Becoming Catholic

How does somebody become a Catholic?

How does somebody become a Catholic? A lot of Catholics are Catholic because their family is Catholic. We were born to Catholic parents, baptized as babies, and brought up “in the Church.” But what about the person who was raised in a different Christian tradition (e.g. Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, etc…), or someone who wasn’t raised in the faith at all? What about the person who was baptized as a baby, but, for whatever reason, missed a Sacrament or two along the way (like First Holy Communion or Confirmation)?

Becoming Catholic means more than just registering to belong to a parish. We want to invite  people into a journey of faith that is about getting to know Jesus Christ and learning about the  Church that he founded. More than knowledge about Christ, it is a relationship with Christ. It’s a journey of discovery, a journey of conversion. Ultimately, it’s a  journey towards discipleship and a life spent with Jesus!

This journey of becoming Catholic has been known for a long time as the RCIA, or the Rite of  Christian Initiation for Adults. As Our Lady of Lourdes continues to work to build a culture of  discipleship, we are excited to announce a new approach to the process of helping people  become fully initiated members of the Catholic Church. We have launched two new  programs designed to help everyone, from the life-long Catholic all the way to the most skeptical of seekers, grow in a relationship with Jesus and in their understanding of the Catholic  faith.

The first program is called The Search. Held over the course of 7 to 10 weeks, The Search is a series of sessions designed to explore the basics of the Catholic faith. Each session looks at a different question about the faith and is designed to spark conversation. It’s an open, informal, and honest space to explore and discuss life’s big questions together. While The Search is perfect for someone who is exploring whether or not Catholicism is right for them, it’s also a great opportunity for the life-long Catholic to learn more about what we believe and why. The Search will begin on September 25th and will be held during the Sunday adult faith formation GROW Group, 9:00 AM to 10:15 AM, in the Parish Activity Center.

The other new program, Catholicism 101, is a chance to dig deeper into the teachings of the Catholic Church. Covering topics such as the origin and meaning of the Bible, the Sacraments, the Mass, the Saints, and Catholic Morality, Catholicism 101 is an opportunity to explore the Catholic faith, or to catch up on what you might have missed in Sunday School. Catholicism 101 begins in January, 2022.

In the Spring, people who are ready to be fully initiated into the Church (through one or more of the Sacraments of  Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist), will participate in the final stages of RCIA – the formal process by which an adult enters the Catholic Church. Ordinarily, by the time someone starts the RCIA process, they will have participated in The Search and Catholicism 101. Through a series of small group discussions and liturgical rites, those who are coming into the Church will be prepared to receive the  sacraments at the Easter Vigil.

So how can you help somebody who might be thinking about joining the Church take the next step? First of all, Pray! Pray for the people in your life who you think the Lord might be calling to a deeper relationship with himself and with his Church. Then, don’t be afraid to Share your Catholic faith and the ways it has enriched your life! People will be drawn in when they see the difference your faith has made in your life. Finally, don’t be afraid to Invite people! Do you have a neighbor or a co-worker that you think might be interested in The Search? Invite them to join you to check it out. Has your spouse or  someone in your family mentioned becoming Catholic? Now is the time to ask them if they’d  like to talk to somebody about taking the next step. You might be surprised by the power of  your invitation! The first step for someone who wants to learn more about joining the Catholic Church is to set  up a time to talk with someone in the parish office. We want to get to know them and help them  get to know Our Lady of Lourdes. We will work with individuals to plot out a course that makes  sense for them. 

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