How to Become Catholic?

Answer 1

Becoming a Catholic, while a weighty decision, is easy in practice, although it will take time. It's easy to take your first step into joining the oldest Christian institution in the world. Take heart! Converts to Catholicism are among the strongest in their faith in all of Christianity.
Steps

1.
Enlarge
Read the Bible often, and pray often.
2. Find a local Catholic church. It's not too hard - just look under the yellow pages of the phone book under "Churches." Alternatively, the website Mass Times allows you to search for churches based on parameters such city, zip code, phone number, or country.
3. Look into the traditions and teachings of the Church, and see how Catholics defend them. It is important to know WHY you are converting.
4. Attend a Mass or two, preferably with a Catholic friend who can explain when to do things and what they mean. Don't let a particular mass or church influence your decision. Most churches have had a fair amount of variation in services. There are often "teen masses" or "guitar masses" as well as languages corresponding to the local minority community. Additionally, your enjoyment of the sermon may depend on the priest who is celebrating that particular mass.
5. Once you find a church you like, contact the Parish Office and inform them of your desire to convert. There are generally group classes for all people wishing to convert within a period, giving you a social framework for assimilating the experience.
6. You will be asked to talk to a priest or deacon, or perhaps to a layperson who is experienced in the conversion process. He will ask you why you wish to become Catholic and in general, talk to you to be sure you are sincere in your desire and are aware of the conditions of being Catholic.
7. If you continue on in the process, you'll start taking Catholic education classes, also known as RCIA or Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. You will learn the history of the Church, the beliefs and values of the Catholic Church, and the proper order of celebration of Mass. During this stage, many classes have you attending Mass for only part of the time, leaving before communion, as you may not receive Eucharist until you have entered the Church.
8. If you're lucky enough to become Catholic around Easter, you'll get to be baptized (if you haven't been baptized before), receive your first communion, and be confirmed at the Easter Vigil, the special Mass held the evening before Easter Sunday (your first reconciliation will be held sometime before).


Tips

* If you have been baptized before into a church recognized by Catholics as a Christian one (Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses are examples of those not considered Christians by the Church), your baptism is valid and you do not have to be baptized again. If you have not been baptized, or been baptized into a non-Christian Church you will be baptized in a Catholic Church.
* Many missals have the order of Mass with responses and times to sit, stand, or kneel in the front or back.
* The Catholic Church is often identified with guilt and strict rules. After attending a few masses and befriending a few Catholics, you will find this to be an unfair characterization.
* Typically, Catholic churches do a good deal of community service, such as homeless feedings or spending time with the elderly or orphaned. This usually represents the bulk of the Church's social events and is a great way to meet fellow Catholics while performing a valuable service to the community.
* If you find a part of the mass or the Catholic tradition unfamiliar or difficult to understand, ask a priest about it or consult a catechism.
* This page on conversion has some helpful links.


Warnings

* There are many common misconceptions about the Church which may cause you to look away without giving them a closer look. Find a well-versed Catholic friend, and he or she will probably be able to give you an answer. Alternatively, websites such as Catholic Answers have articles and forums for your questions.
* Until you are a member of the Catholic Church, you are not allowed to receive the Eucharist. It is unlikely that any action will be taken against you, but the Church asks you to respect its traditions. The Eucharist is the actual body and blood of Christ, no longer just bread and wine. Remember that Paul says that, "Therefore whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink the chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and of the blood of the Lord. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord." (1 Corinthians 11:27,29).
o Instead of receiving The Eucharist, those who have not received their First Communion may go in the line where people are receiving the Eucharist but when they reach the altar cross their arms in front of their chest with their palms against their shoulders. This indicates to the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion that you wish to receive a blessing instead.
* The Catholic Church is an establishment that has spanned millenia, it bears a large amount of rite and tradition. If you are not absolutely certain that you want to be a part of this, hold off on the final steps until you truly believe. There are several excellent books on the market regarding other people's conversion journeys. Purchasing and reading these will be quite helpful.
* Above all, do not convert for someone else. Only convert if it is truly what you believe.

Answer 2

First off, Catholics ARE Christians. If you knew your history of Christianity, you would know this.Catholics were the FIRST Christians, and we are the only denomination actually founded by Christ, as well as the only denomination for whom ALL rites and traditions come from the Bible. What you mean is "Do more Catholics become Protestant or do more Protestants become Catholic?" My husband and I are both examples of Protestants who eventually became Catholic (though we went a round-about way about it, going through Paganism, first!) The fact is that, despite what you've witnessed, more Protestants end up becoming Catholic. Why? Various reasons. I grew up in a Baptist church and fell away because I wasn't getting answers to my questions. Aside from that, I felt I needed LESS organization and tradition. What I needed was MORE. The Catholic Church gave me that, and answered my questions to my satisfaction. Usually, a Catholic becomes Protestant because they are poorly catechised and don't fully understand their own faith. They might be invited to church by a Protestant friend, and they don't see anything wrong with it. For a while, they go to both Mass and the Protestant service. These are Catholics who aren't reading the Bibles for themselves, only listening to the anti-Catholic rhetoric spewed by these Protestant ministers and believing whatever they say. By the time they go to see the priest, if they ever do, to ask questions about what they're hearing in the Protestant Bible study group or at the Protestant church, it's too late. They're already closed to whatever the priest has to say. On the other hand, Protestants who actually read the Bible for themselves and actually ASK questions and actually take the time to learn the facts and the truth about what Christ taught and how that's exactly what the Catholic Church teaches end up converting to Catholicism. Fortunately, these numbers are just slightly higher than the numbers of Catholics who are falling away. In my city alone, for every Protestant brought into the fold each year, we have 5 or 6 new Catholics, and this is in a town with heavy anti-Catholic sentiment and close to 10 times more Protestant churches than Catholic churches. So what does that tell you?

Answer 3

You can get a hold of the local diocese in the area or you may speak to a parish priest. You will likely enrol into a RCIA program at a minimal charge 20-30$. This program will last roughly 6 mths and will inform you on the catholic faith. Having just completed this program bringing my wife and two children I found it to be fantastic. All are now Baptized, confirmed and received first communion ( Holy Eucharist). You will need someone to sponsor you which there will be someone willing to do this. I was my wife's sponsor as I am Catholic

Answer 4

Hiya, find your local parish. The church closest to you. Visit a few times. Find out if it feeds your soul.

Not all churches are created equal. The church right across the street from me is lacking. So I travel a bit to go to a church that really rocks my world.

When you find you've settled in, register with the parish and explain that you need RCIA. The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults.
http://www.ecatholic2000.com/rcia/rcia.shtml

They will handle everything for you.

You know, you gain great merits by just attending mass. Even if you are unable to take communion.

You can say this prayer. The Act of Spiritual Communion:

My Jesus, I believe that You are in the Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I long for You in my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though You have already come, I embrace You and unite myself entirely to You; never permit me to be separated from You.

Also, while searching for your parish, when everyone else gets up for communion, you should get up too. When you approach the priest, cross your arms over your chest and bow your head. The priest will give you a blessing.

Magnificat is an excellent little publication with prayers, meditations and daily mass.
http://www.magnificat.net/us/indexus.htm

Answer 5

If you are interested in joining or just learning more about the Catholic Church, contact your local parish and ask about information about their RCIA Inquiry group.

You can go and ask any questions you want.

This is the first step in RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) but you can stop at any time.

There is no obligation to become a Catholic.

With love and prayers in Christ.

Answer 6

"Curious about the Catholic Church?
Ordinarily, people come into the Catholic Church through the process of RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults). Classes take place at your local parish and usually begin around the first of September."

Answer 7

Becoming a Catholic, while a weighty decision, is easy in practice, although it will take time. It's easy to take your first step into joining the oldest Christian institution in the world. Take heart! Converts to Catholicism are among the strongest in their faith in all of Christianity.

Steps
Read the Bible often, and pray often.
Find a local Catholic church. It's not too hard - just look under the yellow pages of the phone book under "Churches." Alternatively, the website Mass Times allows you to search for churches based on parameters such city, zip code, phone number, or country.
Look into the traditions and teachings of the Church, and see how Catholics defend them. It is important to know WHY you are converting.
Attend a Mass or two, preferably with a Catholic friend who can explain when to do things and what they mean. Don't let a particular mass or church influence your decision. Most churches have had a fair amount of variation in services. There are often "teen masses" or "guitar masses" as well as languages corresponding to the local minority community. Additionally, your enjoyment of the sermon may depend on the priest who is celebrating that particular mass.
Once you find a church you like, contact the Parish Office and inform them of your desire to convert. There are generally group classes for all people wishing to convert within a period, giving you a social framework for assimilating the experience.
You will be asked to talk to a priest or deacon, or perhaps to a layperson who is experienced in the conversion process. He will ask you why you wish to become Catholic and in general, talk to you to be sure you are sincere in your desire and are aware of the conditions of being Catholic.
If you continue on in the process, you'll start taking Catholic education classes, also known as RCIA or Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. You will learn the history of the Church, the beliefs and values of the Catholic Church, and the proper order of celebration of Mass. During this stage, many classes have you attending Mass for only part of the time, leaving before communion, as you may not receive Eucharist until you have entered the Church.
If you're lucky enough to become Catholic around Easter, you'll get to be baptized (if you haven't been baptized before), receive your first communion, and be confirmed at the Easter Vigil, the special Mass held the evening before Easter Sunday (your first reconciliation will be held sometime before).



Tips
If you have been baptized before into a church recognized by Catholics as a Christian one (Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses are examples of those not considered Christians by the Church), your baptism is valid and you do not have to be baptized again. If you have not been baptized, or been baptized into a non-Christian Church you will be baptized in a Catholic Church.
Many missals have the order of Mass with responses and times to sit, stand, or kneel in the front or back.
The Catholic Church is often identified with guilt and strict rules. After attending a few masses and befriending a few Catholics, you will find this to be an unfair characterization.
Typically, Catholic churches do a good deal of community service, such as homeless feedings or spending time with the elderly or orphaned. This usually represents the bulk of the Church's social events and is a great way to meet fellow Catholics while performing a valuable service to the community.
If you find a part of the mass or the Catholic tradition unfamiliar or difficult to understand, ask a priest about it or consult a catechism.
This page on conversion has some helpful links.



Warnings
There are many common misconceptions about the Church which may cause you to look away without giving them a closer look. Find a well-versed Catholic friend, and he or she will probably be able to give you an answer. Alternatively, websites such as Catholic Answers have articles and forums for your questions.
Until you are a member of the Catholic Church, you are not allowed to receive the Eucharist. It is unlikely that any action will be taken against you, but the Church asks you to respect its traditions. The Eucharist is the actual body and blood of Christ, no longer just bread and wine. Remember that Paul says that, "Therefore whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink the chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and of the blood of the Lord. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord." (1 Corinthians 11:27,29).
Instead of receiving The Eucharist, those who have not received their First Communion may go in the line where people are receiving the Eucharist but when they reach the altar cross their arms in front of their chest with their palms against their shoulders. This indicates to the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion that you wish to receive a blessing instead.
The Catholic Church is an establishment that has spanned millenia, it bears a large amount of rite and tradition. If you are not absolutely certain that you want to be a part of this, hold off on the final steps until you truly believe. There are several excellent books on the market regarding other people's conversion journeys. Purchasing and reading these will be quite helpful.
Above all, do not convert for someone else. Only convert if it is truly what you believe

Answer 8

I teach RCIA. This is what you should do.

Go to your closest or prefered parish and enroll in RCIA
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.

It lasts about a year, during which you will learn extensively about the faith from GOD 101 to the seven sacraments, scripture, church history, theology, morality, etc. is pretty cool. At the end of this preparation if you have been already baptized in a different denomination, you are considered a candicate and all you will do is your proffesion of faith, receive confirmation and first holy comunion. If you are not baptized you are called a catechumen and you will receive all three sacraments in one night:The easter vigil.VERY POWERFUL. It is a very beautiful experience that will lighten your path all your life. I have seen tears of joy run down my student's faces when they feel the water runninng down on their heads. it is a profound and lasting conversion experience.

God bless you and give you light on your path to Him

Answer 9

Give up all of your free will to a catholic priest and keep your kids close.

Answer 10

Go to a Catholic Church and talk to the priest. He should be able to help you with that.