RCIA (How to Become Catholic)

Easter Vigil Confirmation

Would you like to find out about becoming Catholic? Do you have questions about what it means to be Catholic? Maybe you have been a Christian in another Christian tradition. Maybe you have no formal Christian background. Perhaps you were baptized as a baby in the Catholic Church or in another Christian denomination but that is the extent of your Christian formation.

Holy Innocents Church offers class sessions through the RCIA process. RCIA stands for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. The church understands that it takes time to discern whether or not you are called to become Catholic. The RCIA is divided up into four parts.

The first step is Inquiry: a time to ask questions and to begin to experience some of Catholic worship and traditions. If you are ready to make a decision to continue in your journey into the Catholic faith tradition, the Church welcomes you in the first rite: the Rite of Welcoming and Acceptance. You will receive a parishioner sponsor at this time.

The next part is called the Catechumenate: a time to continue asking questions and to learn more about the sacramental life of the church. Around the time Lent begins (the 40 days before Easter), you are invited to come to the Cathedral in Seattle with many others like you from other churches. The Bishop greets you and asks you to affirm your desire to join the Church. This is called the Rite of Election.

During Lent, you are asked to look more prayerfully at what it will mean to become a Catholic. Reception into the Church happens at the Easter Vigil, the night before Easter. These are the final rites of the RCIA: baptism, confirmation and eucharist. Those who have not been baptized are baptized, confirmed and receive communion. Those who have already been baptized in another Christian tradition receive confirmation and communion.

The last stage of the RCIA is called Mystagogia: a time to reflect on what has happened and to consider how you want to live out your Catholic Christian faith.

If you are interested in finding out more about becoming Catholic, please call the Church Office at 425-788-1400.

Easter Vigil Baptism

We also have a program to prepare children over the age of 7 to receive the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and eucharist alonge with the adults at the Easter Vigil.