Adult Formation

Becoming Catholic
Recent studies show that on average over 100,000 Americans convert to Catholicism annually.  For the vast majority of these individuals, the path into the Church leads through a program call the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) culminating at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday.  While the basic process of OCIA is the same throughout the United States, every parish has their own approach and format to the program.  If you are interested in becoming Catholic, or simply learning more about the Catholic Faith, reach out to your local parish and get connected with the OCIA program.  For a listing of contact information for the parishes of the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings visit the Parishes/Clergy Page.

Resources for continuing Faith Formation

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is the community of United States, and U.S. Territories’ bishops who come together to form a unified voice for the faithful under their charge.  The USCCB website is a treasure chest of resources for Catholics and non-Catholics alike who want to know more about the Faith.  Some specific page suggestions for those who are exploring Catholicism, or wanting to reconnect with the Church are:

The Mass www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass
This page offers resources regarding the celebration of the Most Holy Mass.  Links to prayers, readings, and an explanation to participation in the Mass can be found at this site.

The Sacraments www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals
This page offers resources regarding the seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church.  Each Sacrament has its own link on this page for further exploration.  Additionally, there are links explaining the use of sacramentals and other blessed objects found at this site.

Prayer www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers-and-devotions 
This page offers resources on formal and informal prayer.  There are links to prayers and devotions, as well as answers to the most basic of questions such as, “How do I pray?” found at this site.

Additional Resource www.usccb.org/resources
For those who cannot find what they are looking for on the USCCB website, the Conference provides an extensive resource library for further exploration.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church is a large reference book which contains the essential elements of the Catholic Faith.  Print copies are available for purchase from nearly anywhere books are sold, but a free online copy is available through the Vatican’s website at: www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM 

One of the leading voices among the bishops today is the Most Reverend Bishop Robert Barron.  His material, both digital and print, are produced through Word on Fire.  Through their website, and on YouTube, you are able to find much of Bishop Barron’s inspirational material: www.wordonfire.org. 

There are many other reliable Catholic resources found online, exploring everything from saints to apologetics to simple faith enrichment.  Just a few options for these kinds of sites are:

Catholic Answers www.catholic.com 

Catholic Apostolate Center www.catholicapostolatecenter.org 

Catholic Online www.catholic.org 

The Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) www.ewtn.com