Christian Initiation

For adults who have already been baptized Christian in another faith tradition, the Catholic Church has the Order of Reception into the Full Communion of the Catholic Church of Those Already Validly Baptized by a non-Catholic minister. The Candidates are asked to participate in a formation process to help them understand and have a lived-experience of the teachings and practices of the Catholic Church. Although some times this preparation in done with Catechumens preparing for baptism, the liturgical preparation for Candidates is different since they have already been baptized and committed to Jesus Christ, and many have also been active members of other Christian communities.

Only after they have received a “suitable catechesis and spiritual formation", the Candidates are prepared and are invited to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance during the Season of Lent. Having celebrated Penance, they are invited to celebrate the Order of Reception into the Full Communion of the Catholic Church of Those Already Validly Baptized by a non-Catholic minister as ounlined in Part II, Chapter 6 of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults during the Easter Season.  In the Diocese of Brownsville, this typically takes place on Divine Mercy Sunday (Second Sunday of Easter).