A Strong Start in the Faith

Have you been worshiping with us, but never officially took the step to become Catholic?

Have you been away from the church … and have now returned, but want to know more?

Have you been a Catholic all your life, but never celebrated all of the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist)?

Have you joined us from a different background and would now like to find out more about the Catholic Church?

Whether your are just thinking of joining the Roman Catholic Church or maybe you’re just wanting to develop your faith in God the obvious question is: Where do I start?

Where do you begin?

Well, you just begin from where you are now! God meets you where you are.

Many adults entering the Catholic Church, or those just thinking about it, follow a process known as the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults.

The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults process has several distinct stages. These Catholic Order of Christian Initiation of Adults stages are a good model of faith development itself, so this information will fit you whether or not you're actually in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults process.

• Inquiry: the initial period before you decide to enter the Catholic Church. You're asking questions and checking it out, but aren't yet ready to commit.
• Catechumenate: those who decide to enter the Church and are being trained for a life in Christ are called catechumens, an ancient name from the early Church. In this stage, you're developing your faith and are being "catechized" — learning the basic points about Catholic faith and life.
• Purification and preparation: The Church will help you focus and intensify your faith as you prepare you to commit your life to Christ and be received into the Church at Easter. If you're following the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults process, you'll go through a beautiful series of Gospel-based meditations during Lent, which is the time frame of this period.
• Initiation itself, the culmination of the whole process! You're received into the Church during the Easter Vigil Mass, where you'll receive the sacraments of initiation: baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist. (If you've already been baptized, you won't be baptized again.)
• Mystagogy: after reception into the Church at Easter, this period lets you reflect and learn more about the mysteries of the Mass and the Sacraments that you now participate in fully.

Laying a strong foundation

Faith will be the foundation of your life. Make that foundation solid!

Go slowly, make sure you've developed the basics well. That will help you avoid discouragement and frustration, two big enemies of faith development.

Make sure that you're satisfied with your own faith development in each of the Catholic Order of Christian Initiation of Adults stages before moving on to the next. Don't let pressure from anyone else make you move on. Also watch out for calendar-based pressure — don't say things like, "If I don't start now, I won't be done this Easter!" That's the wrong basis for making a decision about your faith and your life!

Order of Christian Initiation of Adults stage 1: Just Looking

In the inquiry stage, you're just finding out about Jesus, Christianity, and the Catholic Church.

Your main task here is to explore and develop your faith enough so you can make an informed initial decision about entering the Catholic Church. The final decision won't come for a long time, when you actually enter the Church at Easter and receive the sacraments of initiation.

Even if you're past the inquirer stage, you should participate in this section to make sure you've covered the right ground. You'll need to rely on that foundation later!

Order of Christian Initiation of Adults stage 2: Learning about the Faith

In the catechumenate, your faith has begun to develop. Now you need to learn and grow more. You focus on catechesis in this stage: learning about the faith, how to live as a Christian, and developing your interior life.

Your job now is to come into closer contact with the Living God and learn more about the Catholic Faith.

Order of Christian Initiation of Adults stage 3: Getting ready for rebirth!

This period of purification and enlightenment is the final stage before receiving the Easter sacraments of initiation into the Church: baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist. (Those already baptized with a valid baptism in another Christian church aren't baptized again.)

This stage of intense reflection calls you to deeper conversion in preparation for your renewal at Easter. In the Catholic Church this occurs during the season of Lent, but it has a special intensity for you this year as you're entering the Church and receiving the sacraments of initiation.

The Church uses a series profound and beautiful Scrutinies to focus this preparation effort.

Order of Christian Initiation of Adults stage 4: Reflecting on the mysteries of the Mass

This stage of mystagogy during Easter is for continued reflection on the sacraments you have received at Easter, especially the Eucharist.

Specific catechesis on the Mass, the Sacraments, and especially the Eucharist are the focus of this stage. The Mass and the Eucharist are the "source and summit" of the Christian life in the Catholic Church, and this period is designed to help you understand, appreciate, and live more deeply this center of Catholicism.

That's a good overview of the Catholic Order of Christian Initiation of Adults stages, with more than enough supplemental information to think about for a while!

Remember that the Catholic Order of Christian Initiation of Adults stages are a good model of basic faith development, so you can learn a lot from them even if you're not in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults process.

For more information please call the Rectory at 859-431-1773 or fill out the form by clicking below. 

Order of Christian Initiation of Adults Request for Information

Click here for this year's Order of Christian Initiation of Adults schedule.