Any person who wants to become Catholic may do so by entering the Becoming Catholic process. During this process, you will begin to participate in the liturgical celebrations of the Church, learn more about the Catholic faith, become a member of the St. Anthony of Padua community, and prepare to receive the Sacraments of Initiation.

• Those who have never been baptized: the Becoming Catholic process will prepare you to receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist (Holy Communion).

• Those who have already been validly baptized in another Christian faith: the Becoming Catholic process will prepare you to make a Profession of the Catholic faith, and receive the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist (Holy Communion).

• *If you are a baptized Catholic, and wish to receive the sacrament of Confirmation and/or Eucharist, please visit our Adult Confirmation page.

The time that you take to discern whether you want to become Catholic can take weeks, months, or years. The more formal preparation process also varies from person to person. For example, someone who is married to a Catholic and has been attending Mass with their spouse for 25 years will have a different experience than someone who has never attended Mass or heard the Gospel. A good time frame to keep in mind is one liturgical year or more. This allows you to live out the Catholic faith for at least a year before committing to being Catholic for the rest of your life. Regardless of your situation, we will work with you to get you on the best path forward and help you discern when you are ready to receive the sacraments.

There is no cost to participate in the process, but you will need to invest your time and participation. We will also recommend some books that will be helpful while growing in the Catholic faith. You may purchase the books or view them online for free. More details will be given to you after you begin the process.

The foundational part of this process is regularly attending Sunday Mass. In addition to Mass, most events take place on Sunday throughout the Becoming Catholic process. Occasionally, there will be events on certain evenings of the week, but that will depend on your particular path. An online course can help you understand more about the faith, but it cannot replace an entire way of life. Becoming Catholic is much more than a class. The process will enfold you into the St. Anthony of Padua community, lead you in prayer and reflection, assist you with discernment, and offer you the opportunity to attend Sunday Mass.

Yes, you are welcome to attend Mass, especially since, as a Catholic, you will be attending Mass weekly, if not more often! A very important thing to know when attending Mass is that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist – Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Because of this, you are asked to not yet receive Jesus in the Eucharist (at Communion) until you have fully prepared and entered into the sacraments. Click Here for Mass Times.

Please fill out the Becoming Catholic Interest Form. Once we receive your interest form, we will reach out to you to set up an appointment to learn more about your faith journey, answer any questions you might have, and get you started on the best path forward. We look forward to hearing from you!