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How to Become Catholic

A diverse group of people standing and sitting in a crowded room, with some clapping. A statue of a religious figure is visible in the background.

We Welcome You!

The Church welcomes new members to share the saving power of her founder, Jesus Christ. The Church across the world welcomes all of humanity with open arms! But this beautiful gift begins locally in the Catholic community or parish church. 
 
The first step is for individuals to contact their local Catholic parish. Parishes have teams of teachers, or catechists, who assist individuals on this journey. They can adapt the process to be age appropriate, address any special needs or circumstances and respond to emergency situations.

Process to Join the Christian Community

After You Make the Decision

To become a Christian, one must follow Jesus Christ and be baptized in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. In the Sacrament of Baptism, all sins are washed away, and a new life begins as a follower of Jesus. The individual formally becomes a member of the Church, enabled to live the life of grace.
 
For infants and children under the age of 7, this commitment is made on their behalf by their parents, godparents and the Christian community. Once an individual reaches the age of 7, they are considered to be able to make this adult decision to follow Jesus. The Church provides an age-old process for this we call the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (“RCIA” for short) or more properly the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA).

A newborn in a white garment is cradled over a baptismal font, as water is gently poured onto the head using a large seashell held by a person in a white robe.

Sharing Process Begins

In this process, the individual will be prepared to receive all three Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) that will make him or her fully initiated members of the Christian community. The goal is to assist individuals to integrate into the life of the Church by learning how the Church prays and what she teaches, and how that is lived out in our world. So, there is not a specific program, but rather it is sharing the Christian way of life. This instruction is offered to all the diverse peoples of the local community and adapted to their language and needs. In our Diocese, it is primarily offered in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.    
 
Each sacred rite is full of beauty and meaning and accompanies the individual through their journey.

Reflection and Inquiry

The journey begins with a phase of Inquiry, known as the Period of Evangelization and Precatechumenate. This stage lasts as long as needed and is a time for individuals to reflect and ask questions. They are introduced to the Christian way of life and have the freedom to explore what it means to be a follower
of Jesus.
 
When individuals are ready to take the next step to formally enter the Church, they participate in the first rite, called the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens. In this celebration, the Church accepts their response to God’s call of conversion. In this period, the “catechumens” continue to learn the Christian way of life in their parish. This period should last at least one year so that the individuals can live out all the seasons of the church year.
 
Once the Church confirms their readiness, catechumens begin the final period of preparation for the Sacraments that takes place during the holy season of Lent. They join the wider Christian community in the sacred season of preparation for the celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter.

A person in a black sweater signs a book on a table while others watch in a church setting. One person places a reassuring hand on the signer’s back. People sit in pews in the background, with the church's high ceiling visible above.
Seven people in white robes stand outdoors at night, lit by warm lights. Trees and a building are visible in the background.

Rites of Initiation

The catechumens participate in the Rite of Election, presided by the local bishop, where they are “elected” by God to receive the Sacraments at Easter. The individual is then officially a member of the Elect and enters the Period of Purification and Enlightenment. This period is marked by reflection on conversion as the final step before Baptism.
 
Then, as the Church celebrates Easter, the Elect bring great joy to the whole Christian community by receiving Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. They have completed their journey to the Sacraments and begun their Christian life, bringing them in to the final phase, the Period
of Mystagogy.
 
During this time, which formally lasts one year, they deepen their understanding of what it means to live a Christian life, something all Christians do throughout  our lives!

Family Welcomes New Members

This process is focused on the unbaptized that are seeking Jesus Christ, but there is a similar process for those who were baptized Christians but are looking to formally join the Catholic Church. Their journey is distinct from the catechumens, but they do follow a similar process of learning, reflection and conversion. When they are ready, they then make a formal Profession of Faith, declaring their belief in Christ and His teachings, and are received into the Church. In our Diocese, this often happens alongside the Elect at the Easter Vigil, where they receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.  
 
When individuals formally join the Church, it’s a joyous time for them, for their parish community, and for the whole Church since they have become part of a worldwide family united in Christ!

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Catholic Diocese of San Diego

About the Coat of Arms

Bishop Pulido’s coat of arms is divided into four quarters with wavy horizontal lines from top to bottom. The blue and white lines represent the Blessed Virgin Mary. They also suggest water, which alludes to Jesus washing the feet of His disciples and to the waters of baptism. The red and gold lines represent the Holy Spirit and fire. The colors also can be seen as referring to the Blood that (along with water) poured from Jesus’ side at His crucifixion, as well as to the bread (gold) and wine (red) transformed into the Eucharist. At the center is a roundel featuring a symbolic representation of the “mandatum” (washing of the feet), which he believes exemplifies service to all humanity. The roundel’s outer edge is a line composed of small humps; it is borrowed from the coat of arms of the Diocese of Yakima, where Bishop Pulido served as a priest before being named a bishop.

About the Coat of Arms

Bishop Pham’s coat of arms depicts a red boat on a blue ocean, which is crisscrossed by diagonal lines suggesting a fisherman’s net. This symbolizes his ministry as a “fisher of men,” as well as how his own father had been a fisherman. The boat is also a symbol of the Church, which is often referred to as the “barque of Peter.” At the center of the sail is a red beehive (a symbol of the bishop’s baptismal patron saint, St. John Chrysostom, who was known as a “honey-tongued” preacher). The beehive is surrounded by two green palm branches (an ancient symbol of martyrdom; the bishop’s ancestors were among Vietnam’s first martyrs). The eight red tongues of fire around the boat are a symbol of the Holy Spirit and a representation of the diversity of ethnic and cultural communities. The red of the boat, the beehive and the tongues of fire allude to the blood of the martyrs.

About the Coat of Arms

The coat of arms combines symbols that reflect Bishop Bejarano’s spiritual life and priestly ministry. The main part of the shield shows four wavy vertical lines on a gold background. These represent flowing waters. This alludes to his chosen motto and also symbolizes the graces that come from the Divine life to quench our thirst for God. The upper third of the shield is red because it is borrowed from the coat of arms of the Order of Mercy, of which the Bishop’s patron saint, Raymond Nonnatus, was a member. The central symbol resembles a monstrance because St. Raymond is often depicted holding one. The Eucharist is Bishop Bejarano’s inspiration for his vocation. It was through the Eucharist that he received his call to the priesthood at age seven and which keeps his faith and his ministry going. It represents the call to offer oneself as a living sacrifice. The monstrance is flanked on either side by an image of the Sacred Heart, alluding to the mercy of God and echoing the idea of a sacrificial offering of oneself united to the sacrifice of Christ, and of a rose for Our Lady. It is an allusion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, and highlights the bishop’s Hispanic heritage.

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