HOW DO I BECOME A CATHOLIC
- Contact the parish office of a local Catholic church and inform them of your desire to convert.
- Talk to a priest or deacon who will guide you through the process.
- Start your Catholic education classes, also known as RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults).
- Complete the classes with a sponsor, a practicing Catholic who will support you.
- Receive the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and the Holy Eucharist, which will bring you into full communion with the Catholic Church.
- (MAKE SURE THE CHURCH DOES BELONG TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH).
HOW DO I KNOW JESUS FOUNDED THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
The Jesus movement of the first century was a group of mostly Jewish followers who were of little social importance and who often met in homes—a far cry from the cathedrals we know and love today. The pope today claims universal ecclesial authority, and because the Vatican is a nation-state, he is a head of state and even has diplomats. Jesus was certainly not a head of state and did not have diplomats (and neither did his disciple Peter).
To say the least, there are considerable difference between the original Jesus movement and the Catholic Church in the 21st century. So how is our church the same one that Jesus founded?
Traditionally, Roman Catholicism has understood the church to be instituted by Christ. This is based on Matthew’s gospel (16:18) where Jesus says, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.” He not only establishes his church but gives primacy to Peter among all the apostles.
Roman Catholics have tended to understand the church as institution under the primacy of Peter’s successor as synonymous with the “kingdom of God” proclaimed by Jesus. This is the basis for the old maxim, “no salvation outside the church.” In this view, Jesus directly founded the institution, the offices, and procedures within the church.
The Jesus movement of the first century was a group of mostly Jewish followers who were of little social importance and who often met in homes—a far cry from the cathedrals we know and love today. The pope today claims universal ecclesial authority, and because the Vatican is a nation-state, he is a head of state and even has diplomats. Jesus was certainly not a head of state and did not have diplomats (and neither did his disciple Peter).
To say the least, there are considerable difference between the original Jesus movement and the Catholic Church in the 21st century. So how is our church the same one that Jesus founded?
Traditionally, Roman Catholicism has understood the church to be instituted by Christ. This is based on Matthew’s gospel (16:18) where Jesus says, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.” He not only establishes his church but gives primacy to Peter among all the apostles.
Roman Catholics have tended to understand the church as institution under the primacy of Peter’s successor as synonymous with the “kingdom of God” proclaimed by Jesus. This is the basis for the old maxim, “no salvation outside the church.” In this view, Jesus directly founded the institution, the offices, and procedures within the church.