Becoming Catholic

Becoming Catholic

While the Catholic Church is the largest religion in the world, it is sometimes also the most misunderstood.


The beliefs of the Catholic Church and her beautiful teachings are consistent through the ages.

 

  • We believe that human beings were created by God in love and that everything God creates is good and created out of love. While we have the capacity for sin, the Church believes in the dignity of the human person above all else.
  • We also believe that goodness infuses all of God’s wondrous creation. All creation, made by God, reflects that goodness. Catholics see the world and its beauty, renewed by the Incarnation, as sacramental – speaking of God’s goodness and love.
  • We believe in stewardship. Everything is given to us by God and our Catholic responsibility is to share our time, talent and treasure with those around us.
  • We believe in the Holy Trinity, that God has revealed himself to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit – a communion of knowledge and love – has created us to share in that life.
  • We believe in community and a living Church – believers are a part of the living Body of Christ and, as such, we are a reflection of the communal nature of the Trinity.
  • We believe that God loved his creation so much that he became human in the person of Jesus to walk among us.
  • We believe in the communion of the saints – models of faith who help us and guide us in our daily lives.
  • We believe in Jesus’ crucifixion, death and resurrection, and we hope that one day we will rise to new life with him.

 

Becoming Catholic today means joining an ancient faith, deeply rooted in the teachings and traditions of Christ, that is filled with hope and vibrancy as we continue to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to all the ends of the earth.

Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the Catholic Church’s way of initiating new members. It warmly welcomes new members and tries to provide an appropriate spiritual formation for each inquirer.

 

RCIA is a process of prayer, study, discussion and celebration for:

  • Unbaptized adults who wish to learn about the faith and possibility of becoming a Catholic;
  • Baptized Christians from other faiths who want to learn more about the Catholic religion and possibly becoming a Catholic;
  • Baptized Catholics who have not received the sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation and who desire to complete their initiation into the Catholic Church

 

If I Begin, Am I Obligated to Become Catholic?

No pressure is exerted on anyone to become Catholic. Accordingly, we respect the decision of each inquirer. The journey of faith is taken one step at a time.

 

I Think I’d Like to Begin, But...

If you have some concerns which may be keeping you from beginning the process, please feel free to give us a call at 608-372-4516 or contact Deacon Bob Riedl. We will be happy to discuss the process with you!

What is RCIA?

The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, or RCIA, is a communal process for formal initiation of new members into the Catholic Church. This process is a return to the formation of the earliest members of the Church in the first and second centuries.
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