How Do I Rejoin the Catholic Church?
According to the catechism of the Catholic Church, the sacrament of baptism begins your initiation into the Catholic Church. If you are simply a lapsed Catholic, someone one who was not attended Mass in several years, you are still a member of the Catholic Church in full communion. To begin sharing again more fully in the church, lapsed Catholics must confess their sins and receive Holy Communion. If you have been excommunicated, you will need to meet with a priest to repent your offenses if you wish to resume partaking of the sacraments.
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Instructions
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Contact the priest at a nearby parish where you would like to begin attending mass again. Schedule an appointment to talk to him about your religious struggles. If you are lapsed, speak with him about your desire to return to life in Christ. If you have been excommunicated, ask him what you must do to return to full communion with the Church. He may ask you simply to profess your faith or to renounce your sin of defiance or disobedience.
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Join parish programs like Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, or RCIA, or continuing catechism if you, like many lapsed Catholics, have not yet received the sacrament of confirmation.
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Make confession at your parish's appointed times or schedule an appointment with the priest if none of the times fit your schedule. Examine your conscience before confessing using the Ten Commandments as a guide and confess all your sins, beginning with those you find most difficult to mention.
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Attend mass and receive Holy Communion reverently. Receive the Sacrament of Confirmation during the Easter Vigil if you have not already done so.
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Tips & Warnings
Consider joining a prayer or service group, such as the Knights of Columbus, at your local parish; these groups can provide valuable Catholic fellowship and community, not to mention fun.
Refrain from receiving Holy Communion if you are in a state of mortal sin. Mortal sin is an act of a grave matter committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent.
References
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