The Baptism of Christ
Jacopo Bassano (Jacopo da Ponte)
RCIA – Becoming Catholic
“The Symbol of the faith confesses the greatness of God’s gifts to man in his work of creation, and even more in redemption and sanctification. What faith confesses, the sacraments communicate: by the sacraments of rebirth, Christians have become “children of God,” “partakers of the divine nature.” Coming to see in the faith their new dignity, Christians are called to lead henceforth a life “worthy of the gospel of Christ.”
They are made capable of doing so by the grace of Christ and the gifts of his Spirit, which they receive through the sacraments and through prayer.”
Catechism of the Catholic Church 1692
The Catholic Church’s mission is to offer people of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to deepen their understanding and relationship with Jesus Christ.
Becoming Catholic involves a journey of faith, accompanied by the support of a parish community. This process is called the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, or RCIA. During the RCIA process you meet with others to share, reflect, pray and learn more about the Catholic faith. There are liturgical ceremonies or ‘rites’ at each stage to signify the steps along the way.
Archdiocese of Brisbane
“To begin is for everyone. To persevere is for saints.”
Saint Josemaría Escrivá
Joining the Parish
You are warmly welcome to join the parishes of Mother of Mercy and St Agatha’s, whether you are new to the area, new to the faith, from another faith community, or have been around for a while. Please come along to mass on Sunday and introduce yourself to Fr Michael.
To sign up to the parish newsletter, please click here.
Becoming Catholic
There are four stages to becoming Catholic, as outlined on the Archdiocese of Brisbane website:
The Period of Evangelisation and Pre-catechumenate or Inquiry is the first stage of the journey. It is a time to explore and question your faith, uncover the basic message of the Gospel and begin to discern how to live this in your life.
It is a time of discovery with no fixed structure or duration. This is described as a time for inquiry and introduction to the gospel values; an opportunity for the beginnings of faith.
The Period of the Catechumenate is a time for you to deepen your understanding of the Catholic faith and your relationship with Jesus. It is a time for suitable pastoral formation and guidance. It can be thought of as an apprenticeship.
At the heart of the Catechumenate period is conversion of heart, the conversion to Jesus Christ.
The period of Purification and Enlightenment is a time for reflection and prayer and a time to develop a deeper relationship with Jesus. This is a period of more intense spiritual preparation, in which is more about interior reflection than catechetical instruction. It often occurs during the season of Lent before Easter.
This is a time when the newly baptised (neophytes) begin their lifelong commitment to living a Christian life. It marks a shift from learning about faith to living faith in everyday life and a shift from looking within to looking outside, to the community.
Interested in RCIA?
To undergo the Rite of Christian Initiation at either Mother of Mercy or St Agatha’s Parish, please contact the Parish Office.