BECOMING CATHOLIC
Bishop Raica received Candidates for Confirmation
in the Rite of Welcoming at Prince of Peace, spring 2021.
Questions? Email Dr. Dale Wisely
Becoming Catholic is a Prince of Peace adult formation program which may lead to initiation into the Catholic Church. After successfully completing the program, adults are Confirmed and come into full communion with the Catholic Church. We warmly welcome those who already feel called to become Catholic, and those who are interested in learning more about the Catholic faith but who have not decided whether to join the Catholic Church. It is also an opportunity for confirmed Catholics–or anyone–to learn more about the Catholic faith. All are welcome.
More is required of participants than attending classes. During the formation period, participants read and view materials we provide, spend time in prayer and reflection, and journal weekly. On Sunday mornings, 9:40am-10:50am, we meet to discuss assignments, have conversations, pose questions, and share information about the faith. The core program is typically about 14 weeks long, typically includes about 12 in-person meetings, and is currently offered twice per year, January-April or May, and September-December. Those with little or no prior Christian affiliation and/or education may be required continue their formation beyond the 14-week period through a customized program of self-study. The timing for being received into the Church differs from person to person, and we will discuss this further in class.
Anyone interested in the program should read the details below. If you have questions, contact program coordinator Dr. Dale Wisely. You can view our brochure here.
“Becoming Catholic” is a blended study program. Participants, on their own time, read and view materials we create and provide. This includes a book that presents the fundamentals of Catholicism (We are currently using Fr. Oscar Lukefahr’s We Believe: A Survey of the Catholic Faith). Participants, during each week, spend time in prayer and reflection, and journal weekly, sending their entries to our team. Journal entries are typically 150-300 words.
On Sundays, 9:40am-10:50am, participants meet with our team. These live meetings allow us to teach and learn, discuss assignments, have conversations, and pose questions.
REGISTERING AND PARTICIPATING
Interested persons, or those with questions, should email the program coordinator Dr. Dale Wisely. For those ready to register, the online registration form may be found here.
Register here!
Once you are registered, a team member will get in touch with you. When appropriate, the formation team will offer some customization of the program, based upon your history of involvement in Christian worship.
Requirements:
- All participants must commit to attending Sunday morning meetings and to take responsibility for study, prayer, and reflection, and sending the team weekly journal entries, on their own time, each week of the program. (We understand that absences from these Sunday meetings will sometimes occur.) Our team is aware that some individuals have difficulties reading, studying, and writing due to learning differences. We are committed to working with such individuals so that they may complete the program. If these difficulties exist for anyone enrolling in the program, please contact coordinator Dr. Dale Wisely to confidentially discuss and develop an alternate method of participating.
- Participate in parish life at Prince of Peace. Mass attendance is essential and those who are not already attending Mass should begin once enrolled in the program (in advance of starting the program.) Members of our team would be happy to meet with you at Mass and sit with you if you would like. We want you to feel welcome!
- Complete a 14-week formation period. Requirements include, but are not limited to
- Completing weekly assignments (reading, videos, online materials)
- Writing a weekly journal entry as evidence of engagement (we provide alternatives for candidates who struggle to write.)
- Spending time weekly in prayer and reflection
- Attending Sunday morning meetings. (When class meetings are missed, we can typically arrange a make-up.)
- Request, in writing, their desire to receive the Sacraments of Initiation
Sample topics in our 14-week series:
- Introduction, Orientation, the Creed
- Scripture and Teaching Tradition
- The Sacraments of the Church
- Catholic Morality and Contemporary Issues in Catholicism
- Participation in Parish Life
- Catholic Traditions (Mary, prayer traditions)
Register here!
January-April 2023 Class Schedule
(Tentative, subject to change)
Meetings are held on Sundays 9:40-10:40am unless otherwise noted
January 8, 9:40-11:40am (Note two-hour meeting) Session 1 (Double meeting)
January 15 (no meeting)
January 22, 9:40-10:50am, Session 2
January 29, attend 8:30am Mass, followed by regular meeting 9:40-10:40am, Session 3
February 5, 9:40-10:50am, Session 4
February 12, 9:40-10:50am, Session 5
February 19, 9:40-10:50am, Session 6
Ash Wednesday, Feb 22: Attend Ash Wednesday service
February 26: 9:40-10:50am (Session 7) followed by 11am Mass for Rite of Sending, followed by Rite of Election at St. Paul's Cathedral at 2pm
March 5, 9:40-10:50am, Session 8
March 12, 9:40-10:50am, Session 9
March 19, 9:40-10:50am, Session 10
March 26, 9:40-10:50am, Session 11
April 2, Palm Sunday, Session 12, special time: 12:30-3pm Retreat-note special time.* (Last meeting)
April 8, Saturday, Easter Vigil, St. Paul Cathedral, Confirmation option for unbaptized people
April 9, Easter Sunday, no meeting.
Save these dates:
April 16, at either 8:30am or 11am Mass (TBA): Confirmation for most baptized people
May 27: Confirmation for those baptized as Catholics--11am Mass
Note: We often can work with you on any missed dates.