Interested in Becoming Catholic?

If you have questions about Catholicism and are considering becoming Catholic, you can start by entering the "Inquiry" phase. This is a time for you to ask questions and learn more about the Church. We invite you to bring your questions and engage in conversations about what it means to live the Christian life in the Catholic tradition.

The length of each phase, including the Inquiry phase, varies for each person, depending on when they feel ready to move forward in the process.

To move to the next phase of the Catechumenal Process, participants participate in the Rite of Acceptance or the Rite of Welcoming.

After the Inquiry phase, you enter the "Catechumenate" and, if you are unbaptized, you are called a "catechumen." The Catechumenate is a time of deeper spiritual formation, faith development, prayer, and reflection. During this phase, you will also become more involved with the parish community.

As a catechumen, you will be assigned a sponsor—a member of the parish who will accompany and support you throughout your journey.

This is the longest phase of the process, focused on learning and growing in the Catholic faith. You will explore the teachings, traditions, and doctrines of the Church, share personal stories, read scripture, and study the customs and rituals of Catholic worship. You will also participate in the Rite of Election or the Call to Continuing Conversion and various Church practices as part of your spiritual formation.

The goal of the Catechumenate phase is to prepare you for full reception into the Catholic Church, including the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist, which take place at the Easter Vigil (the night before Easter Sunday).

After receiving the sacraments, you enter the "Mystagogy" phase, where your journey continues as you deepen your understanding of the faith and grow in communion with the Church. During this phase, you continue to receive the sacraments and the graces of the Church, while also becoming more actively involved in the parish community.

You will still be accompanied by your sponsor, and this phase focuses on deepening your relationship with Christ and the Church. Mystagogy is a time for reflection, celebration, and participation in the life of the Church after your formal initiation.

The word "mystagogy" means "leading into the mystery," and during this time, you will explore the deeper mysteries of the Catholic faith. It is also a time to reflect on your new identity as a member of the Church and to begin living out your calling to help build God's Kingdom on Earth.