Becoming a Catholic

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)

Anyone who wishes to learn more about the Catholic Faith or who wishes to become a Catholic is welcome to join the Local Pastoral Area RCIA group which meets on a regular basis from September until May.

The group consists of lay people from the Local Pastoral Area (LPA) parishes who lead the sessions and are joined occasionally by priests from the LPA churches who help to deepen our understanding of the scriptures and of various Church teachings.

We follow a semi-structured set of sessions on various topics based around scripture and the beliefs of the Catholic Church. There is time for discussion of ideas, reflection on how our faith shapes our Christian lives, and time for prayer. The content of the sessions can be tailored to the needs of the group depending on the level of their knowledge at the start of the process.

The first step is to become an inquirer and to have a sponsor who can support you on your faith journey, preferably at the church where you attend Mass. When the inquirer feels ready, then they progress on to the formation stage to learn more and get ready to be received into the Church at the Easter Vigil service.

If you are interested in becoming a Catholic, please see the Parish Coordinator or a member of the RCIA group