Becoming Catholic

Is there more to life than this? Who is Jesus to me? Can I go deeper in my spirituality?

You have questions. We want to help you find the answers.

Something in your life caused you to click this page. And aside from the small possibility that you clicked it by accident, we’re going to guess that it was a tug at your heart and a splash of curiosity:
What would need to happen if you decided to say “yes” to the call you’ve been feeling (and possibly trying to ignore)?

No matter your reason for clicking, we’re glad you’re here. Let’s talk about becoming Catholic.

WHY BECOME CATHOLIC?

There are so many reasons! It’s hard to narrow down, but here are the first five that come to mind:

The Eucharist: You really can’t beat the presence of Jesus’ Body and Blood, offered for you at each Mass. (If you are unfamiliar with Catholicism, this may come as a surprise to you, but we Jesus taught that he is actually, really present in the Eucharist, not in a merely spiritual way and not in a symbolic way, but really and truly present.)
The Bible & Tradition: Catholics read the Bible (yes, it’s true)! And just like the early Christian believers, we understand the inspired word of God through the power of the Holy Spirit and an understanding of passed on to us by those who knew Jesus (tradition). Catholics love tradition, too!
Community: Having a faith family that supports you in good times and in bad is something that is so incredibly powerful. Humanity was made for community, and church community is the embodiment of that connection that we naturally crave.
The Sacraments: God wants to break through to us in powerful ways. We call these breakthrough events Sacraments. The sacraments help us in our walk with God and they are available to you!

So, what does it mean to become a Catholic?

That’s a great question, and the answer can vary depending on your circumstances.
In general, adults come into the Catholic church in one of two ways:

Those who have not been baptized in any Christian tradition, and want to become a Christian and are considering living out that faith in the Catholic church.
Those who have been baptized in a Christian faith (e.g. Lutheran, Baptist, etc.) and are feeling called to express their faith in the Catholic church.

In either case, we believe God has an amazing journey ahead for you through a process we call the OCIA – the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. Through this process, we think your life would change. Come and see what a life with Christ can do.

What is OCIA?

The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is modeled on the initiation ritual of the early Christian church. It is an experience of personal formation and spiritual growth which incorporates prayer, study, reflection, and discernment in a combination of public rituals and community preparations. It is the way unbaptized persons become Christian within the Roman Catholic tradition.

The most important thing to note is that OCIA is a journey And there is no pressure for you to join us just because you attend a meeting; in fact, that’s kind of the point – to discern if this is what God is calling you to and to learn more about what Catholics believe.

Learn more about OCIA here.

Meetings

There are weekly meetings for Adults and Teens who seek baptism after the 11:00 a.m. Mass each week.

Email Deacon Tom at OCIA@SaintAndrew.org or you can call Deacon Tom (the coordinator of the OCIA process) directly at 919-362-0414 x124.

We look forward to meeting you!

FAQS

Is there a specific time of year when it begins?
You can begin year-round! Whenever you’re ready, we’re here.

What About Children & Families?
Children ages 7 and older are just as much in need of a spiritual formation process as adults are to become disciples of Jesus.

Everyone is on a unique faith journey that requires discernment. We cannot say before meeting the young seekers how long their formation may take. We will partner with parents to develop a formation plan to bring children into full communion with the church.

Contact Katie Fortunato, Faith Formation & Pastoral Care, at919-362-0685 x125, or elemfaith@saintandrew.org to learn more to learn more about bringing children into full communion with the church.

I am…

Not Baptized in any Christian denomination

Welcome! We are filled with joy that you are here: not just because you are considering becoming a Christian, but also because you are having the courage to say "yes" to that still, small voice inside of you that has been nudging you (or badgering you, whatever works) to take this step.

We know that starting from the beginning can seem daunting, but our job is to help you in this discernment process. Living a life in Christ is a big life step, and so we provide an extensive program to help you ask your questions, learn about this new faith, and prepare to make that commitment if you choose. It's also a practical journey as well - we want to be sure to provide you with practical tools for living out and sharing this new faith in your daily life as well.

Once you have been through the OCIA process, you would receive Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation, typically held during the night before Easter Sunday each year.

Baptized in another Christian denomination

We are thrilled that you want to complete the reception of your Sacraments of Initiation (Communion and Confirmation) and be fully initiated into the Church! OCIA will walk you through the meaning of these additional sacraments as well as teach you more about the pillars of our faith - and most importantly, offer you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about Catholicism!

A Catholic looking to go deeper into my faith

We love that you want to learn more about your faith! Though OCIA is not the right program for you, we think you'll find that our Adult Education offerings are the perfect opportunity to deepen your understanding of Catholicism. Be sure to check out the Adult Faith page on our website for the latest events!