as our Savior and as our Divine Master, Teacher, and Lord.

Step 2: Repentance & Conversion

To become a follower and disciple of Jesus, we leave behind our former way of life and pattern of thinking, and with God’s help, we turn our lives in a new direction. This process involves self-examination to see where we have gone astray from God’s plan for our happiness through our sinful actions. As Saint Paul wrote, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We are called to repentance for our past mistakes and a firm purpose to change our lives to conform to God’s will for us. This conversion is not a one-time event in our lives but a constant process of renewal and growth.

Step 3: The Catechumenate

All who desire to become Catholic enter a period of instruction called the catechumenate – an ancient Christian term for this time of preparation. More than just a “new member class,” the catechumenate is a spiritual journey designed to deepen your relationship with Christ and His Body – the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. In addition to instruction, those seeking to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church receive special prayers and blessings according to the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). Our Becoming Catholic program allows you to explore the basics of the Catholic faith, worship, and way of life. We invite you to join us!

WHAT’S THE NEXT STEP?

Welcome to Becoming Catholic! Email [email protected] to enroll in the Becoming Catholic program!