Becoming Catholic: Resources for Inquiry

Because Christ calls so many people to himself and to the Church, there is no single set of resources that are used for the precatechumenate. But there are many resources which you might find helpful.

For many of our Inquiry sessions we use Catholic Updates as a point of departure for our discussion and questions. Archived editions of Catholic Updates are available for you to read. A schedule of topics is also available for you to see what has and will be discussed at the inquiry sessions.

The center of our faith is the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Known as the Paschal mystery, the events that are the reason for our faith are recorded in the Gospels and recollected through the the liturgical life of the Church. The centrality of the Gospels means that all Christians should spend time reading, reflecting, and meditating on sacred scripture, especially as proclaimed in the liturgy. We should all be full, conscious, and active participants in the liturgy. The primary liturgy of the Church is the Mass, the celebration of the Eucharist at which we encounter God in Word, Sacrament, and one another. The Order of Mass is meant to help you in participating in the Mass.

The most essential statement of faith for Catholics in the Nicene Creed, which is professed every Sunday at the Eucharistic liturgy. Part I of the Catechism of the Catholic Church follows the Nicene Creed in explaining the faith of the Catholic Church, by giving a "synthesis of the essential and fundamental contents of Catholic doctrine, as regards both faith and morals, in the light of the Second Vatican Council and the whole of the Church's Tradition" (CCC, 11). You may hear much about the Second Vatican Council, or Vatican II, as you are journeying with us. As a major part of our family history, the story of and impact resulting from the Second Vatican Council should not be underestimated. There is an excellent documentary The Faithful Revolution which tells in five parts the events and meaning of this momentous council. You can watch the video online or borrow it from the parish library.

Of course the most valuable resources that the Church can make available to you is the Church herself—the people of God. We invite you to join in the liturgical celebrations at St. Thomas More, to become engaged in our parish life, and to meet members of our community. Please feel free to contact Andrew Casad, Director of the Catechumenate, at any time with questions, concerns, or just to have a conversation about our faith. We welcome you on this journey!