Thank you for stopping by this part of the website to learn more about how to become a Catholic Christian. No doubt God has already been at work in your life, drawing you closer to himself and his Church. If you would like more information, please call 651.228.1766.
Sometimes people will inquire about the RCIA/Becoming Catholic process when it is still a long time before the next RCIA year begins (in September). This is not a bad thing--and it reminds us that Jesus is not confined to our timetable. While RCIA is still the best and correct way of investigating the Catholic faith and moving toward becoming a Catholic, there are a number of things a person can do prior to RCIA to honor Christ's call and to help enrich the journey of RCIA:
Step One: If prayer is new to you, start by saying a simple prayer like "Jesus, I want to know and love you more." each moring when you wake up. Gradually, add more content. Simply speak to God from your heart.
Step Two: Begin incorporating some basic prayers of the Church into your daily routine, like the Lord's Prayer, the Glory Be (Doxology), and, if you are comfortable with it, the Hail Mary. For some common Catholic Prayers, click here. Don't just say them, pray them!
Step Three: For those more familiar with Christian prayer, you may want to explore the Liturgy of the Hours, which are the daily prayers of the Church (click here). You could also familiarize yourself with and begin praying the Rosary (click here).
Step One: If you haven't read the Bible before, start with one of the Gospels--Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John--which are accounts of Jesus' earthly life.
Step Two: After you've become familiar with the Gospels, we would suggest reading Genesis (the first book of the Bible) and Romans.
Step Three: If you've read the Gospels, Genesis, and Romans, it's time to get yourself a Catholic Bible and begin familiarizing yourself with the different books. A recent, great offering is the Catholic Study Bible from Ignatius Press (click here).