To Become Catholic.?

Question

As a child i was never bapized but always attended church with my family. Recently i have had a growing interest in the Catholic Church after spending time there with my girlfriend and her family.

I have decided to enter the RCIA program at a local Catholic Church because now that i am old enough to see how important it is to do so...and to my surprise i have a strong excitment about it as well. These are my questions

1) If i am baptized in a Christian church does that oucnt in the Catholic faith?

2) Before i enter the RCIA if I study the Catholic faith in great detail could that speed my process though RCIA? (Not in a rush but i read that someones was a part of it for 3 years....I know that everything happens when a person is ready but is it possible to complete the program quicker?

#) One of but not the main reason why i want to convert is so that when i have kids i want them to grow up in the Catholic faith..Is this a good reason to give the priest as well?

Thank You.

Answer 1

1. You said you were never baptized.

Like all Sacraments (the other 6 being Eucharist, Confession, Confirmation, Holy Orders, Matrimony, and Unction), Baptism is not a work of man; it is a work of Christ, an act of His grace.

Baptism leaves an indelible mark on the soul, so one may be baptized only once.

Ephesians 4:4-6
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

It is through Baptism that we are "born again" (or "born from above") of "water and of the Spirit" (John 3:3-5).
Despite what some Protestants believe, being "born again" doesn't mean "having an emotional high" or "making a decision for Christ," though these are fine and good, the latter being necessary after the age of reason; being "born again" very clearly refers to Baptism of water and of the Spirit. This regeneration of water and Spirit is necessary to enter the Kingdom of God.

There is only one Baptism, therefore the Sacrament may be received only once.

2. RCIA - The four steps in the RCIA process and the Rites celebrating landmarks in the journey. Google RCIA and search for answers.

3. If you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ but have not been baptized, be baptized as soon as possible, and have your children baptized, too!

Answer 2

A baptism performed in another Christian faith is accepted
as long as it is in Trinitarian format. If it is not in the name of
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, then it is invalid.

I am a teacher in the RCIA program and the average person
spends around 9 months in the classes. Generally they will
begin the classes in September and those who choose to
join the Catholic Church do so at the Easter Vigil Mass. We have many people come back to classes for another month or so after joining the Church and then have a closing ceremony. However, it is not required that you come back for this extra month.

This process is not accomplished more swiftly by studying more on your own. There will be people coming into your RCIA class who are all on different levels, both spiritually, and in their knowledge of the Catholic faith. Some will know a great deal and some will need to learn even the most basic details. However, you are all on the same journey together, supporting and encouraging each other, and growing together in faith. Everyone whose journey brings them into the Catholic faith will take that step together, at the same time, within the same Mass. It's not meant to be something you do alone, but in unity with others that you will become one with in the Eucharist.

Basically, there is much more to the RCIA program than just gaining knowledge. Your being accepted into the Church will not be based on how much knowledge you have or how much theology you understand.

Of course it's a wonderful thing to want your kids to grow up in the faith. However, it's quite another thing to join the faith yourself. What is the main reason that YOU want to be Catholic? Do you believe in what the Church teaches? Do you want to fully follow Christ, belong to His church on earth, and receive Him in the eucharist?

I don't doubt that you believe and that you want these things. I'm just advising you to examine your life and what you want for your own self. There must be some good reasons that you want your kids to be Catholic, and that you want to join the Church yourself.

I pray that God will guide you, give you wisdom and increase your faith. Many blessings to you while on your journey, and hopefully soon I will be able to say to you, "Welcome Home."

Answer 3

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 4

1) if baptized in a non catholic church the baptism is still seen as valid, as a result of vatican 2 the church declared that it is baptism that enters one into a reltionship with jesus christ and therefore protestant baptism is considered sufficient.

2) the class should take roughly 6 weeks with a class every month lasting roughly 1-2 hours. studying the faith prior to during and after will beneficial but won't result in completing the course any faster. this is the norm for most parishes, your priest will instruct you further.

3) this is a beautiful reason but you will not be required to say to the priest why you decided to take the "journey home". it may come up and i feel it is a good reason, it shows a realization on your part of the glory and truth found in the catholic church, which you would like to pass on to your children should you be so blessed.

here are some sites you may enjoy in your study
www.scripturecatholic.com
www.fisheaters.com
www.askmeaboutgod.org
www.catholiceducation.org
www.salvationhistory.com


hope this helps and god bless. welcome home.

Answer 5

1) Yes, the Catholic Church recognizes the baptism of anyone who was baptized with water and the words, "[Name], I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

2) Yes, RCIA is a time of faith development. If your faith is already deep then little more needs to be developed.

3) Yes, but the best reason is because you want to become a Catholic.

With love and prayers in Christ.

Answer 6

1)yes, if it is in water in the name of Father,Son and Holy Spirit(or Ghost) and by a recognized Christian Church(not the LDS Mormons or Unitarians). Get a record form the church you were baptised in.

2) Most parish RCIA programs run for 8 months or less.
Read as much as you can especially the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Compendium of CCC. Watch EWTN. Ask your pastor what books to read. Most candidates are received into the Church,confirmed and communed at the Easter Vigil.

3)Yes

Answer 7

I converted to the Church in May of 2005. Our classes lasted from September to Easter. I was having problems attending and worked out a seperate study with the RCIA director and Fr in our parish. They were very helpful and kind to me. Remember, they WANT to help you become a part of God's Church, but they want to be sure you know the faith fully before you commit.

Answer 8

Iam in the RCIA program right now as we speak(summer vacation will start again in September and be baptized at Easter 2008) My RCIA class is running long because I started in December so in actuality I will 1 1/2 years of study. But normally it just goes from September to Easter. At which time if you have not been baptized ,you will be, you will also be confirmed and be able to partake of the Eucharist. If you have any questions please feel free to email me.

Answer 9

Yes all very good! I don't think if you study hard you can be admitted sooner because they expect the excitement that makes people study hard anyway but, if you were validly baptized in another Christian Church and have proof then you do not have to be re baptized. If there is a question about your baptism they will probably do a conditional baptism just in case when they give you your first Communion and Confirmation

Answer 10

1) while it would, you said you weren't baptized.
2) studyin will help with the RCIA process - doesn't have to take 3 years at all - but will also help you grow in your own faith
3) you need to convert for yourself. while wanting to have children and raise them Catholic, there is a lot more then just sending the kids to learn too - it's a full on lifestyle. something i believe you and your GF can use to grow you relationship to one of solidity!

May our Lord bless you in your learning and your faith!!!