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‘She’s much more who she is,’ her husband told EWTN News, following Tammy’s ‘investigation of Catholicism.’Psychologist and author Jordan Peterson spoke about Easter as the “core story of humanity” in an interview with EWTN News In Depth hours before his wife, Tammy, joined the Catholic Church this Easter at Holy Rosary Church in Toronto. Tammy Peterson’s faith was formed through praying the Rosary while she struggled against a rare form of cancer. Peterson is known for his biblical lectures on Genesis and Exodus in particular, which often appeal to both Christian and secular listeners. When asked by EWTN News correspondent...

Pay close attention to your life and your teaching. Persevere in these things, because if you do so, you will save both yourself, and those who listen to you. 1 Timothy 4:16 Dear fellow catechists, How do you feel when you read headlines like these? "Purge" at Vatican Doctrine Office Are We Still "One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic"? Parish Displays Banner for "Pride Month" Divorce - Remarriage: the New Normal? Doctrine Chief Sees "Well-Defined Attack on Doctrine" USCCB Fires Doctrine Chief Humanae Vitae to be Revisited, Revised Vatican Spokesman: No Comment Church Should Apologize on Sex, Gender Last Rites for Voluntary...

Traveling the Path to Catholicism Fr. William Saunders Q: Recently I saw a picture showing the Rite of Election at the cathedral. Would you please explain more about the Rite of Election and RCIA? When I was growing up, we did not have such a program.The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) is a formal program of catechetical instruction, ascetical practice (prayer and spirituality), and liturgies whereby adults — called catechumens — are formally admitted into the Church and receive the sacraments of initiation — baptism, confirmation, and holy Eucharist. (The sacrament of penance is received later since baptism...

A parish priest on the troubling news he's learned from kids in the confessional The Need for Questions in Lent Lent is a penitential season, a time of purification and of clarification: of being purified of our sins and of clarifying the roots of what has been keeping us from God in the first place. Purification and clarification can come about through the typical Lenten observances: prayer, almsgiving, and fasting. Fasting, for example, not only acts as an immediate purification of something (ie, a thing is taken away), but it can also clarify in that, as we are feeling the...

How to Become a Catholic Becoming Catholic is one of life’s most profound and joyous experiences. Some are blessed enough to receive this great gift while they are infants, and, over time, they recognize the enormous grace that has been bestowed on them. Others enter the Catholic fold when they are older children or adults. This tract examines the joyful process by which one becomes a Catholic. A person is brought into full communion with the Catholic Church through reception of the three sacraments of Christian initiation—baptism, confirmation, and the holy Eucharist—but the process by which one becomes a Catholic...

Q: My neighbors are Catholics who didn’t practice the faith for years, but now they are returning to the Church. Their children were never baptized, so they went to the parish priest to arrange for their baptism. But he refused, because he said the children are too old! He claims the children are mature enough to decide for themselves if they want to be Catholic or not…. The whole thing sounds bizarre. The parents truly want to raise their children as Catholics. Is it possible the priest doubts their sincerity? What can they do? –Rachel A: It’s impossible to be...

Easter Rebirth March 28, 2013 by Joyce P. Simkin Each year when the crocuses bloom I think back to my full initiation into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil in 1997. All adults preparing for initiation into the Catholic Church — converts from other Christian faiths; non-Christian converts; and those who, like me, were baptized Catholic but never had their First Communion nor had been confirmed — must attend R.C.I.A. classes in order to learn about Catholic beliefs and traditions and hopefully, in the process, strengthen their faith and grow close to God.R.C.I.A. stands for Rite of Christian Initiation...

 Why Attend the Easter Vigil?   By Deanna Bartalini - Posted on March 24, 2013 Why Attend the Easter Vigil? For many years I avoided the Easter Vigil like you avoid people who have a stomach virus.  At some point in my career as a parish minister I needed to attend.  I was not really looking forward to it.  I had heard it was very long, with many readings and a long homily.  At that time I worked at our diocese’s Cathedral but even the thought of celebrating Easter with the Bishop did not tempt me.  But duty called and...

Thousands Joining Church at Easter in US Bishops' Conference Features Conversion Stories Online WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 15, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Tens of thousands of new Catholics are expected to join the Church at Easter, including a former Planned Parenthood director and seven members of the same family. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) released the statistics of those expected to join the Church based on participation in the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion, a step in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults that takes place at the beginning of Lent.Among those preparing to enter the...

Catholic Biblical Apologetics Apologetics without apology! What does the Roman Catholic Church teach about ...? ... and why? This website surveys the origin and development of Roman Catholic Christianity from the period of the apostolic church, through the post-apostolic church and into the conciliar movement. Principal attention is paid to the biblical basis of both doctrine and dogma as well as the role of paradosis (i.e. handing on the truth) in the history of the Church. Particular attention is also paid to the hierarchical founding and succession of leadership throughout the centuries. This is a set of lecture notes...

Where To Begin   Now that you have decided to learn more about your Catholic Faith, where do you begin? Rather than point you to a text book or a list of facts, our unique 10-step plan uses a more "holistic" approach to teaching the Catholic Faith.  In addition to presenting the teachings of the Catholic Church, our method also makes use of the Sacraments, prayer, Sacred Scripture and the intercession of The Blessed Mother.  You will also have the ability to ask us questions and receive prompt responses.    The benefit of this approach is that, in addition...

A new video series on the Sunday Lectionary readings offered by Prof. Michael Barber of John Paul the Great Catholic University. The video was produced by students there.

How Does a Person Become a Catholic? to Seek Ye FirstThere are several ways to become a Catholic. The Catholic Church warmly welcomes new members and tries to provide appropriate spiritual formation according to each person's needs. In general, though, people who are becoming Catholic fall into three categories: infants and young children; people who, whether baptized or unbaptized, have had little or no affiliation with or religious training int the Christian faith; and baptized people who have been active members in other Christian denominations.Infants and Young ChildrenChildren who are born or adopted into Catholic families usually are baptized as...

Our DRE just quit, and it looks like my husband and I will be stepping in to teach the RCIA class. Any FReepers out there teaching RCIA? Do you have a curriculum you love? Suggestions? Can we chat?

 The RCIA Inquiry Stage In the Catholic Church Thinking about joining the Catholic Church, and feeling a little lost? Here's some detailed, Christ-centered guidance on faith development during the RCIA inquiry stage. The RCIA inquiry stage is the starting place for adults who are thinking about entering the Catholic Church. "Be still, and know that I am God." — Psalm 46:10 In the inquiry stage, you're just finding out about Jesus, Christianity, and the Catholic Church. Talk to people, walk around in our shoes for a bit and get a feel for the place. As an inquirer, you're not yet...

 A Strong Start in the Faith: The Catholic RCIA Stages Thinking of joining the Roman Catholic Church? The Catholic RCIA stages are a good model of basic faith development. This article provides some detailed guidance for that process. So, you're developing your faith. Great! Is it a little overwhelming? Where to start? Why so many "stages" of initiation? What should I be doing in each stage? How will I know when I'm ready to move forward? This article is your best starting point to answer these questions, and more. I'll provide you with some fundamentals — centered in Christ —...

Mark Shea  Other Articles by Mark SheaPrinter Friendly Version   A Ramble through My "New Catholic" Wish List April 17, 2007I am a "double-jump" convert to the Catholic Faith. I was raised Nothing-in-Particular (with a cloudy pagan regard for "the spiritual" and a deep disdain of "organized religion"). Then, at the age of 20, I had a sort of classic "born again" experience after an encounter with the living God revealed in Jesus Christ. Looking around me, I found that the people who had introduced me to Jesus were the non-denominational Evangelicals and charismatics on my dorm floor at...

WASHINGTON (April 3, 2007)—Tens of thousands of people will join the Catholic Church on Holy Saturday, April 7, through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). Many of them, known as catechumens, participated in the Rite of Election with their bishops at the beginning of Lent and will be baptized, confirmed and receive Holy Eucharist for the first time on Holy Saturday. Those known as candidates, who were already baptized but did not receive further catechetical formation, have been pursuing an adapted version of formation and will complete their initiation. Other candidates, who were baptized as members of another...

Or is he (she) simply "overmedicated?" Because if the problems for the students don't stem from drugs, like a 100%, there may be something else at work here.

I was hoping some of my fellow Catholic Freepers could provide me with some direction. I attend a small parish in NE GA. The RCIA director has announced that he is retiring from his post, and they have asked me to take his place. I have been scouring the Internet for RCIA lesson plans and course outlines, but haven't found anything all that stellar. Does anyone have any suggestions or resources that they could recommend to help me plan an orthodox Catholic RCIA curriculum?