Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
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Becoming a Catholic is a joyous experience! Some receive this gift while they are infants, while others come into the Catholic community later in life. If you are an individual who has not yet been baptized, or if you have been baptized but have not received Eucharist or Confirmation, and you are looking to deepen your faith, we're so glad you're here!
We invite you to learn more about the process through which we welcome or reconnect you with the Catholic Church. The journey is guided by members of our parish community, but is ultimately a personal journey in which you will grow in your identity as a Catholic.
To learn more about how Lumen Christi can be part of your faith journey, please contact Meaghan Turner at [email protected] for more information.
Where to Start
- One of the best ways is to speak to one of our parish priests or Director of Catholic Formation, Meaghan Turner, who are happy to listen and help you determine your next step. Please remember that Sunday is a very busy time. Make an appointment with a priest so that he can focus on you!
- Attend Mass. Our family of faith is warm and welcoming – and the Mass is the source & summit of our faith!
- Pray. Ask God to guide you in your journey.
- Read Scripture. Consider signing up for a daily reflection
- Explore the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the official summary of our faith.
- Explore a variety of resources available to answer questions or that share the stories of other’s faith experiences.
The journey to becoming Catholic is one of invitation and initiation. Throughout the journey, you are encouraged to prayerfully discern if God is calling you to continue. The process is called the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). In RCIA, you will learn about the teachings of Jesus as the Catholic Church has handed them on and also have the opportunity to participate in the life of the parish through service and prayer.
What is Initiation?- If you have not been baptized, Christian initiation prepares you to become a Catholic Christian through the sacraments of baptism, Holy Communion and confirmation.
- If you have been baptized in another Christian church, initiation prepares you to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church be celebrating the sacraments of Holy Communion and confirmation
- If you have not been baptized, Christian initiation prepares you to become a Catholic Christian through the sacraments of baptism, Holy Communion and confirmation.
How long is the process?
RCIA preparation usually lasts for several months up to a year, depending on the readiness of those entering the Church. RCIA candidates for all three sacraments of initiation will typically celebrate the sacraments during the Easter Vigil liturgy on Holy Saturday.
What if it is not for me?
Seeking information about the Catholic faith will not commit or oblige you to become Catholic. It is not a process of indoctrination. We encourage you to learn about the faith and about Jesus Christ at your own pace, so that you can freely make your own choice. While we love the Catholic faith and hope that you will also come to love it our desire is for you to experience the love of Christ. We are here to serve you and look forward to getting to know you and to discover what God has planned for you!
Catholics Returning Home
If you are an inactive Catholic, one that has celebrated all the sacraments of initiation, and would like to return to active participation in a parish, or have questions about the Catholic faith that are keeping you from active participation, please speak with one of our priests or pastoral team members. You can also find wonderful information at Catholics Come Home.2024 Becoming Catholic Candidates
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Testimonials
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Tom Harrington
What brought you to the Catholic Church? And what made you take that first step?
I was not baptized Catholic. I never found a spiritual bond in my birth church. As an adult I was instinctively drawn to the Catholic Church. I began attending Mass as a visitor. I carried on visiting for a long time. I thought about formally converting but never got there. Then one day the Lord brought me (via Google “nearest to me”) to Lumen Christi. I attended Mass as a visitor. I was struck by the vibrant faith community here. My eyes and ears opened at Mass. I kept coming back. One Sunday Father Matthew gave a homily about asking Jesus for help to “move that rock.” I prayed for that help and to be worthy. The response to my prayer was astonishing. The Lord answered in a big way. The next day I contacted Meaghan to enroll in RCIA.
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Katharine Elsbree
What are you most looking forward to after being received into the Church at Easter Vigil?
I am most excited about receiving the Eucharist and sharing in it alongside my family!
What advice do you have for someone who has considered becoming Catholic?
I wasn’t sure what RCIA entailed, just that I knew I had to do it to become Catholic officially. I would tell others that it is study that can draw you closer to God and the Church, answer any questions you have, provide individualized support, and allow you to explore and deepen your faith. I would recommended trying it for sure.
Going through RCIA is something I’ve wanted to do for 17 years so it is quite an “accomplishment” for me!! I am so happy to have finally done it. I will be proud to call myself Catholic.
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Jennifer Melcher
What has been one of the most impactful things you have learned during your formation?
To be honest, each class and every topic discussed during formation was impactful. I left each session feeling a little closer to God, but with more questions and curiosity. If I had to pick one, it would be that there is NO wrong way to pray. There are many ways to pray and to pray to those who you feel most close to at that time or need.
What advice do you have for someone who has considered becoming Catholic?
“You don’t know, what you don’t know” is something that Meagan Turner told me when I first started going to RCIA classes. I felt a little lost as I didn’t know what questions to ask, and I didn’t want to look silly. I will tell you, there are no right or wrong questions, and you will have support through the RCIA process.
If you are considering becoming Catholic, ask yourself, what barriers are keeping me from becoming Catholic? Reach out and speak with someone at the church and start attending Mass. Thinking about it or considering it is the first step in your journey.
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Bennita Ryan
Bennita wanted to go through RCIA because she desired to join her children and husband in their Catholic faith. While she has attended Church regularly over the past 30+ years with her family, as we have all aged, and changed, she wanted to become more involved in the Church, to understand, and relearn, more about the Catholic faith, to engage more in meeting the kind people that make up Lumen Christi, and helping and engaging with people in any way she can.
For Bennita and her husband, they feel very blessed to be part of the loving Lumen Christi faith community, and experience that blessing every time they attend mass or any Church related event.
Going through RCIA, both Bennita and her husband truly enjoyed meeting, learning from and engaging with all the different people that participated in the RCIA process.
All Easters are special, but this one will be a little bit more special.
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For more information, contact us!
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Meaghan Turnerturnermlumenchristiparish.orgDirector of Catholic Formation
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