Becoming a Catholic

Interested In Learning More About The Catholic Church?

Welcome! This page explains the process by which one can - through their local Catholic church
- learn more about the faith. We hope this information is helpful to you!

The process by which adults come into the Church has come to be known as "the RCIA", which
is short for "The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults."

Who is the process for?

1. The unbaptized. The primary focus of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is on those
who are not already Christian and have not been catechized.

2. Baptized but uncatechized. Those who have been baptized either as Roman Catholics or
as members of another Christian community but did not receive further catechetical
formation or instruction. These typically have also not celebrated confirmation nor
Eucharist.

3. Those seeking full Catholic Communion. These are baptized, practicing Christians from
other denominations who seek entry into the Catholic Church.

In the case of children who have reached the age of reason, the proper pastor should be consulted
for information about Baptism and the other Sacraments of Initiation.

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is not for adult candidates for confirmation who have
already received their First Eucharist in the Catholic Church. They should have their own
formation process and be confirmed at a celebration other than the Easter Vigil.

What does the process look like?

The Rite of Christian Initiation is based on the principle that the process of conversion proceeds
gradually, in stages. Progress from one stage to the next is marked by a liturgical celebration in
the midst of the parish community. The experience and needs of those in each category described
above differ, and so the length of time may vary for each person. Nevertheless, there are certain
similarities among all the groups and the process they will experience, and these can be listed as
follows:

Precatechumenate

The first stage is called the period of inquiry (or the precatechumenate). This is when the
individual first expresses an interest in becoming a Christian or a Catholic, and begins to explore,
with the help of the parish community, what his or her relationship with Christ might be and how
that might be enriched and deepened by joining this Christian community. There is no liturgical
rite to mark the beginning of this stage. This period of inquiry may last several months or several
years and ends either when the inquirer decides against continuing in this direction or when the
inquirer feels ready to move on and the community is prepared to welcome him or her.

Catechumenate

The second stage is called the catechumenate and, for the unbaptized listed above, who are now
called catechumens, should last no less than one full year. For the baptized but uncatechized the
period should be a similar length. For the candidates for full communion, this stage could well be
much shorter. The Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens and the Rite of Welcoming
mark the beginning of this stage. Catechesis for this period is rooted in the Lectionary and the
Word as it is proclaimed in the midst of the community. This is also a time for the catechumen or
candidate to learn how to live as a Catholic Christian. This period ends when the catechumens
and candidates express their desire to receive the sacraments of initiation and the community
acknowledges their readiness.

Purification and Enlightenment

The third stage is the period of purification and enlightenment and coincides with Lent. During
this time the elect (formerly the catechumens) and the candidates enter into a period of intense
preparation and prayer which includes the three public celebrations of the scrutinies and is
marked by the presentations of the Creed and the Lord's Prayer. The Rite of Election and the Call
to Continuing Conversion are celebrated at the beginning of this stage. This period ends with the
celebration of baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. (Note: only the elect are
baptized. All the groups are confirmed and welcomed to the table.)

Mystagogy

The fourth stage is the period of post baptismal catechesis or mystagogy. At this time, the newly
initiated explore their experience of being fully initiated through participation with all the
faithful at Sunday Eucharist and through appropriate catechesis. The period formally lasts
through the Easter season and may be marked by a parish celebration on or near Pentecost. On a
more informal level, mystagogy is a lifelong process, one that all Christians are engaged in, as
we all work to deepen our sense of what it means to live the Christian life.

It is important to note that those who fall into the third category above (candidates for full
communion) do not always need to take part in the full process. Especially if they have been
actively living the Christian life in another denomination, they are likely in need of very little
catechesis and may be welcomed into the Church on any Sunday after a short period of
preparation. According to the National Statutes for the Catechumenate, "Those baptized persons
who have lived as Christians and need only instruction in the Catholic tradition and a degree of
probation within the Catholic community should not be asked to undergo a full program parallel
to the catechumenate."
I'm interested. What should my first step be?

Contact your nearest Catholic parish . Your Catholic priest can discuss with you the specifics of
the initiation process at your local parish. Know that the prayers of a 65 million Catholics in the
United States and the 1.2 Billion Catholics around the world are with you as you complete your
journey. Best wishes!

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