How do I become a Catholic?
At Notre Dame Parish, we strive to welcome and meet people where they are in life, accompany them on their life-faith journey, and share the gospel message with one another. Simply put, we want others to know that a loving God has created us all, that Jesus became one of us in everything but sin so that we could become as God, and that he has placed his Holy Spirit within us so that we can have an intimate friendship with him and one another. We do this above all by loving one another as Jesus has loved us. It is not good news to tell someone, “Jesus loves you.” What is good news is to tell another, “I love you in the name of Jesus.”
Being a disciple of Jesus undergirds all human life and everyday living. “Even for those who remain tied to their Christian roots, but who live the difficult relationship with modernity, it is important to realize that being Christian is not a type of clothing to wear in private or on special occasions, but is something living and all-encompassing, able to contain all that is good in modern life” (Pope Benedict XVI, Address to Participants in the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council For Promoting The New Evangelization, May 30, 2011).
Becoming a Catholic
Jesus died on the cross that all his followers “may be one” (John 17:21). He invites everyone into the church, and in his name we welcome everyone who comes. The process by which adults come into full membership in the church is known as the “RCIA,” which is short for “The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.” “RCIC,” or “The Rite of Christian Initiation of Children,” is the analogous process for children between the ages of 7 and 18.
For Whom is the Process?
- The unbaptized. The primary focus of the RCIA/RCIC is on those who are not baptized, not yet Christian, and/or who have not been raised in the Christian faith.
- Baptized but unformed Christians. The RCIA/RCIC process is also for those who have been baptized Roman Catholic or as members of another Christian community but who were not raised and/or formed in the Christian faith.
- Those seeking full communion with Jesus in the Catholic Church. These are baptized, practicing Christians from other denominations who seek full communion with Jesus and the church as a Catholic.
