“You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy people; praise God who called you out of Darkness and into His marvelous light.”
1 Peter 2: 9
Becoming Catholic
Becoming Catholic is one of life’s most profound and joyous experiences. Some are blessed to receive this great gift while they are infants, and over time, they recognize the enormous grace that has been bestowed on them. Others enter the Catholic fold when they are older children or adults. This tract examines the joyful process by which one becomes a Catholic.
A person is brought into full communion with the Catholic Church through reception of the three sacraments of Christian initiation—Baptism, Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist—but the process by which one becomes a Catholic can take different forms.
A person who is baptized in the Catholic Church becomes a Catholic at that moment. One’s initiation is deepened by Confirmation and the Eucharist. This is true for children who are baptized Catholic (and receive the other two sacraments later) and for adults who are Baptized, Confirmed and receive the Eucharist at the same time.
Those who have been validly baptized outside the Church become Catholics by making a profession of the Catholic faith and being formally received into the Church. This is normally followed immediately by Confirmation and the Eucharist.
Before a person is ready to be received into the Church, whether by Baptism or by profession of faith, preparation is necessary. The amount and form of this preparation depends on the individual’s circumstance. The most basic division in the kind of preparation needed is between those who are unbaptized and those who have already become Christian through Baptism in another church.
For children who have reached the age of reason (age 7), entrance into the Church is governed by the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (formerly Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults ) adapted for children.
Become Catholic at Sacred Heart of Jesus
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults is an extraordinary journey of faith for adults who are considering joining the Catholic Church. You might be from another faith, no faith at all, baptized, unbaptized, a Catholic with minimal or no religious upbringing, or an adult Catholic seeking to receive the sacrament of Confirmation. All are welcome here at Sacred Heart of Jesus!
People inquire about becoming Catholic for many different reasons. Phase one of the journey starts in the heart of the seeker and continues in a small inquiry group where questions are raised and discussed freely. We call it a process because, like any faith journey, each one’s pace is unique. The general process that the Catholic Church uses to initiate adults is based on the same process that the early Christians used during early centuries of Christianity. Full initiation takes place with the reception of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion.
If you choose to enter the Church, reception of the Sacraments of Initiation takes place during the Easter Vigil Mass. We meet from 6-8 p.m. weekly in the parish center for lively discussion and attend Sunday Mass together to break open the Word. Meetings begin in September. Contact Henry Schliff, religious education coordinator, for more information: 303.442.6158 or schliffh@shjboulder.org.
If you would like your child (age 7 or older) to be baptized, there is a special process similar to the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults but adapted for children. Please call or email Henry Schliff for more information.
God has called people by name to come together on a journey of faith.
The Catholic Church
From time to time it’s important to remind ourselves of the basic questions at the heart of our faith. Whether you’re a longtime Catholic or someone looking to learn more about the Catholic faith, we think you will find the quick videos below informative and inspiring.
