{"id":307,"date":"2009-06-07T13:29:29","date_gmt":"2009-06-07T13:29:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/middlesbrough-diocese.org.uk\/adultformation\/?page_id=307"},"modified":"2026-02-11T14:34:47","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T14:34:47","slug":"rcia","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/middlesbrough-diocese.org.uk\/adultformation\/rcia\/","title":{"rendered":"Exploring Catholicism"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"et_pb_section_0 et_pb_section et_section_regular et_block_section\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_0 et_pb_row et_pb_gutters3 et_block_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_0 et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_0 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Exploring Catholicism<\/h1>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:media-text {\"mediaId\":2019,\"mediaLink\":\"https:\/\/middlesbrough-diocese.org.uk\/adultformation\/rcia\/rite-of-election-2011-020\/\",\"mediaType\":\"image\",\"mediaWidth\":46} --><\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns: 46% auto;\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/middlesbrough-diocese.org.uk\/adultformation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/5574400304_94d0c03f8a_o-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2019 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/middlesbrough-diocese.org.uk\/adultformation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/5574400304_94d0c03f8a_o-980x653.jpg 980w, https:\/\/middlesbrough-diocese.org.uk\/adultformation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/5574400304_94d0c03f8a_o-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\"><!-- wp:paragraph {\"placeholder\":\"Content\u2026\"} -->Welcome! If you\u2019ve found yourself curious about the Catholic faith\u2014or feel that God may be calling you to something deeper\u2014you\u2019re in the right place. The journey to becoming Catholic is one of discovery, prayer, and community. Whether you\u2019re new to Christianity or coming from another tradition, we invite you to explore the beauty, truth, and peace found in the Catholic Church. Here, you\u2019ll find information on what it means to follow Christ in the Catholic tradition and how to take your next steps toward joining the Church.<\/p>\n<p>The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) or Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) is the liturgical and catechetical process designed for adults attracted by Christ and his teaching. In some parishes it may also be called Journey of Faith. It is run each year in Catholic parishes and supports adults as they seek to respond more deeply and to enter the the Catholic Church.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 15px;\">If you are interested in finding out more about Catholicism and how to become a Catholic please contact your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/middlesbrough-diocese.org.uk\/parishes\/\" style=\"font-size: 15px;\">local parish<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 15px;\"> or alternatively email <\/span><a href=\"adultformation@rcdmidd.org.uk\" style=\"font-size: 15px;\">adultformation@rcdmidd.org.uk<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 15px;\">The Rite of Election will take place on <\/span><strong style=\"font-size: 15px;\">Sunday 22nd February 2026, 3pm <\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 15px;\">at St Mary&#8217;s Cathedral, Middlesbrough.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 15px;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Useful Links<\/h2>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.catholic.com\/\">Catholic Answers <\/a>&#8211; Search the world&#8217;s largest database of answers about the beliefs and practices of the Catholic faith. Learn more about Catholicism through articles, books, videos and more.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ctsbooks.org\/\">Catholic Truth Society<\/a> &#8211; Podcasts, blogs, articles and books to support and encourage people at every stage of the their faith journey.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wordonfire.org\/\">Word on Fire<\/a> &#8211; Global media apostolate that supports the work of Bishop Robert Barron and reaches millions of people to draw them into\u2014or back to\u2014the Catholic faith.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/radiomariaengland.uk\/\">Radio Maria England<\/a> &#8211; A UK based Catholic radio station.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ourwaytogod.org\/start\">Our Way to God<\/a> &#8211; Resources that <span>set out to share this Good News about God to each and every person without exception available in a number of different langauages.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_heading_0 et_pb_heading et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_heading_container\"><h1 class=\"et_pb_module_header\">Resources for RCIA<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_1 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dioceseofleeds.org.uk\/education\/sacramental-preparation\/sacraments-of-initiation-for-adults\/rcia-a-journey-in-faith\/\">Diocese of Leeds RCIA<\/a> &#8211; a complete set of resources which can be used flexibly according to the needs of the parish and which will also be added-to and updated over time.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sycamore.fm\/pathways\/c-sacramental-pathways\/rcia-complete\/\">Sycamore RCIA<\/a> <strong>&#8211; <\/strong>A complete RCIA course for those preparing for the Sacraments of Initiation. This includes all twenty Sycamore modules.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span><\/span><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rcsouthwark.co.uk\/mission\/ambassadors-for-christ\/\">Ambassadors for Christ<\/a> &#8211; <span>In response to a growing interest in the Catholic faith, the Archdiocese of Southwark has launched\u00a0<\/span><strong>Ambassadors for Christ<\/strong><em>,<span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em><span>a landmark apologetics project. This video series is designed to equip you with a deeper understanding of your faith, so you can confidently answer questions and be a joyful witness for the Lord Jesus and his Church.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have you ever wondered what Catholics believe?<br \/>\nDo you want to find out more?<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps you\u2019ve never been inside a church before, and are not sure what to do?<br \/>\nPerhaps you feel you\u2019d like to pray, but are not sure what to say?<br \/>\nPerhaps you\u2019ve been away from the church for a long time, and are not sure how to come back?<br \/>\nPerhaps you\u2019re curious to know what, if anything, has changed since you were last here?<br \/>\nWould you like to find out? <\/p>\n<p>Many parishes have a Journey in Faith group to help people to explore what the Catholic Church teaches. These groups welcome all who are searching, whether they wish to become Catholic or not, in a friendly and informal setting. <\/p>\n<p>The Journey in Faith can also provide a foundation for those who do wish to join the Catholic Church.<\/p>\n<p>If you contact us we will put you in touch with your nearest group.<br \/>\nPlease call us on 01642 850505<br \/>\nor email reception@dioceseofmiddlesbrough.co.uk <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-307","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/middlesbrough-diocese.org.uk\/adultformation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/307","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/middlesbrough-diocese.org.uk\/adultformation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/middlesbrough-diocese.org.uk\/adultformation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/middlesbrough-diocese.org.uk\/adultformation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/middlesbrough-diocese.org.uk\/adultformation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=307"}],"version-history":[{"count":47,"href":"https:\/\/middlesbrough-diocese.org.uk\/adultformation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/307\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2557,"href":"https:\/\/middlesbrough-diocese.org.uk\/adultformation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/307\/revisions\/2557"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/middlesbrough-diocese.org.uk\/adultformation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=307"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}