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 Christians Baptized in a non-Catholic Church - Christians baptized in
a non-Catholic church who wish to become members of the Roman Catholic
Church should follow a process that leads to the celebration of
Confirmation and Eucharist according to the norms of the "Reception of
Baptized Christians into the Full Communion of the Catholic Church."
How to Become Catholic: Becoming a Catholic, while a weighty decision, is easy in practice,
although it will take time. It's easy to take your first step into joining
the oldest Christian institution in the world. Take heart! Converts to
Catholicism are among the strongest in their faith in all of Christianity.
1. Read the Bible often, and pray often.
2. Find a local Catholic church. It's not too hard - just look under the
yellow pages of the phone book under "Churches." Alternatively, the
Newark Archdiocese website
allows you to search for churches based on parameters such city or
counties within the Archdiocese.
3. Look into the traditions and teachings of the Church, and see how
Catholics defend them. It is important to know WHY you are converting.
4. Attend a Mass or two, preferably with a Catholic friend who can explain
when to do things and what they mean. Don't let a particular mass or
church influence your decision. Most churches have had a fair amount of
variation in services. There are often "teen masses" or "guitar masses" as
well as languages corresponding to the local minority community.
Additionally, your enjoyment of the sermon may depend on the priest who is
celebrating that particular mass.
5. Once you find a church you like, contact their Parish Office and inform
them of your desire to convert. There are generally group classes for all
people wishing to convert within a period, giving you a social framework
for assimilating the experience.
6. You will be asked to talk to a priest or deacon, or perhaps to a
layperson who is experienced in the conversion process. He will ask you
why you wish to become Catholic and in general, talk to you to be sure you
are sincere in your desire and are aware of the conditions of being
Catholic.
7. If you continue on in the process, you'll start taking Catholic
education classes, also known as RCIA or Rite of Christian Initiation for
Adults. You will learn the history of the Church, the beliefs and values
of the Catholic Church, and the proper order of celebration of Mass.
During this stage, many classes have you attending Mass for only part of
the time, leaving before communion, as you may not receive Eucharist until
you have entered the Church.
8. If you're lucky enough to become Catholic around Easter, you'll get to
be baptized (if you haven't been baptized before), receive your first
communion, and be confirmed at the Easter Vigil, the special Mass held the
evening before Easter Sunday (your first reconciliation will be held
sometime before).
Some helpful tips:
• If you have been baptized before into a church recognized by Catholics
as a Christian one (Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses are examples of those
not considered Christians by the Church), your baptism is valid and you do
not have to be baptized again. If you have not been baptized, or been
baptized into a non-Christian Church you will be baptized in a Catholic
Church.
• Many missals have the order of Mass with responses and times to sit,
stand, or kneel in the front or back.
• The Catholic Church is often identified with guilt and strict rules.
After attending a few masses and befriending a few Catholics, you will
find this to be an unfair characterization.
• Typically, Catholic churches do a good deal of community service, such
as homeless feedings or spending time with the elderly or orphaned. This
usually represents the bulk of the Church's social events and is a great
way to meet fellow Catholics while performing a valuable service to the
community.
• If you find a part of the mass or the Catholic tradition unfamiliar or
difficult to understand, ask a priest about it or consult a catechism.
You should be aware that:
• There are many common misconceptions about the Church which may cause
you to look away without giving them a closer look. Find a well-versed
Catholic friend, and he or she will probably be able to give you an
answer. Alternatively, websites such as
Catholic Answers have articles and
forums for your questions.
• Until you are a member of the Catholic Church, you are not allowed to
receive the Eucharist. It is unlikely that any action will be taken
against you, but the Church asks you to respect its traditions. The
Eucharist is the actual body and blood of Christ, no longer just bread and
wine. Please see the Guidelines for Receiving Holy
Communion. Remember that Paul says that, "Therefore whosoever shall eat this
bread, or drink the chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the
body and of the blood of the Lord. For he that eateth and drinketh
unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the
body of the Lord." (1 Corinthians 11:27,29).
o Instead of receiving The Eucharist, those who have
not received their First Communion may go in the line where people are
receiving the Eucharist but when they reach the altar cross their arms in
front of their chest with their palms against their shoulders. This
indicates to the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion that you wish to
receive a blessing instead.
• The Catholic Church is an establishment that has spanned millennia, it
bears a large amount of rite and tradition. If you are not absolutely
certain that you want to be a part of this, hold off on the final steps
until you truly believe. There are several excellent books on the market
regarding other people's conversion journeys. Purchasing and reading these
will be quite helpful.
• Above all, do not convert for someone else. Only convert if it is truly
what you believe.
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HOW TO REPORT ABUSE - The archdiocese takes very seriously any and all
allegations of sexual misconduct by members of the clergy, Religious and
lay staff of the Archdiocese. We encourage anyone with knowledge of
an act of sexual misconduct to inform us immediately so that we can take
appropriate action to protect others and provide support to victims of
sexual abuse. Individuals who wish to report an allegation of sexual
misconduct may do so by calling the Archdiocesan Office of child and Youth
Protection at (201) 407-3256.
Mass Schedule:
(Daily 7:00AM, and 8:30AM) -
(Saturday 5:00PM) -
(Sunday 8:00AM, 10:00AM, and 12:00PM) - (Holyday 7:00AM, 8:30AM, 12:00PM,
and 7:00PM) - (Holyday Saturday 8:00AM)
Sacrament of Reconciliation:
Saturday 4:00PM to 4:45PM - The Order of the Mass |
