For those who are unbaptized or baptized in another faith community, the Catholic Church has devised an extensive process of education, spiritual preparation and formation, known as RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults). The RCIA in our parish is predominantly presented by laity with strategic involvement of the clergy. Its goal is to provide a working knowledge of the Catholic Church and an adequate preparation to fully participate in the life of the parish community. The class typically meets once a week from late August until Easter. After this long period of preparation, those who are not baptized are baptized, and all are confirmed and admitted to Communion.

Those who have been baptized in another faith community are invited to use the RCIA process to find their way into the Catholic Church. While much of the material presented in the classes is intended for the unbaptized, those who were raised in a Protestant Church find these classes to be an appropriate means of preparation to become Catholic.  Please email rcia@stjudeparish.com for more information.