Becoming a Catholic - RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults)

Do you attend Mass with a Catholic family member or friend - and wonder what is going on?
Do you have questions about why we do the things we do?
COME, and get your questions answered and learn more about being Catholic!
Information and Answer Sessions will be held from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. in John 1 on the first and third Tuesday of each month (NOTE: in July we will accomodate the Holiday by moving to the second and fourth weeks). You are welcome to drop in whenever and as often as you like! For more information please email: Leader-RCIA@stmarktampa.org
Some many people, so many stories...
Each of us comes to our faith via a unique path. Some start out as atheist, some from a non-Catholic christian tradition, others from Eastern religions. The stories of these faith journeys are facinating. Click here to read some of them.
More about RCIA...
Becoming a Catholic is one of the most profound and joyous experiences of life. Some are blessed enough to receive this great gift while they are still infants. Others come into the Catholic fold while they are older children or adults.
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 can take different forms.
A person who is baptized in the Catholic Church becomes a Catholic at that moment. One's initiation is deepened by confirmation and the Eucharist, but one becomes a Catholic at baptism. This true both for children who are baptized Catholic (and receive the other two sacraments later) and for adults who are baptized, confirmed, and receive the Eucharist at the same time.
Those who have been validly baptized outside the Catholic Church become Catholics by making a profession of the Catholic faith and being formally received into the Church. This is normally followed immediately by confirmation and the Eucharist.
Before a person is ready to be received into the Catholic Church, whether by baptism or by profession of faith, preparation is necessary. For adults and children who have reached the age of reason (age seven), entrance into the Church is governed by the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA).
Come be a part of RCIA if:
- You are from another faith tradition and want to know more about the Catholic Faith.
- You want to be received into the Catholic Faith through the sacraments of initiation.
- You are baptized, have been distant from the faith, and/or have not received Eucharist and/or Confirmation.
