Learning
About the Catholic Faith
Welcome! We are glad that you are interested in
finding out more about the Catholic Faith and we
hope that this introduction will lead you to discover
more.
How do I find out about Catholicism?
What if I think that I want to
become Catholic?
What does initiation into
the Catholic Church entail?
How long does it take to become
a Catholic?
What if I change my mind?
How do I find a Catholic parish
near me?
What else can I do?
How do I find out
about Catholicism?
One of the best ways is to contact a Catholic parish near you to let them know
that you are interested in finding out more about the Catholic Faith. (See How
do I find a Catholic parish near me? below) You will be invited to join
with others like yourself as you inquire into what "being Catholic" is
all about: who we are, what we believe, how we live our lives, how we pray,
and more.
If you are interested in reading about Catholicism,
there are a number of excellent resources available.
One extensive compendium
of Catholic beliefs is the Catechism
of the Catholic Church, which you can explore online or order from your favorite bookstore.
What if
I think that I want to become Catholic?
We believe that God calls individuals to live the Good News Jesus proclaimed
and to become his disciples as members of the Catholic Church. If you want
to become Catholic, you will participate in a process called the Rite of Christian
Initiation of Adults (sometimes called RCIA or simply Christian initiation.)
Adults or children who have reached the age of reason (about 7 years old) learn
about the teachings of Jesus as the Catholic Church has handed them on and
put these teachings into practice by living as part of the Catholic community,
serving others and praying.
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What does initiation
into the Catholic Church entail?
If you have not been baptized, the Christian initiation process prepares you
to become a Catholic Christian by celebrating what we call the sacraments of
Christian initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist or Holy Communion.
If you have been baptized in another Christian tradition,
the initiation process prepares you to enter into
full communion with the Catholic Church by celebrating
the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist or Holy
Communion.
How long does it take
to become a Catholic?
Becoming Catholic is a life-long commitment. However, the Christian initiation
process typically lasts for several months or longer in order to prepare to
take this step. Participants
in the initiation process generally
meet once or twice each week, including part of the Mass on Sunday, but each
parish initiation schedule varies. The initiation of individuals who are ready
to become new members of the Catholic Church may take
place at Easter (in March or April) or at other times throughout the year.
What if I change my
mind?
You do not make any commitment or obligation by inquiring about Catholicism
or beginning the Christian initiation process. We want you to take the time
you need as you think about becoming Catholic and we respect your decision
to stop or to say, "not right now" at any time. While we love being
Catholic and hope that others will want to become Catholic also, we do not
exert pressure on anyone to do so. Our hope would be that at the very least,
you would come to a greater appreciation of Catholic beliefs and practices.
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How do I find a Catholic
parish near my home or work?
Click on the appropriate link below:
Washington, DC
Maryland:
Montgomery County
Prince George's County
Calvert County
Charles County
St. Mary’s County
To speak with someone at a specific parish located in the above areas about about the RCIA process, click
here.
Baltimore/Western Maryland: Archdiocese
of Baltimore
Eastern Shore, Maryland: Diocese of Wilmington
Northern Virginia: Diocese
of Arlington
If you live in another part of
the United States, visit Masstimes.org to
find parishes and contact information or find the
diocese near you on this map.
What else can I do?
We are glad that you have visited this site and we hope that we have given
you information to help you find out more about the Catholic faith. If you
wish, you could say the following prayer:
God, help me to be see your presence
and hear your voice in the world around me. Guide me on my journey
and lead me to you. Amen.
For more information about Christian initiation,
contact us.
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