What is your situation?
People are interested in the Catholic Church for a variety of reasons. You may be engaged or married to a Catholic, you may belong to another Christian church, you may have already been baptized, you may practice a non-Christian religion, or you may have no religion at all. You may be seeking answers to some personal and important questions. Perhaps you are burdened by guilt and want sacramental absolution. Perhaps you find Protestant churches too liberal and are looking for a more solid apostolic and biblical foundation for your faith. Or perhaps you are interested in culture, church art, and history. Each person knows best why they are drawn to the Catholic Church.
What does the Catholic Church proclaim about itself?
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that the Church is a visible community founded by Jesus Christ for the salvation of all people. The Church was built on the foundation laid by Jesus’ first disciples, the apostles. It has lived and grown throughout the centuries under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is God’s will that every person should have the opportunity to encounter Christ’s saving message in their lives. Therefore, the Catholic Church is at heart a missionary organization that constantly seeks and encourages people to become Catholics. Every person can take this step if they wish.
How do I get started?
Personal contact is often a better option than reading pamphlets: the first thing you should do is talk to a Catholic priest in person. He will tell you what it takes for you to become a Catholic. You can talk to him about your life and background in confidence. You can contact the priest at any time, such as in person after Mass. You can also use the telephone or email.
What if I am not sure about something… or anything?
You can discuss these matters privately with a priest. You have the opportunity to ask questions about everything related to the Church’s teaching, you can share your doubts and problems, and if you wish, you can talk about your own life history.
How does the learning process begin… and end?
It is highly recommended that you acquire the Bible and the Catechism of the Church. The teaching before joining the Church is given by priests through one-on-one discussions. The parish also organizes information courses and lectures on the Catholic faith. This is an important time and it is not worth rushing. The aim of the teaching is to grow in faith until the future member of the Church believes and confesses everything that the Holy Catholic Church believes, teaches and proclaims as the revealed truth of God.
However, the most important thing is regular participation in Holy Mass and prayer. The intention is that personal prayer gradually becomes part of the prayer of the whole Church and the Eucharistic sacrifice of the Mass. Before joining the Church, a prospective Catholic should feel genuine spiritual joy and peace that he or she has found his or her spiritual home, guided by God.
A question about baptism and other sacraments
If you have not been baptized, when you become a Catholic you will be baptized and confirmed as a member of the Church. If you have been baptized in another Christian church whose baptism is accepted by the Catholic Church, the Catholic community considers your baptism valid. According to Church doctrine, you cannot be baptized again, so you will be confirmed as a member by confirmation and be admitted into full communion with the Catholic Church. Before joining the Church, you must participate in the sacrament of penance, or confession. (You can find more information about the sacraments here)
Where can I get support?
In addition to the local church, those who join the Church are supported by a church member as a sponsor, or godparent. Both those who join the Church through baptism and those who join it through confirmation need godparents. When you become a Catholic, you are not only taking an important step in your own life, but you also become part of a larger family in your local church and the worldwide Catholic Church.
Living as a Catholic is not always easy, but challenging, just like the gospel itself. God meets us in many different ways in our lives, and personal contact with other Christians is a good way to grow spiritually. As your faith grows, you will become a true person who radiates the light of Christ.
What about the future?
Your journey as a Catholic really begins with the sacrament of Confirmation. As Catholics, we should pray every day, attend Mass every Sunday and on certain holy days, live the rhythm of the church year and Lent, receive the sacraments, and live a life of Christian mercy toward our neighbors. Christ has called us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him. You are unique to God. He wants only the best for you and will lead you to himself. As you consider how to become a Catholic, try to be open to God’s will. Make your decisions with your own salvation in mind and, above all, the glory of God in mind.