RCIA – Becoming a Catholic

RCIA

The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) is the process by which adults are received into the Church community. The RCIA prepares adults for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist, usually celebrated at the Easter Vigil.

Those already baptised either in the Catholic Church (who have not received the Eucharist, Confirmation, or Reconciliation) or those from Christian bodies separated from the universal Church are prepared for the sacraments of Penance, Holy Eucharist and Confirmation, and usually received at Easter. These who are already baptised but seek full communion with the Church, usually participate and journey alongside the Catechumens preparing in the RCIA programme.

There are no special requirements for candidates and all are very welcome.

Hounslow RCIA Group with Cardinal Vincent Nichols 2019

Currently accepting registrations for the 2023-24 programme via email.

Contact the parish catechist Lionel Pereira (hounslowcat@rcdow.org.uk) for further details. 

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 page 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 can take different forms.

A person who is baptised 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 is true for children who are baptised Catholic (and receive the other two sacraments later) and for adults who are baptised, confirmed, and receive the Eucharist at the same time.

Those who have been validly baptised outside the Church, become Catholic 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 Church, whether by baptism or by profession of faith, preparation is necessary. The amount and form of this preparation depends on the individual’s circumstance. The most basic division in the kind of preparation needed is between those who are unbaptised and those who have already become Christian through baptism in another church.

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).

You can register your interest here at any time of the year:

I am interested in becoming a Catholic

Register here if you are a baptised Catholic aged 18 or over who has not yet been Confirmed, or if you also need to prepare for First Holy Communion.

I am interested in receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation / Eucharist as an adult

For more information or to arrange an informal chat, please email  Lionel (hounslowcat@rcdow.org.uk)