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Already Catholic? Would like to join the Cathedral Parish?

If you have any questions or would like to register via the telephone or by appointment, please call at 814-944-4603. A follow-up conversation will take place.

A Cathedral Booklet, containing its history and pictures of its art, is available at the Parish Office. Refer to the Ministries Section of the website which lists opportunities for involvement in the cited activities of the Parish.

Interested in becoming Catholic?

Cathedral Parish follows the process of Christian Initiation for both children and adults wishing to join the Catholic Church. This process is open to those who are not yet baptized and to those, baptized in another tradition, who wish to join the Catholic Church. At times this process is appropriate for those who, once baptized Catholic, now stand in need of instruction and formation in the faith.

The process of Christian Initiation possesses four stages:
(1) Inquiry: interested people gather to discuss the faith. Questions are raised about the Christian faith, in general, and the Catholic faith, in particular. This is an opportunity to comfortably and openly discuss any topic of the faith. No commitments are made at this time.

(2) Period of Catechumenate: individuals are formally welcomed into the Church with set rites. At this time one becomes a Catechumen, not baptized, or one becomes a Candidate, already baptized. The scriptures are a central part of this stage; the word of God is prayed, broken open and discussed.

(3) Period of Purification and Enlightenment: occurring in Lent, this stage begins with the Rite of Election in the Cathedral with the Bishop. Catechumens become the Elect for the Easter Sacraments. Three scrutinies (a scrutiny is a rite meant to uncover what is sinful and weak in order to strengthen all that this is strong and good) are celebrated with these Gospels: the Woman at the Well – John 4, the Man Born Blind – John 9, and Lazarus Raised from the Dead – John 11. A retreat is scheduled. The Sacraments of Initiation, Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist, are then celebrated at the Easter Vigil.

(4) Mystagogy: the newly baptized and those newly received into the Catholic Church continue their formation in the faith. The neophytes (the church’s newest members) are introduced into a fuller understanding of the mysteries through the Gospel message they have learned and above all through their experience of the sacraments they have received.

Inquiry (first stage of process) usually begins in September. The Christian Initiation Team normally meets on Sunday mornings, following the 10:00 A.M. Mass, in the Seton Suite (below the rectory on Fourteenth Street). Gatherings go from 11:00 A.M. to Noon. There are no meetings scheduled on holiday weekends. Period of Catechumenate (second stage of process) has participants (catechumens and candidates) gather at 10:00 A.M. Mass and are dismissed after the homily to discuss and break open the Sunday scriptures proclaimed at Mass. Then all gather from 11:00 A.M. to Noon to discuss some aspect of the Catholic faith.

Interested persons are to call the Parish Office at 814-944-4603 or email us at altcathedral@diocesaj.org. A follow-up meeting will be scheduled.

Want to come back to the Catholic Church?

Maybe it has been a while since you were last in Church. A past hurt, a lost love, or just a turning away and forgetting, regardless, maybe you are feeling a tug to come back home to the Catholic Church. That’s why we are here.

Give the Parish Office a call at 814-944-4603. Ask to talk to one of the priests or someone on the Come Home Team.

Meetings are regularly scheduled throughout the year in the Seton Suite (under the rectory on Fourteenth Street). Check the weekly bulletin for the next meeting.

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