If You Are Entering the Faith from Outside

The ordinary path of formation for the unbaptized or those coming from another tradition.

For someone not yet baptized, or baptized in another tradition and seeking full communion, the ordinary path is through a parish's process of formation: often called OCIA or the Order of Christian Initiation.

1. Contact a local Catholic parish. Call the office or speak to a priest, and say plainly that you are interested in becoming Catholic. This one conversation opens the door; you do not need to have every question answered first.

2. Join the parish's formation process. You will be walked through the faith over a period of time, in the company of others doing the same, with no pressure to arrive already certain.

3. Receive the sacraments of initiation. The path leads to Baptism (if you are not already baptized), Confirmation, and first Eucharist, usually celebrated together, often at Easter.