Becoming Fully Catholic

Becoming Fully Catholic (BFC) is how St. Charles implements the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, a process through which unbaptized men, women and children who have reached the age of reason (around age 7) enter the Catholic Church. It includes several stages marked by a deepening relationship with God, study, prayer, community, and celebration of rites at Mass. Participants in this journey are known as seekers, catechumens, and elect after participation in certain rites of the Church.

Becoming Fully Catholic is also for those who may have been baptized, Catholic or not, when they were younger but were never raised in the Christian faith or were never confirmed. These teens and adults are called candidates. All participants undergo a process of conversion as they reflect on the Gospel, profess faith in Jesus and the Catholic Church, and receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist. The BFC process follows the ancient practice of the Church that was restored by the Second Vatican Council as the normal way adults prepare for Baptism.

BFC consists of gathering together as a group on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month from 10:15-11:45 a.m. at the parish with Fr. Aaron Siehr. On alternating weeks, candidates and catechumens will meet one-on-one with mentors at a convenient time for candidate and mentor. Children and teenagers meet with children's and student discipleship leads.