Already Catholic?
Becoming a Member of Our Parish
On behalf of the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, we extend our warm welcome! Since the Basilica parish was established here in 1781 (with its spiritual origin dating back to 1559!), many generations of Catholics have come to worship on these sacred grounds. Yet even more than this holy site, the Basilica comes alive in the people who make up this parish. The more you discover at our parish, the more you will meet the many parishioners who become the “living stones” that animate and incarnate the Body of Christ for the local community here.
Becoming CAtholic
Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA)
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (formerly referred to as the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults - RCIA) is the process through which adults join the Catholic Church. The stages of this process are listed here:
- The Inquiry stage is for anyone who is interested in learning more about the Catholic faith. It is a period of questioning and learning; there is no commitment made at this stage by the inquirer other than an openness to new ideas and other points of view.
- The Catechumenate is for those who are committed to entering the Church. This stage is a period of being catechized, that is, a time of learning the Faith.
- Next, is a more intense time: purification and preparation. During Lent, those committed to joining the Church pray and meditate in order to prepare for the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.
- Initiation is when those who have gone through the RCIA process become members of the Church by being baptized, confirmed and receiving the Eucharist for the first time.
- After being welcomed into the Church at Easter, these new members enter into mystagogy, a time of reflection and more learning about what it means to be Catholic.