Curious about Catholicism?
Are you curious about what’s involved in becoming a Catholic? Maybe you’re a Christian from another denomination and feel called to become Catholic. Or you might be from another religion or no religion at all. It doesn’t matter where your starting point is, you can discover Catholicism at your own pace and if, at any point, you want to step off, that’s fine too. This can also be true of ‘cradle catholics’ who suddenly feel stirred to take a second look at their faith. Some people miss out on some sacraments after baptism and would like to catch up. Maybe you’re just wondering about some things in life and would appreciate the chance to talk to someone. You’re welcome to explore, wherever you are. We are here to help you on your journey.
A good start is to go to Mass. Maybe come to a Sunday Mass and you might want to consider coming regularly. Try different Sunday Masses at the same church and at different churches. They can all have a slightly different ‘flavour’: the Mass remains the same, but one priest might inspire you more than another! If you’re new to Mass, it will seem bewildering at first but don’t let that put you off. Listen, take it in. Participate. The prayers are beautiful and poetic. Allow God to start speaking to you.
Here’s a list of our Mass times. If you want to, introduce yourself to the priest at the end of Mass. They can point you in the right direction.
There are other services and events at St John’s, which you’re welcome to go to. Some may be more suited when you’re a bit further down the road to Catholicism but please give it a try if you like.
If you’re still with us at this point(!), then you may like to consider joining classes. These are called RCIA classes (don’t let the abbreviation put you off – it’s an abbreviation for ‘The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults’). We hold them right here at St John’s. These start in Autumn and this is a time of exploration and learning about the faith together with others. If people would like to become Catholic, there’s a continued time of discernment (listening) together with the priest on what God might be doing in your life. This might result in Baptism or Confirmation which is the way one becomes part of the family of the Church at Easter time. The pace will depend on the individual; some people might not be ready to take that step and it’s fine that they take more time. RCIA details can be found here.
Still interested? Then contact us. If you’d like to chat with someone, a priest or a lay person, about Catholicism then just get in touch by email islington@rcdow.org.uk or call us 020 7226 3277.