With 2000 years of history, a lot of saints and teachings, it can be hard to know where to start with the Catholic faith. Here are some good places to start.
One of the best things to do if you are just setting out on your journey is also the simplest - to spend time in heartfelt prayer in silence before God. Think of this as a conversation between you and the author of creation and an opportunity to receive his unending love and mercy.
Similarly, reading the Bible is a great way to understand God’s eternal Word and our place in His plan of salvation. In the New Testament, we learn about the life and teachings of His son, Jesus Christ and can put into practice what He teaches.
We are also called to worship Him in the Holy Mass each Sunday and to partake of the Holy Eucharist, the ‘source and summit’ of our faith. The Mass was instituted by Jesus himself when he celebrated the Last Supper with his earliest followers. The Mass is also an opportunity to celebrate with the worldwide community of the Church.
We are all on a journey of faith and it is important to realise that we are not alone. As you grow in faith, take the time to talk to others if you are struggling or have questions.
If you are thinking about becoming a Catholic, a great place to start is by speaking to a Catholic friend or family member to understand the basic beliefs.
Similarly, you might consider contacting the parish priest of your local Catholic Church.
He can arrange for you to attend a Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) course, after which you can be formally baptised into the Catholic Church.
If you are seeking more for your life and are curious about our faith, we would love to connect with you.
Our friaries hold regular events aimed at helping people to understand the Catholic Faith, so find an event near you.
If you want to dive deeper, we are always available to talk. To talk to someone, see the list of friars below who would be happy to accompany you on your faith journey. Just reach out to one of the friars and we can arrange to chat at a time that works for you.
We would be happy to accompany you on your journey.
Fr Columba serves at St Patrick Friary, Limerick.
Fr Frantisek serves at St Pio Friary, Bradford.
Fr Charles serves at St Fidelis Friary, London.
Fr Oisin serves at St Patrick Friary, Limerick.
Fr Thomas serves at St Columba Friary, Derry.
Fr Antonio serves at St Columba Friary, Derry.
Answering some common questions.
The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ, with leadership passed down from St Peter through the generations to the present day. This is not to say that other denominations are wrong, however.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (the comprehensive record of the Church’s beliefs) states that while elements of truth are found in other churches, it is only through the Catholic Church that the fullness of salvation can be obtained (CCC 816-19).
It is also not God’s will that there should be division in the Church and indeed Jesus prayed that his followers would remain united (John 17:21). In the early Church, Christian believers were of one heart and mind and this desire to regain unity for all Christians ‘is a gift of Christ and a call of the Holy Spirit’ (CCC 820).
Prayer is a beautiful thing and we should all strive to live a good life. However, the Christian life is not lived in isolation. It is not a faith of individualism.
The Church, the Pope and priests are all part of the structure instituted by Jesus Christ himself when he said to Peter, “On this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).
As Catholics, we believe this moment marks the appointment of Peter as the first Pope, beginning a line of successors that has remained unbroken for the past 2000 years.
In this way, bishops and priests were appointed to celebrate the sacraments, through which God’s grace is made available to us, and to preach the Word of God to all people.
Even in Jesus’s time, people found his teachings difficult. When he began to preach about the Eucharist, many of his followers struggled with it, saying “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” (John 6:60).
However, the Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that revealed truths can seem obscure to human reason and experience, but the certainty that the divine light gives is greater than that which the light of natural reason gives (CCC 157).
In other words, what makes sense to God will not always make sense to us. In Isaiah, God says that, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” (55:8).
We participate in Christ’s renewal of all things through our prayer, fraternal life, service of the poor, and evangelisation, as a complement to the work of those whose mission is to serve parochially.
