Becoming a Catholic (RCIA)

Each year we welcome a number of people who want to become Catholics. There is a programme, known as RCIA, which is a journey of faith exploration and prayer leading to baptism at Easter.

Some who join the programme come from a background of no religious belief. Others come from different religions. And some will come from other Christian denominations and who are seeking to join the Catholic Church. All are welcome.

RCIA stands for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. This is an ancient pathway, consisting of personal prayer and reflection; discussion, exploration and instruction along with others following the same journey; and ritual acts of commitment along the way. Those following the RCIA journey as known as catechumens and are accompanied by experienced Catholics who work as an RCIA team.

Our RCIA programme begins in October each year. The group meets every fortnight for an hour or so. Between October and Christmas the focus is on encounter with Jesus Christ in the gospels. At the beginning of this time, there is the Rite of Becoming Catechumens when each person is signed with the cross at the start of their journey and given a copy of the gospels which they will use in their personal prayer and in group reflection.

Ahead of the formal start of our RCIA programme, there are monthly sessions in June-September which help deepen prayer and focus reflection.

Between Christmas and Easter, the focus is on God the Father and the journey of the People of God as told in the Old Testament. At the beginning of Lent, the catechumens are invited to the Cathedral to be enrolled in the book of names of those to be baptised or received into the Catholic Church at Easter.

At the Easter Vigil, the highlight of the Christian year, the catechumens are baptised, confirmed and join in the eucharist for the first time. Those who are already Christians, baptised into other Christian churches, are received into the Catholic Church, are confirmed and join us for the first time in the eucharist.

If you feel God is calling you to become a Catholic, please contact Andrew Cassidy, Pastoral Associate, at the church office. If you’re not sure and would just like to talk things over, please get in touch too.